Police Officers And Auto Insurance: Understanding The Requirements

Do police officers need auto insurance? The answer is yes, but it depends on whether they are on or off duty. Police vehicles are typically insured by the state, county or city that owns them and officers have no input on the coverage types or options. When off duty, police officers will need a car insurance policy that meets or exceeds their state's minimum required limits, just like any other driver.

There is no car insurance for police officers specifically, but there are several companies that offer discounts for law enforcement officers. These include GEICO, USAA, Progressive, State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Nationwide and California Casualty.

Police officers' auto insurance for personal vehicles

Police officers are required to have auto insurance for their personal vehicles, and they can often get discounted rates. While there is no car insurance specifically for police officers, they may be able to find savings on their personal car insurance because of their profession.

When off-duty and using their personal vehicles, police officers need a car insurance policy that meets or exceeds their state's minimum required limits, just like any other driver. Auto insurance companies calculate rates based on risk, and police officers are often considered lower-risk drivers. This is because they have extensive driving training and a good understanding of the rules of the road, so they are less likely to cause accidents or file claims. As a result, police officers may be offered lower rates or discounts on their car insurance.

Several companies offer discounts for law enforcement officers, including:

• GEICO: GEICO offers a federal employee discount that police officers may qualify for.
• Liberty Mutual: If you are a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), you may be eligible for special savings with Liberty Mutual in some states.
• Country Financial: Full-time police officers may be eligible for Country Financial's occupation discount of up to 15% off.
• Farmers: In some states, Farmers offers an occupation discount.
• California Casualty: Available in most states, California Casualty sells insurance only to firefighters, police, educators, and a few other professions. They also offer a unique coverage option called the Fallen Officer/Fallen Hero Survivor Benefit, which waives premiums for the surviving spouse or partner for the remainder of the year and the following year. However, this coverage is not available in Georgia, Montana, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Texas.

In addition to taking advantage of law enforcement discounts, police officers can also save money on their auto insurance premiums by bundling their home or renter's insurance into a multi-discount policy or by paying their premium in full upfront instead of in monthly installments.

Auto insurance for police vehicles

Police vehicles are typically insured by the state, county, or city that owns them. They could be insured under a group policy or may be self-insured by the government. This means police officers have no input on the coverage types or options for their squad cars.

Since squad cars are not owned by police officers, officers don't have a financial interest in the vehicle and won't be responsible for the auto insurance policy on their squad vehicle.

Auto Insurance for Personal Vehicles Owned by Police Officers

When off-duty and using their personal vehicles, police officers need a car insurance policy that meets or exceeds their state's minimum required limits, just like any other driver.

While auto insurance companies do not sell policies specifically for off-duty officers, several companies offer discounts for law enforcement officers. When shopping for coverage, it's worth asking each insurance agent if their company offers law enforcement discounts.

Discounts for police officers

Police officers are often offered discounts on car insurance, which is great news given the high costs of auto insurance. Car insurance companies consider police officers less likely to file a claim or receive a citation, making them less-risky customers.

• GEICO: GEICO offers a 15% discount on car insurance for police officers and is considered the best overall for law enforcement auto insurance.
• USAA: USAA is a good option for police officers with military experience, offering low rates and full coverage.
• Progressive: Progressive offers a 10% discount for law enforcement and has an excellent online presence and mobile app.
• State Farm: State Farm offers a 25% discount for police officers and has over 19,000 agencies across the US.
• Allstate: Allstate also offers a 25% discount for law enforcement and has a large network of local agents.
• Farmers: Farmers offers a discount for law enforcement, but is not available in all states.
• Liberty Mutual: Liberty Mutual offers a 12% discount to members of the Fraternal Order of Police.
• Nationwide: Nationwide does not offer a specific discount for police officers, but its SmartRide program offers a maximum savings of 40% for safe driving.
• AAA: AAA offers a discount on auto insurance for police officers who have an AAA membership.
• California Casualty: California Casualty offers a unique coverage option called the Fallen Officer/Fallen Hero Survivor Benefit, which waives premiums for the remaining calendar year and the year following for the surviving spouse or partner of a police officer who dies in the line of duty.

