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- Full coverage is required if your vehicle is financed, leased or will be driven by family members while you’re away.
- Storage insurance (comprehensive-only) protects a parked vehicle against theft, fire and weather while cutting costs.
- Suspending coverage is possible with some insurers but can leave you financially exposed and may affect future premiums.
Military deployment brings unique challenges – including financial ones. Knowing what to do with your car insurance while deployed can take a little stress off your shoulders, though. If your car is staying stateside, you could keep full coverage auto insurance or you could switch to storage insurance.
In this guide, we’ll explain your options, show you how to protect your vehicle during deployment and review a few ways you could save money on car insurance while you’re away.
What happens to your car insurance during deployment?
When you’re deployed, your car insurance needs can change, especially if you’re not around to drive your vehicle.
“Deployed service members can choose to keep, reduce or suspend coverage depending on whether the vehicle will be used while they are away,” says Rajni Kapur, CEO of All Solutions Insurance.
Reduce coverage
If no one will be using it, comprehensive-only coverage will protect the parked vehicle against theft, vandalism, fire and natural disasters.
If you’re a USAA member, you may be able to store your vehicle securely during deployment and save up to 60% on your insurance while you’re gone. Or, Kapur says, you can drop coverage to the state minimum.
However, that won’t cover your vehicle if someone damages it. So, for example, if it’s parked out in front of your house and someone hits it and drives away, you won’t be covered.
Suspend coverage
This option essentially suspends your insurance until your deployment is over. You won’t be able to file any claims while your policy is suspended, but you can resume coverage once you return.
Suspending coverage is the riskiest option – without continuous coverage, your rates are likely to go up once you resume your coverage and you’ll be rated as a riskier driver. Plus, vehicles are expensive assets – leaving one uninsured is a significant risk.
Keep coverage the same
“If family members are using the vehicle, they can keep full coverage,” Kapur says.
Whatever you decide, maintaining coverage is important to avoid a lapse. Lapsed car insurance leaves you financially vulnerable if something happens to the vehicle, plus it makes it more difficult to find affordable coverage when you return from your deployment.
If your vehicle is leased or financed, staying insured is even more critical. Most lenders and leasing companies require full coverage to protect their investment.
Do you need full coverage while deployed?
If anyone else is going to be behind the wheel of your car, you’ll need to maintain liability coverage. You might also need to keep collision and comprehensive coverage, which, combined with liability, comprise “full coverage.”
Keep reading to see when you need full coverage and when you may not.
When to keep full coverage
There are two main reasons to keep full coverage car insurance while you’re deployed:
- If the vehicle is financed or leased.
- If your spouse or other household members will drive the car while you’re away.
Full coverage auto insurance protects the owner’s financial stake in your car (whether that’s you or a lienholder) from a covered event, such as a crash, a collision or severe weather.
It also protects you and your family members from potentially expensive out-of-pocket costs if they are involved in an accident while driving the car.
When you may not need it
On the flip side, you may be able to reduce your car insurance coverage if:
- The car is fully paid off and stored securely, such as in a garage.
- The car won’t be driven at all while you’re deployed.
The key is that the stored car is fully paid off; otherwise, your lease or loan agreement might mandate full coverage, even if the vehicle is in storage.
However, you could lower your liability limits if you have to maintain full coverage but won’t be driving your vehicle – lower them to 50/100/50 rather than 100/300/100, for example.
What is storage car insurance (or comprehensive-only coverage)?
Storage car insurance covers theft, fire, vandalism and natural disasters on vehicles that have been stored securely. It’s also sometimes called “comprehensive-only” coverage.
Storage car insurance can drastically lower your premiums while keeping the car protected.
TIPOnly remove liability coverage if the car will not be driven by anyone. Driving without car insurance is illegal in almost every state.
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Military discounts and deployment benefits
USAA and GEICO offer specific discounts for service members’ deployment.
- USAA: Save on car insurance when you store your car during deployment.
- GEICO: Those on emergency deployment to designated imminent danger pay areas can receive a deployment discount.
Some insurers allow you to suspend liability and collision coverage during deployment while maintaining comprehensive coverage. When you return, you can reactivate liability and collision.
Storing your vehicle on base may qualify you for additional savings. Eligible USAA members save an extra 15% by garaging their car on base when they’re deployed.
How to decide what’s best for you when deployed overseas
Follow the steps below to determine the best insurance option for you during deployment.
Step 1: Check the lender or lease requirements for your vehicle. If you’re required to have full coverage, you’ll need to keep that coverage, even while deployed.
Step 2: Decide whether anyone will drive the vehicle during your deployment. If someone else will drive it, even just around the corner to keep the battery fresh, you must maintain liability coverage. If the vehicle will be locked and stored, you could consider storage-only insurance.
Step 3: Compare rates for full coverage vs. storage (comprehensive) vs. liability-only insurance. Get quotes for all types of coverage from several companies to make apples-to-apples comparisons. Most insurers let you change the coverage types easily on quote pages so you can compare different coverages and rates.
Step 4: Ask your insurer about military-specific discounts and options. Make sure you mention the overseas deployment, so your insurance company tailor coverage to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car insurance during deployment
Can I cancel my car insurance during deployment?
Canceling your car insurance during deployment is risky, especially if the car is still registered. Most states require a minimum level of insurance coverage. If you cancel, you’ll be subject to registration fines and higher insurance rates in the future.
What happens if I drop liability coverage while deployed?
Dropping liability coverage could save you a little money on premiums, but you’d be financially responsible if something happens to your car while you’re gone. Dropping liability could also result in a gap in your car insurance coverage. Insurers see a gap in your insurance history as a risk factor and your future premiums could be higher.
Do I need full coverage if my spouse drives the car while I’m away?
If your spouse will be driving the car while you’re deployed, you should keep liability coverage. If your spouse lives with you, they should already be named on the policy. If you have comprehensive and collision coverage (which, with liability, comprise full coverage), then you’ll be better protected financially by keeping those coverages.
Does USAA offer storage insurance for deployed members?
Yes, USAA offers storage coverage for its members who are deployed. You can save money with USAA’s storage discount, too.
Is storage insurance cheaper than full coverage?
Yes, storage insurance (comprehensive coverage) is typically much cheaper than full coverage and liability-only coverage. If you choose USAA for storage insurance, you could save up to 60% on premiums.
Sources
- USAA. “Deployment.” Accessed October 2025.
- Geico. “Military discounts for your insurance needs.” Accessed October 2025.
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