Car Insurance for Disabled Veterans

Finding the best car insurance for disabled veterans is easy if you know where to look. Veterans who are disabled in the line of duty should be honored for their service and sacrifice. These brave service members have left their families to protect the country and accepted their responsibility with dignity and honor.

Unfortunately, many service members are disabled by injury or diseases while they are on active duty. Disabled veterans who suffer a service-related disability are guaranteed veteran disability compensation through the federal government.

While veterans might be entitled to up to $3,300 in tax-free benefits, they are still forced to live on a limited income, so saving on car insurance for disabled veterans and other recurring expenses is a must.

Read this article to learn about ways you can find affordable car insurance for disabled veterans, cheap car insurance, and more.

Looking to buy auto insurance for disabled veterans? Before we get started, use your ZIP to compare car insurance quotes for disabled veterans so you can find cheap auto insurance today, and make sure you don’t overpay for coverage.

Best Car Insurance for a Disabled Veteran

If you don’t own a car until you come back from being deployed, you’ll need to go shopping to find the best deal on auto insurance. You can buy a standard policy through one of the larger insurers, or you could look for coverage through a private insurer that specializes in policies for qualified members of the military.

You must have auto insurance as soon as you buy a car, so shopping around early is important.

When you’re looking to get a vehicle to accommodate your new needs after being disabled, one thing you’ll need to do before you go to a dealer with special military financing for that new vehicle is to obtain some auto insurance quotes. This helps you decide where to buy.

Can I get car insurance discounts for disabled veterans?

The answer to this question is “yes”. If you are a disabled veteran, you may be eligible for car insurance discounts.

Since you’re no longer an active-duty military service member, you might not require the special policy features that someone who is about to be deployed will. If you’re a disabled veteran, auto insurance discounts could be offered.

When you’re looking for the best car insurance for veterans, even though you don’t have strict requirements, you should still aim to do business with a company that understands the military.

Larger insurance companies accept applications for most applicants, including active and retired military personnel. You don’t have to be in the military to apply for coverage through a public insurer, but as a veteran, you may be able to qualify for auto insurance discounts for disabled veterans.

What car insurance companies offer military members car insurance discounts?

Some car insurance companies that offer discounts to military applicants, including disabled veteran auto insurance discounts, include:

• Geico – has a Geico Military Program that offers active duty and retired military members a 15% discount off their total rate
• Esurance – provides special discounts and targeted services to military personnel; the company will also waive policy cancellation fees for service members
• AAA – offers membership and insurance product discounts for qualified veterans

For a more complete (though not exhaustive) list of available military discounts, take a look at this table.

As the data indicates, there are different requirements for qualifying for veteran’s car insurance discounts based on both company and location. For example, The General’s military discount is only available in Louisiana.

But in the case of Safe Auto, which is also only available in Louisiana, you cannot obtain car insurance with a veteran discount, as you only qualify for their military discounts if you’re currently active duty.

Are there private insurers that sell only to service members?

You can buy coverage through a public company that doesn’t require membership or you can buy insurance through a car insurance company for veterans and service members.

You don’t have to go through a dedicated company, but it’s a popular option for service members and their families at home.

Many people who have served prefer to do business with companies that specialize in coverage for active duty and veterans because the focus is on customer service and rewarding customers for their sacrifice.

Getting good customer service isn’t the only benefit. The private organizations typically give members of the armed forces special rate plans. Some private companies include:

USAA

The company was founded in 1922 and is perhaps the most popular insurance services company that caters to military members and their families. USAA will only offer coverage to people who qualify for their financial services membership.

Members typically save an average of $450 each year and can take advantage of special military-related discounts (as well as more traditional discounts) in addition to the low rate plans. Take a look at this table for average USAA rates by state as compared to overall average rates.

As you can see, USAA rates are an average of 34% lower than rates from other car insurance providers.

The company is known for its stellar customer service and flexible payment options, which both active duty personnel and disabled veterans can appreciate.

Armed Forces Insurance

Progressive Insurance has a special auto insurance program that’s for military and veterans. Referred to as Armed Forces Insurance (AFI), it is only available in 10 states. The rest of the policies, sold in another 28 states, can be obtained through the Progressive Insurance military program.

One advantage of buying an AFI policy is that you’ll get a reduced rate plan for being a veteran. You will also qualify for standard discounts like multi-car and multi-line.

AFI policyholders are part owners of the company because it is a reciprocal exchange and not a for-profit company. This means insureds receive dividends when the company performs well.

Do car modifications affect car insurance rates for disabled veterans?

Although car modifications generally won’t affect car insurance rates, it’s still important to tell your insurance company about them. Adding modifications like a wheelchair ramp can change the value of your car and your auto insurance needs to reflect that.

Also, it’s usually easier to make modifications on larger vehicles like SUVs and vans so that will also affect your car insurance.

