Tips on Finding the Top Insurance Discounts

Most drivers can benefit from finding ways to get discounts on car insurance, but many wonder if it is worth the effort. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average national cost for full coverage on a medium sedan in 2018 was $1,232.

Taking advantage of available discounts can shave anywhere from five to 30 percent off your car insurance costs. And it is important to note that you do not have to wait until renewal time to look for low cost auto insurance.

The types of car insurance discounts that are available to you will depend on your driving performance, age, career status and other factors. While insurers do not always advertise discounts, you can look up hidden auto insurance discounts online or ask your agent which ones are available. Continue reading to learn about the car insurance discounts you may qualify for and start saving on your coverage costs today.

Learn About Safe Driver Insurance Discounts

Most insurers offer more affordable auto insurance quotes to drivers with clean driving records with no accidents. The requirements for this type of discount insurance vary by company, but most offer an incentive after three to five years of driving without being involved in an accident.

Other companies offer more affordable auto insurance plans to those who demonstrate safe driving behaviors while being monitored with an electronic device that is placed in the vehicle.

Learn About Good Student Insurance Discounts

Most parents are eager to learn how to get discounts on car insurance coverage for their teenagers and young adults. Drivers who are younger than 25 years of age typically face high insurance premiums. However, a high GPA can help reduce the cost.

Companies generally offer car insurance discounts for college students and high schoolers who maintain a “B” average or higher. Also, ask if your insurer offers low cost auto insurance to college students who live on campus and leave their car at home while school is in session. If the student’s car is parked more often than it is driven, parents can save a lot by asking for the “distant student” discount.

Learn About Senior Car Insurance Discounts

Many insurance companies offer senior car insurance discounts to drivers older than a certain age. The qualifications to receive these discounts vary by company, but may be awarded to recent retirees or those who live in a retirement community.

Some senior discounts are available to motorists who are at least 55 years of age while others are only available to drivers 65 years of age or older. Taking a defensive driving course may also be required to qualify for these discounts.

Learn About Discount Auto Insurance for Certain Car Features

Good car insurance discounts to ask for include discounts for environmentally friendly cars, provided to drivers who own hybrids, electric cars or alternative fuel vehicles. There are also discounts for motorists with vehicles that have advanced safety features. Some car features that commonly qualify for a discount include:

• Daytime running lights.
• Air bags.
• Anti-lock brakes.
• Anti-theft devices.

While many countries offer a dash cam car insurance discount, this is not currently an option in the United States. However, if your car is new or under three years old, and/or has low mileage, you may qualify for discounts related to these factors.

Learn About Teacher Car Insurance Discounts

While teacher car insurance discounts may not be available in all locations, most insurers offer some type of educator discount. Some of these are offered through affiliations with groups, such as the National Education Association (NEA), while others are flat-rate discounts offered directly to active and retired teachers.

Some teacher car insurance discounts include low or no deductibles for vandalism or accidents that occur on school property or during a school-related event. Other car insurance benefits for teachers include reimbursement for stolen teaching supplies or school property from an educator’s vehicle.

Learn About Military and Veteran Car Insurance Discounts

Military and veterans car insurance discounts help active and retired military members save money. These discounts are often extended to surviving family members after the policyholder’s death. Some insurers also provide higher discounts when a military member receives emergency deployment orders.

Active military members can sometimes qualify for more savings simply by living in base housing. Furthermore, service members who put their car in storage for a certain amount of time also benefit from savings on insurance costs while the vehicle sits unused.

How Bundling Leads to Discount Car Insurance

Bundling policies is a great way to get insurance discounts. Bundling is the process of purchasing two or more products within the same company. For insurance, you can bundle home, life, renters or motorcycle insurance. Bundling also happens when you insure more than one vehicle with the same company.

Insurers reward customer loyalty with discounts that may increase every year the policies are maintained. However, it is still worth shopping around once or twice a year and see if other companies offer better bundling discounts.

Other Ways to Get Discounts on Car Insurance

In addition to the teacher and military discounts explained above, you may be eligible for career-related discounts if you work in certain professions. For example, some companies offer car insurance discounts for nurses, firefighters and first responders. Some insurers also offer discount auto insurance quotes to people who work in jobs that are statistically connected to lower-risk driving behaviors. Examples of these careers include accountants, engineers and dentists.

Legacy discounts are one of the best car insurance discounts for young people because the only requirement is to continue coverage with the same insurance company your parents use. In most cases, eligible drivers must be younger than 25 years of age and have been insured on their parents’ policy for a certain number of years.

Some insurers will reward you with lost cost auto insurance if you pay your premium in full at the beginning of the contract because it saves them the cost of billing you each month. Signing up for electronic payments or paperless billing may also come with a discount. Moreover, taking driver training courses or purchasing roadside assistance are other ways of getting a discount on car insurance.