Lower Online Car Insurance Quotes and Other Military Benefits

Getting lower online car insurance quotes is just one of the many benefits that you may be eligible as a member of any branch of the nation’s military service.

Members of the armed forces have one of the most important jobs in the United States: protecting our country and keeping the world safe for democracy. Out of respect for this role, many companies offer discounts that are only available to military personnel, or sometimes military families and spouses.

Getting Around

It’s common for military personnel to have to travel quite a bit, whether going from home to basic training, getting reassigned across the country or shipping off on an active tour. The military itself doesn’t always arrange for all of the transportation that an enlisted person might need, particularly for personal trips.

Luckily, a lot of the major transportation companies have independently offered a number of discounts for those passengers in the military. AMTRAK provides a percentage off regular train tickets, as does Greyhound Bus. Several different airlines also have special military rates available for servicemen and women. And, upon reaching your destination, you’ll find that a lot of rental car companies provide discounted rates as well.

If scheduling flights, remember that Air Mobility Command (AMC) offers free flights between military bases anywhere in the world. Even if there isn't a base exactly where you'd like to go, the relatively large military presence afforded by the United States armed forces means there's likely a base that's pretty close to somewhere that would make a great vacation. Just remember that AMC travel requires a lot of flexibility.

Taking Vacations

Taking some time off is important for relaxing, de-stressing and spending time with family, all of which can be hard to come by in the hectic military life. Going on vacation can be a big expense, but there are a number of ways that military personnel can save when taking a trip, either solo or with the family.

Besides being eligible for discounts on getting to where you’re going, many vacation destinations offer cheaper rates to military families. This can start with your hotel; many well-known national chains have discounts for those in the military. Additionally, big theme parks can offer rate breaks too, including

SeaWorld, Knott's Berry Farm in California, Disneyland, Disney World and Universal Studios among others. Even many smaller operations like locally-run ski resorts and lift passes frequently offer lower rates for military members.

Big Ticket Items

When it comes time to make a major financial commitment, being in the military can definitely pay off. Military-friendly organizations like the United States Automobile Association (USAA) have established partnerships with specific car dealerships to help servicemen and women buy cars at a discount.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program allows those in the military to get great rates on a home loan even without putting anything down, acknowledging the future earning potential of these servicemen and women as well as recognizing the financial uncertainty that can sometimes come from the early days of a military career.

Everyday Life

It doesn’t have to be a special occasion for those in the military to enjoy discounts. In fact, a number of stores offer military discounts just for basic needs:

·         Discount Tires advertises a 10% discount for military folk who need new tires on their civilian vehicles. Other national chains may offer a similar deal.

·         Stores like Old Navy, Dick’s Sporting Goods and others offer a discount on every purchase made at the store in order to support those in the armed forces.

·         Car insurance providers typically offer lower car insurance quotes to those in the military, and online car insurance quotes can be easily obtained even while overseas. 

·         Apple computers has a separate military store that has lower rates on the latest technology to help military families keep in touch during deployment.

·         Movie theaters, fitness centers and grocery stores may all offer discounts on tickets, services and goods for military personnel.

Despite the challenges of life in the military, there are a lot of rewards as well. Knowing how you can make the most out of all the different military discounts available for service members can help your dollar stretch further even when running on a tight budget. The savings from travel, vacations and everyday purchases can add up very quickly to a nice nest egg in the future.