When I was comparing rates last year, my zip code and how many miles I drive daily made a bigger difference than any discount.
I’ve noticed the same thing, especially being flagged as a high-risk driver. Even with a military discount, my premiums barely budged compared to the impact of my driving record and location. It’s almost like those discounts are more of a marketing hook than an actual savings tool. Still, I suppose if you stack enough small discounts, it can add up... just don’t expect miracles if your risk factors are high.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen the military discount make a noticeable dent—at least with USAA. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- My buddy (also ex-military) and I both have clean records, but he lives in a pricier zip code. His base rate was higher, but the military discount still knocked off more than any “good driver” or “multi-car” deal he could find elsewhere.
- For my classic car, the specialty insurers barely cared about my military status, but mainstream ones did. Go figure.
- I do think if you’ve got tickets or live somewhere with high theft rates, no discount is gonna save you much. But for folks with average risk factors, stacking those little discounts can actually get you close to what the ads promise.
Maybe it’s just luck of the draw with the company? Or maybe it’s more about how all those factors add up in their formulas. Either way, I wouldn’t write off the military discount entirely... just don’t expect it to work miracles if you’ve got other stuff working against you.
I’ve noticed USAA does seem to be the outlier when it comes to military discounts—most other companies barely move the needle. Have you or your friend ever tried running quotes with non-military-focused insurers just to compare? Curious if it’s really just a USAA thing or if others actually compete.
I’ve actually shopped around a ton because my driving record isn’t the cleanest, and honestly, USAA is usually way ahead for military folks. But I have seen GEICO and Progressive sometimes come close if you stack all their discounts—even then, it’s not a huge difference. Have you noticed if your rates change much after an accident or ticket? For me, that’s where most companies really jack up the price, but USAA was a little more forgiving. Just curious if anyone else had that experience...
I hear you on the driving record thing—mine’s not spotless either, thanks to a fender bender a few years back (classic car, too, which made it sting even more). USAA really does seem to cut military folks a bit more slack than most. After my accident, my rate went up, but nowhere near as much as what my buddy saw with Progressive. He got hit with a 30% hike after a single speeding ticket, which just seems wild.
GEICO and Progressive do throw a lot of discounts at you, but I’ve always felt like they’re playing catch-up with USAA’s base rates. Maybe it’s the military connection, or maybe they just have a different risk model, but I’ve never seen anyone beat them for long-term value—especially if you’ve got a couple dings on your record.
One thing I’ve noticed is that USAA seems to look at your overall history, not just the last incident. Like, if you’ve been with them a while and had a clean run before, they’re less likely to hammer you for one mistake. That’s huge for folks who actually drive their cars and aren’t just letting them sit in the garage under a cover.
I get why people shop around, though. Sometimes those “new customer” deals from other companies look tempting, but they don’t always last. And if you’re into classic cars like me, USAA’s coverage options are actually pretty flexible—way better than some of the mainstream companies that don’t know what to do with anything older than 2005.
Anyway, don’t beat yourself up over a less-than-perfect record. Most of us have been there. The important thing is finding a company that treats you like a person, not just a risk factor. For my money, USAA’s still the one to beat, especially if you’ve served.