It is important to note that insurance is state-regulated, so an insurance company might not offer a discount in one state while it does in another. Additionally, insurance companies will require proof of your profession, such as association membership or other documentation, to qualify for the discount.

Specialised auto insurance companies for police officers

While there are no auto insurance companies that cater specifically to police officers, there are several companies that offer discounts for law enforcement officers.

GEICO

GEICO offers a federal employee discount that you may qualify for as a police officer. GEICO is also one of the cheapest insurers for police officers, with an average monthly rate of $100.

Liberty Mutual

If you are a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), you may be eligible for special savings with Liberty Mutual in some states. Liberty Mutual also offers a 12% discount to members of the FOP who purchase their policy online.

Country Financial

Full-time police officers may be eligible for Country Financial's occupation discount, which can be up to 15% off.

Farmers

In some states, Farmers offers an occupation discount. Contact a local agent to see if it is available in your area.

California Casualty

Available in most states, California Casualty sells insurance exclusively to firefighters, police, educators, and a few other professions. They also offer a unique coverage option called the Fallen Officer/Fallen Hero Survivor Benefit, which waives premiums for the remaining calendar year and the year following for the surviving spouse or partner of a fallen officer.

USAA

USAA is another one of the cheapest insurers for police officers, especially those with military experience. They offer full coverage for law enforcement and have high customer satisfaction and financial ratings.

Progressive

Progressive is also one of the cheapest insurers for police officers, with affordable rates for high-risk drivers. They also have a strong online presence and a loyalty discount of 10% for law enforcement.

State Farm

State Farm has a vast network of agents throughout the United States and offers a 25% car insurance discount for police officers.

Allstate

Allstate offers a 25% law enforcement auto insurance discount and has a large network of local agents.

AAA

AAA offers a discount on auto insurance for law enforcement officers who have an AAA membership.

Other Ways to Save

In addition to taking advantage of law enforcement discounts, police officers can save on auto insurance by:

• Bundling all insurance policies (e.g., home, renters, motorcycle, life insurance)
• Paying premiums in full upfront rather than in monthly installments
• Paying premiums via electronic funds transfer (EFT) rather than credit or debit card
• Using telematics programs (e.g., Progressive's SnapShot, Allstate's Drivewise, State Farm's Drive Safe and Save)

Insurance for police officers using their personal vehicles for work

Police officers are required to have auto insurance for their personal vehicles, just like any other driver. While on duty, police officers are usually covered by the state, county, or city that owns the police vehicles. However, when off duty and using their personal vehicles, they need a separate car insurance policy that meets or exceeds the minimum required limits in their state.

There are a few things that police officers should keep in mind regarding insurance for their personal vehicles:

• Discounts for Law Enforcement Officers: Several insurance companies offer discounts specifically for law enforcement officers. For example, GEICO offers a federal employee discount, and Country Financial provides an occupation discount of up to 15% for full-time police officers. It is worth asking insurance agents about law enforcement discounts when shopping for coverage.
• Lower Rates Due to Lower Risk: Insurance companies often perceive police officers as safer drivers and, therefore, lower-risk clients. This is because police officers have extensive driving training and a deep understanding of road rules. As a result, insurance companies may offer lower rates to police officers for their personal vehicle insurance.
• Additional Coverage Options: In addition to the required minimum coverage, police officers may want to consider optional coverage types such as uninsured motorist coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage. These additional coverage options can provide financial protection in various scenarios, such as accidents with uninsured drivers or damage to the vehicle caused by natural disasters.
• Personal Liability Insurance: While not specifically auto insurance, personal liability insurance can provide additional protection for police officers. This type of insurance can cover legal expenses in the rare event that a police officer is sued and the department does not cover the legal costs. It is important to note that this type of insurance is not always necessary, and the need for it depends on individual circumstances and the department's coverage.

Frequently asked questions