Car insurance won’t help pay for the modifications themselves, but there are other programs that can help with the costs.

Auto Insurance for Disabled Veterans Solutions

You know car insurance for veterans can sometimes come with discounts, but what are other ways you can save, particularly if you’re living on a fixed income as a disabled vet?

Keep reading to find out more about auto insurance for veterans, the best insurance for veterans, applicable car insurance discounts, and more ways to save.

Do you have to have car insurance?

When you return home from serving in the military because you’re injured or ill, you’ll have to reintegrate into civilian life. For disabled veterans, auto insurance options are vast and can be hard to choose from.

You can’t drive the car you put in storage until you visit your local department of motor vehicles (DMV) and change your registration status from Planned Non-Operational to regular tags.

Is car insurance required? The answer is yes. As soon as the car is registered to be driven publicly you must fulfill the state’s mandatory insurance requirements.

This mandatory coverage varies by state but typically includes liability insurance.

While the car is sitting at your home or at your friend’s house it doesn’t need to be registered. You can legally take the tags off of a car while you’re serving, and you can also legally remove the insurance. But as soon as you’re ready to drive it on the road again, tags and insurance are required

The only way that insurance will remain a requirement is when the car is leased or financed.

What do you do with your car insurance while deployed?

One of the solutions for coverage needs when you’re leaving on deployment is to cancel your insurance after you’ve surrendered your plates. The other solution is to keep your insurance history by just suspending the policy.

If you suspended or canceled your insurance when you were deployed, you’ll need to reactivate or purchase new coverage.

When you suspend coverage, you’re basically putting your liability, collision, medical payments, uninsured motorist, and any other coverage you have on hold until you come back.

You may still keep comprehensive on the policy, but only if you want damage protection for your car. To reactivate the coverage, you can call your insurer and let them know. But be prepared; you may have to make a payment immediately.

Why is shopping around for car insurance so important for veterans?

It’s important for anyone to shop around when they are buying on a budget. While shopping around is always recommended, when you’re a veteran it’s especially important when you’re looking to save money on your insurance rates. For disabled veterans, car insurance is important to have.

All companies have products that are priced differently. Some companies may have better discounts than others, but generally, the reduced rate plans through USAA and AFI beat out the competition.

You should take a look at all the discount offerings and then compare quotes with your actual information. If you don’t have all of the details, make sure to compare apples to apples when looking at quotes so you can see the real price difference.

How do you choose which car insurance company to do business with?

Price is important, but it’s not the only factor you need to consider. If you value customer service, consider looking at customer satisfaction ratings through a source like J.D. Power & Associates.

J.D. Power rates insurance companies based on customer satisfaction by region using five different consumer variables including billing process and policy information, claims, and price.

You can also look at complaint records by pulling up the indices through the state department’s website or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) consumer insurance search site.

This can help you determine common types of complaints, number of complaints, how quickly complaints are resolved, etc.

You have served the nation and you deserve to do business with a company that will serve you. Make sure you shop the market and look for a company that really honors veterans.

You should also find a company that has special discounts and offerings that cater to your unique needs. You could call an agent to get a quote or you could get quotes online all in one platform using a quote tool like the one on this page.

What are other ways to save on auto insurance for disabled veterans?

In addition to getting special rates and discounts, there are other ways for veterans to save on car insurance. Some ways to save are:

• Change your deductible – Raising your deductible will lower your auto insurance rates. Just make sure you can pay the extra out-of-pocket costs that come along with a higher deductible.
• Improve your credit score – Most states allow car insurance companies to look at your credit score when determining rates. People with a higher credit score usually pay less than people with a low credit score.
• Change your coverage – Reevaluate your coverage to see if you are paying for coverage you don’t need. For example, if you have an older car, you might not need to carry collision and comprehensive coverages.
• Shop around – Every car insurance company will charge different rates for coverage. While one company might overlook that speeding ticket, another one will charge you extra for it.

There are many different ways to save on auto insurance. Make sure you are taking advantage of every discount and paying attention to your policy to get the best deals.

Auto Insurance for Disabled Veterans: The Bottom Line

When you’re looking for auto insurance for veterans, disabled or otherwise, it’s a good idea to keep a few things in mind:

• Some companies, like USAA and AFI, specialize in veteran’s auto insurance coverage and offer it only to those who are active duty or retired military
• Many larger insurance companies offer discounts for active duty and retired military, as well as other discounts for which you may qualify
• When you’re shopping for insurance you should look at customer service factors from companies like J.D. Power and complaint resolution information from organizations like the NAIC
• One of the most important ways you can save is by shopping around for car insurance by obtaining quotes from multiple companies and comparing rates

Are you ready to buy car insurance for disabled veterans? Start comparing car insurance rates for disabled veterans and affordable auto insurance for military vets by using your ZIP today. What car insurance company for disabled veterans works best for you? Find out now.