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Active-duty and retired military members often have unique needs when it comes to homeowners insurance. For example, a home may sit vacant while a service member is on deployment, which can affect coverage and require special endorsements.
Fortunately, military families can access coverage through both military-specific and traditional insurers — many of which offer military discounts and specialized coverage options.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to compare the best homeowners insurance for veterans and military members, which features to prioritize, and how to find the right policy at an affordable price.
Armed Forces Insurance, USAA, and Nationwide are among the top home insurers for military families.
Active-duty members may need a vacancy endorsement during deployment.[1]
Military gear and uniforms may require specialized coverage.
Comparing homeowners insurance quotes is generally the best way for military families to find the lowest rates. The table below shows the top insurers’ average annual premiums for policies with $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible.
Insurance Company | IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | Average Monthly Premium | Military-Specific Discounts/Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Insurance | N/A | $160 | Military-focused insurer, standard home discounts, optional valuable items protection | Military households |
| USAA | 8.0 | $169 | Military-focused insurer, member discounts, deployment property insurance in select locations | Active-duty or deployed military members |
| Nationwide | 8.0 | $280 | Savings for bundling, standard home discounts | Online tools |
| Farmers | 8.0 | $231 | Affinity military discount, savings for bundling, standard home discounts | Customizable coverage |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) serves military families but can help you find coverage elsewhere if you’re not eligible. AFI can customize your policy with optional earthquake, flood, water backup, and valuable items protection. It doesn’t list specific military or vacancy endorsements, so you should confirm deployment options with an agent.
AFI insurance premiums average about $160 per month, with discounts for security systems, windstorm-mitigation features (only in Florida), and bundling policies. J.D. Power hasn’t ranked AFI in its home insurance studies, but the insurer has an excellent Trustpilot rating. AM Best previously rated the company B+ (Good) but withdrew the rating in 2022 at AFI’s request.
Online resources and tools geared toward military members’ needs
Renters, auto, business, and pet insurance available
Slightly higher-than-average number of homeowner complaints on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index
No mobile app
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8 /10 |
|---|---|
| JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale. | 737 |
| $300,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others. | $169/mo |
| $500,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others. | $245/mo |
USAA provides insurance and other financial services to members of the U.S. military community in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The insurer offers multiple coverage types that are especially helpful for deployed service members, including water backup, earthquake, home-sharing, and landlord insurance (if you rent out your property while you’re deployed).
USAA also covers military uniforms for active-duty members, even those deployed, with no deductible. Similarly, USAA waives its deductible for lost or damaged military equipment as well as personal property lost or damaged due to war.
AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior)
Consistently scores well above industry average in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction rankings
No live 24/7 customer support
Discount availability varies by state
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.4 /10 |
|---|---|
| JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale. | 641 |
| $300,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others. | $280/mo |
| $500,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others. | $441/mo |
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company has a lot to offer the military community. Active-duty service members may prefer to take care of their insurance digitally since their location may change depending on deployment. Nationwide’s highly rated mobile app and user-friendly website make it a good fit for military homeowners who need online access.
While Nationwide does have local insurance agents available to help in the 47 states where it operates, you can get a home insurance quote, start a claim, and manage your account entirely online or on the app.
Credit card fraud protection included in standard home insurance policy
Optional flood insurance available
Identity theft and water backup not included in standard policies
Not available in all 50 states
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.4 /10 |
|---|---|
| JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale. | 609 |
| $300,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others. | $231/mo |
| $500,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others. | $378/mo |
Though Farmers Insurance doesn’t exclusively sell coverage to military personnel, the insurance company offers a number of benefits to members of military organizations. Farmers offers an undisclosed military discount for active-duty service members and veterans, meaning your service could potentially help you save money with this insurer.
Homeowners can also customize home insurance policies with the Farmers Flex Personal Home policies. Several unique features of these customizable policies could be helpful for military homeowners — especially the home-sharing coverage, which can help deployed military members who rent out their homes while on duty.
Highly customizable home insurance coverages
Number of discounts for eco-friendly home improvements
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating
Not available in all 50 states
Veterans and active-duty service members often have different homeowners insurance needs than civilians. Military families may face deployments, relocations, or periods when they rent out their property or leave it temporarily unoccupied.
When comparing home insurance companies, it’s important to consider more than just price. Service members should also look for:
Military discounts: Some insurers offer home insurance discounts for military members, helping reduce premiums.[2]
Deployment accommodations: If you deploy, you may need a separate endorsement or policy if you rent out your home or leave it vacant while you’re gone.
Military-specific coverage: Certain companies offer insurance products specifically for military members and their families, which may better address their specialized needs.
