Car Insurance for Military Members and Their Families

Deployment, a PCS move or an overseas assignment changes what your car insurance needs to do. This checklist covers storing a car, garaging on base, moving abroad and leaving a car with family, using what USAA and GEICO publish for service members. Rules differ by insurer and state, so confirm each step with your insurer before you change coverage.

Checklist at a glance

Deploying: Ask about a storage discount or plan instead of cancelling (USAA and GEICO both offer one).
Moving (PCS): Update your garaging address; check the registration and insurance rules of your home state and your new state.
Going overseas: A U.S. policy may not cover you abroad; ask about overseas coverage.
Family driving: Make sure regular drivers are on the policy and someone can act for you.

By the InsuranceNew.org Editorial Team. Last reviewed: October 8, 2026. How we research carriers

Before you deploy: storing your car

Cancelling outright is rarely the only choice. Two military-focused insurers publish storage options:

USAA says you can save on your premium if you put your car in storage. Its terms: the vehicle must not be driven and must be stored in a secure location, and the storage discount is not available in North Carolina and Virginia (USAA auto insurance).
GEICO says that if your military duties require you to store your vehicle for 30 days or more, its Storage Protection Plan can suspend or reduce your coverage; you set it up through the GEICO Military Center (GEICO Military Storage Protection).

USAA's military car storage guide also points out that some insurers may raise your rate if you cancel and sign up again later, so keeping coverage active can pay off. If the car is financed, the lender may require collision and comprehensive to stay on the policy (see full coverage by insurance company); ask before you reduce anything.

Garaging on base

USAA lists a discount for garaging your car on base, up to 15% according to its auto insurance page when we checked on October 8, 2026 (restrictions apply). USAA's storage guide also notes that most bases offer a designated lot for deployments and suggests talking to your base transportation office about the rules. Tell your insurer where the car is actually kept; the garaging address is part of the quote.

PCS moves inside the U.S.

When you move to a new duty station, update the garaging address on your policy. GEICO notes that some states let service members keep their vehicle registration and car insurance through their home state while they are stationed elsewhere or deployed (GEICO military FAQ). Whether that applies depends on your home state and your new state, so check both states' rules. Minimum liability limits also differ by state; our sister site lists minimum car insurance requirements by state.

Moving or deploying overseas

GEICO says its auto policies do not extend coverage to foreign countries. For a move abroad, the GEICO Insurance Agency works with partner carriers that may offer car, motorcycle and personal property coverage, depending on the country (GEICO overseas insurance).
USAA offers overseas insurance for members who PCS or live abroad and says you don't have to cancel an existing policy: call and it converts the policy in countries where it offers coverage (USAA overseas insurance).
Check the insurance rules of the country you are moving to before you drive there.

Family members driving while you're away

If a spouse, parent or friend will drive your car regularly, make sure they are listed on the policy (see other drivers on a car insurance quote). GEICO's pre-deployment checklist suggests giving a power of attorney to someone you trust to handle your affairs while you are deployed, and your base legal office can explain which type to use. GEICO's military FAQ adds that a parent with a power of attorney may make changes for a son or daughter who is deployed.

Which insurers to compare

USAA: for active duty, National Guard and Reserve, veterans who served honorably, contracted ROTC cadets and midshipmen, officer and warrant officer candidates, service academy appointees, and spouses and children of USAA members (per usaa.com). See our USAA eligibility and quote guide.
GEICO: open to the general public, with a military discount of up to 15%, an Emergency Deployment Discount and a Navy League membership discount listed on its military page (checked October 8, 2026). See our GEICO quote guide.
Other national carriers, such as State Farm or Progressive, sell to the general public and are worth including in the price comparison.

Riding too? Our USAA motorcycle insurance guide explains how USAA handles motorcycle policies. For a broader view of USAA from a family perspective, see is USAA worth it for military families? on our sister site. To compare several carriers at once, use our carrier comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pause car insurance while I'm deployed?

Some insurers offer a storage option instead of cancelling. GEICO says its Storage Protection Plan can suspend or reduce coverage if your military duties require you to store your vehicle for 30 days or more, and USAA lists a storage discount for a car that isn't driven and is stored securely (not available in North Carolina or Virginia). Ask your insurer before you drop coverage, especially on a financed car.

Do I need insurance on a car in storage?

Keeping some coverage is often worth it. USAA notes that some insurers may raise your rate if you cancel and then buy again later, a stored car can still be stolen or damaged, and a lender may require coverage to stay in place.

What changes after a PCS move?

Update your garaging address with your insurer. Minimum requirements differ by state, and GEICO notes that some states let service members keep their registration and insurance through their home state while stationed elsewhere. Check the rules of both states.

Does my U.S. car insurance cover me overseas?

Often not. GEICO says its auto policies do not extend to foreign countries and offers overseas coverage through partner carriers. USAA says it can convert an existing policy in countries where it offers coverage.

Who is eligible for USAA car insurance?

Per usaa.com: active duty, National Guard and Reserve, veterans who served honorably, contracted ROTC cadets and midshipmen, officer and warrant officer candidates, service academy appointees, and spouses and children of USAA members.

Compare car insurance quotes by ZIP Code

Compare car insurance quotes for your new address by ZIP Code. The form continues to a partner site, not to USAA, GEICO or any other carrier named on this page.

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Sources

Checked on October 8, 2026 on each carrier's official website. Carrier pages change; the carrier's policy documents and its quote are what count.

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