Common Auto Insurance Discounts to Ask About

The average annual cost of automobile insurance is over $760, according to a Bankrate.com survey.

There are many common auto insurance discounts as well as lesser-known car insurance discounts that can help drivers save on their annual insurance costs.

Here at Portland Insurance we help insurance many drivers and can quickly compare rates for you and let you know which discounts you qualify for. You can get started quickly and easily comparing rates for free right now.

In today’s article, we will share some of the most common auto insurance discounts as well as a few you may have never heard of.

We hope this article helps you save money on your auto insurance. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Driver safety car insurance discounts

This type of insurance discount is one of the most common and can be enormous savings on car insurance premiums. Drivers with good driving habits are rewarded for these behaviors with reduced insurance rates.

Participants enrolled in defensive driving courses can receive a 10% to 15% discount on their auto insurance premiums. These classes teach drivers how to better assess road, traffic, and weather conditions to avoid accidents.

The National Safety Council offers online courses in defensive driving that are certified by most states.

Some insurance companies ask whether you’ve completed a defensive driving course when they quote your rates, but you can receive discounts in the middle of your policy by asking your insurance agent about this discount.

Accident-free and good-driver discounts

Your insurance provider typically offers discounts to customers who have been accident-free for a period of time (often 3-5 years). This discount might be automatically applied, or you may need to ask for it.

If you don’t qualify at signup, you can adjust your premium at the time of your next renewal. The definition of a “good driver” varies from one insurance company to another, so be sure to ask your agent for the details.

Companies like Progressive also offer a program called Snapshot where they can monitor your driving habits from a mobile phone app. The safer you drive, the more discount on your insurance premium.

Savings for low mileage and usage

If you drive less than 7,500 miles per year, you can save a good amount of money. If you don’t drive much, it’s worth it to shop around for a low-mileage car insurance policy. The best car insurance companies guarantee the lowest rates on short-distance policies.

This discount will likely require some sort of driver monitoring technology as we mentioned before with Progressive’s Snapshot program, Allstate’s Drivewise, and Travelers’ Drivewise.

Driver status car insurance discounts

The discounts offered by this insurance company are based on the driver, not on their driving habits. So, if you’re a good student or military veteran, you may be eligible for discounts on your car insurance rates.

Good-student discount

Even for drivers with a clean driving record, insurance rates are very high until you turn 25. In order to save money on your car insurance, all you need to do is maintain a solid grade point average (GPA). If you have a B average or better, you can get up to a 25% discount on your policy premiums.

Away-from-home student discount

As a parent, you can save on your car insurance when your child driver leaves their vehicle at home. The most important benefit of this policy is the ability to cover college students who are driving under the age of 18 and living away from home. This discount can add up to as much as 25% to your auto insurance rate.

Professional and academic organizations

Most insurance companies have affiliations with other organizations that provide their members or employees with discounts. These often include associations like the Chamber of Commerce, local school districts, and alumni associations.

For example, Geico offers many discounts to customers who are members of over 500 different professional and university organizations. Members can receive a 3% discount on the total policy premium.

Senior/mature driver

Some drivers can qualify for discounts on their car insurance policies if they are over the age of 55. Allstate offers a 10% discount on its basic liability and physical damage coverage for drivers who are over the age of 55. If drivers meet certain criteria, such as completing an online certification course, they may also be eligible for a “mature driver discount.

Military and federal employee

If you’ve served the United States through the military or federal government, Geico has special offers for you. They offer discounts up to 15% off your annual premium for active-duty members of the military and federal employees, as well as veterans and retirees. USAA and other insurance carriers have similar auto insurance discounts for veterans and federal employees.

Policy car insurance discounts

There are many different auto insurance discounts regarding the actual policy selected or bundled. Below is a list of these common car insurance discounts to ask your agent about.

• Homeowner car insurance discount
• Multi-car discount
• Bundling/multi-policy discount
• Savings for signing early
• Paid-in-full reduction
• Electronic billing/autopay
• Loyalty discount

It is definitely worth asking your insurance agent or carrier about these policy discounts to make sure you are getting the best rate you are eligible for. You can also read our other blog post to learn more about home and auto insurance bundles.

Vehicle car insurance discounts

There are also many different auto insurance discounts regarding the vehicle you drive. Below is a list of these common car insurance discounts to ask your agent about.

• Anti-theft car insurance discount
• Anti-lock brakes
• Passive restraint
• New car
• Daytime running lights

How We Help You

Here at Portland Insurance we help insurance many drivers and can quickly compare rates for you and let you know which discounts you qualify for. You can get started quickly and easily comparing rates for free right now.

We hope this article was useful and helps you save money by taking advantage of these common auto insurance discounts.