VA loan compatibility: The insurer should meet lender requirements and work with VA-backed mortgages.
Claims satisfaction: A streamlined claims process makes it easier for you or a family member to file a claim while you’re away.
Bundling options: Combining your home policy with car insurance or life insurance can make coverage easier to manage and may save you money.
Find coverage for veterans and active-duty service members today
Companies with the best homeowners insurance for veterans may offer military-specific benefits and endorsements that provide better protection for you, your family, and your home. Below are some insurance options to consider:
No-deductible uniform coverage: Military-focused insurers may waive the deductible for lost or damaged military uniforms.
Service equipment protection: Some policies may protect military equipment and gear that standard personal property coverage doesn’t.
Scheduled property coverage: Service members may need higher policy limits or an endorsement for personal property, such as firearms or technology.
Replacement cost coverage: This coverage replaces your home and belongings with materials or items of similar quality, without deducting depreciation.
Vacant home/deployment coverage: Some insurers offer vacancy endorsements that keep your homeowners insurance active if you leave your property unoccupied during deployment.
War zone personal property coverage: Standard home insurance policies typically exclude losses caused by war. Some military-focused companies offer personal property coverage options for deployment.
The Department of Veterans Affairs requires homeowners insurance coverage for all VA-backed mortgages.[3] You’ll need an active policy in place before closing to satisfy your lender.
Unlike many conventional home loans, VA loans don’t require private mortgage insurance, but they still require insurance coverage on the home itself.
As with any mortgage, you must keep your homeowners policy active until you pay off the loan. If your coverage lapses, your mortgage lender may step in and force-place insurance, which often costs more. Plus, this type of coverage may protect only your home’s structure — not personal property or liability.
Deployment can pose unique risks for insurers because claim-causing problems — like burst pipes, theft, or vandalism — can go undetected for long periods in vacant homes. Most standard policies exclude or limit coverage for homes left unoccupied for 30 to 60 days. The average military deployment is six to 12 months long.[4]
Before you leave, contact your insurer to ask about a vacancy endorsement or a separate vacant home insurance policy. Some military-focused insurers may offer deployment-related protections. For example, USAA’s deployment property insurance covers personal property (not the home itself) while you’re away.
If vacancy coverage isn’t available, consider alternatives, such as hiring a house sitter, renting out the property, or asking family members to maintain occupancy.
Insurify works with 120+ top insurers to show you the most accurate quotes
The home insurance comparison-shopping process can look slightly different for military members than it does for civilians:
Start with military-only insurers. Request quotes from military-focused insurers first, then compare with traditional insurers that offer military discounts.
Mention VA loan status. When requesting quotes, tell insurers you have a VA loan to make sure coverage meets your lender’s requirements.
Ask about vacancies. Check whether the insurer offers vacancy endorsements or deployment protections if your home will be unoccupied for more than 30 days.
Verify coverage for service-related property. Ask about higher limits or endorsements for uniforms, firearms, military gear, or equipment.
Look into bundling options. Buying multiple policies from one insurer can lower premiums. For example, you may receive a discount for bundling your home and auto insurance.
Veterans and active-duty service members may qualify for special discounts and coverage features. The answers below break down what to know before you choose a homeowners insurance policy.
USAA membership still has eligibility requirements. The company serves active-duty service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, certain federal employees, and their eligible family members.
Homeowners insurance costs an average of $169 per month for veterans with USAA. But insurance rates vary based on location, dwelling coverage limits, home characteristics, insurance company, and prior claims history.
The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn’t provide homeowners insurance directly. That said, VA loans require you to carry homeowners insurance coverage to meet lender terms.
The best home insurance company for veterans depends on your coverage needs, location, and budget. Some of our top picks include Armed Forces Insurance, USAA, Farmers, and Nationwide.
Homeowners insurance typically includes dwelling, personal belongings, loss of use (additional living expenses), and liability coverage. Some companies may offer optional add-ons, like vacancy endorsements or military gear protection.
If your home is in a flood zone, then yes. Government-backed mortgages require flood insurance if you’re in a high-risk area.
Insurify data scientists analyzed rates from more than 180 home insurance companies sourced directly from Insurify’s partner companies and Quadrant Information Services. Rates span all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and quote averages represent the mean price for a given coverage level and geographic area. To ensure data reliability, only insurers meeting minimum quote thresholds were included in the analysis.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for homeowners with no prior claims and good credit with a home construction year of 1980. The default coverage assumptions include:
Default Coverage Assumptions
Additional data points beyond these default values are sourced from Insurify’s proprietary database. Rates are updated monthly.
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5+ years experience in personal finance writing
Personal finance blogger
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
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