Car Insurance Discounts

9 Questions To Ask When Getting a Quote:
save money with hidden discounts – including 1 secret discount.

Who doesn’t what to save money on their car insurance? I know I do. One of the best ways to save some cash on your auto insurance is through discounts.

Every company offers car insurance discounts. However, not every company offers the same ones. That’s why it’s important to be prepared when getting a quote. You don’t want to give your auto insurance company any more money than you have to.

I’ve prepared a list of questions to ask each prospective insurer so you get the most discounts possible. Ask each car insurance company the appropriate questions whenever you get a quote from them…

Question 1:
I’m a safe driver. Can I get a discount?

Some companies call this one a ‘Safe Driver Discount.’ It’s big. If you stay clean with no at-fault accidents and no tickets, you will have better rates on your auto insurance. Savings could be 10-50%, depending on how many incidents you have. Stay safe and you’ll enjoy keeping that extra cash. But don’t forget to shop your policy every 18-24 months. You could still be losing a lot of money with an expensive carrier, even if you’re a safe driver.

Question 2:
Do you offer a multiple car (multi-car) discount?

If you only have one car to insure, you can skip this one. But if there are multiple cars in your household, then make sure you mention it. Most agents will automatically add this discount to your policy, but it never hurts to ask. It can be a 10-25% discount. And if they don’t offer it, let me know in the comments – every auto insurance company should.

Question 3:
Do you offer a multiple policy (multi-line) discount?

This is another big one. If you carry more than one policy with your insurer, you can usually get a discount on your car insurance. This is also true for other policies. For instance, if you pick up an auto policy AND a homeowners policy from State Farm, you could get a 10% discount on each policy. Sometimes it pays to keep both car insurance and renters/condo/homeowners policy at the same place.

Question 4:
What about my Defensive Driving or Driver Education?

Most auto insurance companies offer a discount for taking defensive driving. Percentages vary between insurers. Regardless, if you’ve taken a driver safety course recently, then make sure your company gets a copy of the certificate.

Question 5:
Do you have a discount for my job (teacher, engineer, etc.)?

Car insurance is a numbers game. Actuaries sit behind desks with calculators and reams of data to determine which people have lower risk versus other people. Each car insurance company does it differently – but some companies have determined your job can lower your risk for an accident. Ask your potential insurer if your job gives you better rates.

Question 6:
Do you offer discounts for staying with your car insurance company?

Auto insurance companies love long-term customers. In fact, they love them so much, they offer discounts to keep them. Companies call it a longevity discount. The longer you’re insured with somebody, the more discount you can accrue. This one is tricky – sometimes you can lose longevity discounts if you have too many at-fault accidents or tickets. So be careful.

Question 7:
I’m a student or college graduate. Does that count for anything?

It depends. Many high school and college students get a discount for maintaining a 3.0 GPA. That’s good news for good students. Plus, sometimes college graduates get an additional discount for the sheepskin on the wall. Every company is different, but it’s worth asking if you spent time in school.

Question 8:
Can I get a discount for my student away at school?

If you have a child who is rated on one of your vehicles, and they are at school – not driving the car – you could be eligible for a discount on your car insurance. Talk to your agent when they quote your auto insurance. Make sure you’re not paying for your student who isn’t driving the car.

Question 9:
A ‘Secret’ Discount – Can I get credit for the months I don’t drive?

If you put your car in storage for part of the year, your auto insurance company may be able to suspend most coverages on your auto policy. For instance, you may live in Arizona during the winter, but you leave a car back in Minnesota. Make sure you call to request suspension of coverage for the Minnesota car. Some insurers will grant the request – if they don’t, you may consider shopping around for one that does.

There are other discounts available for newer cars, or cars with special safety features. However, you usually don’t have to ask about those. Typically the company will rate a vehicle-specific discount when you provide the year, make, model & VIN. Now that you’re armed with the discounts available, go get a better rate on your auto insurance.

Did I miss any big discounts?
Leave a comment if you’re getting a different one and which company you have.