Top 9 Car Insurance Discounts You're Not Getting

No wants to pay for car insurance. Insurance is an intangible product, meaning you can't touch it or see it. The only time that you have an idea about how it works is in the unfortunate event of an accident. So how can you make paying your car insurance premiums a little more bearable? Let's start by trying to reduce it with these 9 discounts that you may not be getting.

Discount #1: The Safe Driver Discount

One of the biggest discounts that you can give yourself is by being a safe driver. What exactly is a safe driver? A safe driver does not have any car accidents that are their fault and they also do not break any driving laws that would result in being ticketed by law enforcement. Insurance companies love a safe driver as it means that they won't have to pay out much for claims on their insurance policy. So to reward you for being a safe driver and not making your insurance company pay out any money for you, they offer up to a 20% discount on your insurance premiums.

Discount #2: Multiple Car Discount

Having more than one car in your household that is insured with the same company (on the same policy) will earn you a multi-car discount. When an agent writes a new policy, this will be included. But always double check your declarations page to make sure and if it is not, ask for it to be added.

Discount #3: Multiple Policy Discount

This car insurance discount is also known as a multi-line policy discount, meaning that if you have more than one type of insurance policy (home, boat, auto, etc.) with the same insurance company they will give you a discount for keeping your insurance business with them.

Discount #4: Driver's Education Discount

This discount isn't just for the 16-year-old kid that has just completed their Driver's Ed course to get their first license, this discount is for adults too. If you take a follow up driver's education, safe driving or defensive driving course to brush up on your skills or as a requirement for too many bad driving decisions, you can qualify for this discount. You should be able to prove that you took the defensive driver class which will earn you a minimum of 10% off.

Discount #5: Field of Employment Discount

For insurance companies the whole name of the game is about statistics and the statistics show that people that go into certain lines of work are safer drivers than others. This is not to say that all insurance companies will give a discount if you are in a certain field, but some do and you will only know if your insurance company is one of them if you directly ask. For example if your a scientist or a teacher you would qualify for a discount. Ask your agent for details.

Discount #6: Longevity Discount

Longevity discounts apply when you have continued to renew with the same insurance company over and over again. Insurance companies like to keep you long term and they know that means keeping you happy. A happy customer is one who is charged less for insurance with this credit.

Discount #7: Good Grade Discount

Simply put, good students make good decisions and good decision makers are safe drivers. New drivers are very expensive to insure so if your youngster gets good grades and earns a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, bring in a report card to your insurance agent and tell him to lower your rate based on your student getting good grades.

Discount #8: Student Away From Home Discount

You can look at this a couple of ways. The first way is; If you have a college student who is not in the house and they don't have a family car with them, why should you have to pay insurance premiums for them? Ask your insurance agent or company if they offer a discount for a student driver that is not really driving anymore. If they do not offer a discount, check to see if you can take them off your policy and then add them back on later if they come back and start to drive your vehicles again.

The second, and more advised way of looking at this is keeping your child on your policy will give him lower rates now if he decides to drive, and later, because your company has experience with your family. When the child is ready to be independent and your liability ends, he will have prior insurance coverage and not have to purchase insurance as an unknown risk to a company and pay higher rates. The difference in cost later can amount to hundreds of dollars a year for basic liability coverage.

Discount #9: Decreased Use Discount

Did you know that you may be able to get a discount on your insurance for the months you don't drive? If you put your vehicle in storage and do not drive it due to leaving the area for certain number of months or you just don't drive in the snow, you could qualify for a discount or a decrease in your premium for dropping down your coverage on the vehicle that is not being used.

Talk to your agent but it is likely that you are not getting one or more of these discounts, so go get them!


------

Todd Clay was an agent for the largest insurance company in the United States. He now researches and blogs about car insurance with the consumer in mind. Check out the latest customer reviews, understand more about car insurance policies, car insurance discounts, or grab a few quotes at www.CarInsuranceGuidebook.com