If you are a member of the military expecting imminent deployment or currently serving overseas, insurance for your car left behind in the States is probably among the least of your concerns. While this is perfectly understandable, it's worth spending a little time and effort to make sure that the car you leave behind will still be there for you to use when you return. Fortunately, most car insurance providers offer special insurance military car insurance quotes, policies, deals, and discounts specifically tailored to those serving in our armed forces.
Focusing On What's Important
In many cases, a spouse or family member will take possession of a car while its owner is serving overseas. For these people, it's important to make sure that the policy already in place reflects this. Obviously, it's also a good idea to clarify with this other person whether you or they will be paying the premiums during this period. Getting the necessary changes and arrangements made can take some time, so these steps should probably be taken well in advance of any departure if such a thing is possible.
Safe Harbor
When there is no one else available to take care of your car while you're away, it may be prudent to have your vehicle placed into secure storage to prevent damage and/or theft. Most of the time this means letting your insurance lapse until you return, but some insurers handle this situation more amicably than others. If possible, do some cursory investigation to find out whether your insurer will force you to pay higher premiums after you take your car back out of storage. Recent changes to the law in several states have forced insurers there to stop penalizing returning veterans with higher premiums, but if your home state is not among them you should be aware of that possibility.
Know Your Military Car Insurance Options
Almost every car insurance company has some kind of military car insurance discount to offer active-duty military personnel, so if you haven't already done so it would be a good idea to determine your eligibility for these programs. While you're doing this, don't forget to check with other insurers to see whether they provide greater discounts and consideration for people serving in the armed forces. In some cases, the differences between one company and the next can be surprisingly large. Some states are also home to insurers that specialize in catering to military clients, and if yours is among them you should make this one of the first things to investigate.
Chances are very good that any person currently serving in the United States military has far better things to do with their time than to individually check up on the prices offered by various insurers in their area. For this reason it's advisable to take advantage of insurance companies and third-party organizations that will solicit quotes on your behalf, allowing you to rapidly sift through offers and single out the few that are worth your time to investigate.