Exchange Opens First Auto Insurance Business at Ramstein Air Base

The Exchange opened the first auto insurance business at a BX or PX on July 6 at Ramstein Air Base, kicking off a pilot program that could lead to more insurance offices opening at overseas Exchanges.

Located inside the Military AutoSource office at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Exchange, American Auto Services celebrated with a ribbon-cutting by Exchange Europe/Africa/Southwest Asia Region Commander Col. Don Nowlin, Exchange Region Senior Vice President Marla Smith Randolph, KMCC Services Business Manager Lani Chandler, Region Services Program Specialist Gino Rakas, and American Auto Services owner John Sweeney.

From left, Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Exchange Services Business Manager Lani Chandler, American Auto Services owner John Sweeney, Exchange Region Senior Vice President Marla Smith Randolph, Exchange Europe/Africa/Southwest Asia Region Commander Col. Don Nowlin and Exchange Region Services Program Specialist Gino Rakas cut the ribbon during the grand opening of American Auto Services July 6 at the KMCC Exchange at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

“Warfighters and military family members are required to have liability insurance before driving privately owned vehicles, such as automobiles and motorcycles, in Germany,” Nowlin said. “American Auto Services’ convenient, on-base location gives drivers a sense of confidence, allowing them to sign up for their policy in the comfortable, familiar surroundings of their local Exchange.”

American Auto Services offers customized policies that fulfill all of Germany’s host nation requirements for U.S. military personnel stationed in Germany.

“It can be very stressful when arriving to Germany,” said Space Force Master Sgt. Anthony Warfield, a cyber operator assigned to 1st Air and Space Communications Operations Squadron who saw the new insurance office while shopping at the KMCC mall, “so it’s very convenient to have an auto insurance agency located here on base.”

The Exchange will monitor American Auto Services’ performance during its first year of business to determine whether additional insurance businesses will open at overseas Exchanges, Rakas said.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said, “but the business plan went up the chain very quickly, with senior leadership ultimately approving this pilot location at KMCC.”

American Auto Services is projected to provide overseas drivers between 100 and 150 policies per month in its first year, Rakas said.