Everyone wants to get great discounts on car insurance. But did you know there are some hidden discounts you may not even realize you’re missing? Small details about yourself such as what you do for a living or where you went to school can save you big money on car insurance premiums. In this article, you’ll find some secret ways you can get discounts on your car insurance.
How To Get Discounts When You Apply
When you get a quote for car insurance, always remember to shop around. Comparing before you buy insurance helps you find the right insurance company for who you are as a driver. Some companies offer more discounts depending on your age, what you do for a living, or how much you drive. Similarly to buying a car, buying car insurance should be based on your needs before anything else.
When comparing quotes, make sure you include this information:
- Your highest level of education
- What you do for a living
- If you’re a part of any societies or groups
- How much you drive
Some quoting tools may not have these things in their applications. If you ever want to know for sure, just give your insurance company a call. Quote Purple can also hook you up with a partner who can offer you discounts on car insurance.
But who exactly can get these car insurance discounts? Keep reading to see some common discounts you may not even know about!
Teacher Discounts
Teachers give a lot to our communities. They educate the next generation of leaders and workers. Everyone probably has a story about how a teacher changed their life for the better. That’s why car insurance companies offer discounts to these essential members of society.
Statistically, some professions are known to be safer drivers, one of them being teachers. This means that teachers are less likely to get into accidents, making them lower-risk drivers. As such, teachers can get some pretty sweet premium discounts and special deductible rates.
For instance, some insurance companies offer a $0 deductible if a teacher’s car was damaged or vandalized on school property or during school events. You may not have heard about these discounts because the rates can change from state to state. If you’re a teacher, ask your insurance provider for discounts, or special teacher offers. You could save hundreds on car insurance!
Seniors and Low-Mileage Coverage Discounts
Older adults will start to see some great deals as they get into their 50’s. However, as seniors get into their 60’s and 70’s, they’ll begin to see their premium rates rise again. This is because as you become older, your reflexes begin to slow down and you’re more likely to develop medical conditions that could affect your driving such as arthritis and heart disease. However, there are still some things that can help seniors qualify for car insurance discounts.
In addition to having years of experience, senior drivers also don’t drive that often. Driving less means less of a risk on the road, making your premiums much more affordable. How can seniors get these discounts? With low-mileage coverage!
Next time you go to renew your car insurance, ask if you qualify for low-mileage coverage. Seniors often don’t need to use their vehicles as daily commuters, leaving them to drive less. This makes you less of a risk on the road. For even more savings, you could even try pay-per-mile coverage.
Pay-Per-Mile Discounts
Pay-per-mile is an increasingly popular way to insure your car. Telematic technology and devices make it even easier for drivers to claim their mileage. Being on the road less means less risk of you getting into an accident. If you don’t use your car to commute regularly, or only use it on the odd occasion, pay-per-mile can reward you with better premium discounts.
Even 1,000 miles is a lot if you don’t use your car to regularly commute- that’s the same distance from Portland to San Diego! So let’s say you drive 1,000 miles a month, and you pay a $30 flat rate on top of $0.05 mile rate. On average, you would only pay around $80 a month for your car insurance! However, if you still drive your car pretty regularly, you might want to opt for low-mileage instead. You could end up saving more with low-mileage depending on how much you drive.
Safe Driver and Defensive Driving Course Discounts
Drivers who’ve taken any kind of safe driver, defensive driver, or driver’s ED courses are often more knowledgeable about risks and how to handle them. Insurance companies recognize that these drivers gain more skills to effectively maneuver through various road risks with their training. Depending on your provider, you could get discounts on your car insurance just for taking one of these courses.
Even if you’ve been driving for years, it doesn’t hurt to take a refresher course- you may even learn something new! It’ll also help you learn to avoid more accidents and stop you from doing bad habits, which can also save you money on insurance and traffic tickets. Studies even show that young drivers who complete these courses have a 50% less chance of getting into a fatal accident.
These courses are incredibly affordable and only take one day to complete. Drivers who learn defensive driving skills are able to effectively recognize and mitigate dangers presented by other drivers. Many states already require young drivers to complete these courses. For less than $40 for a course, you can receive anywhere between 5% to 20% off your car insurance premium. Be sure to ask your car insurance provider for more details.
Healthcare Professional Discounts
Where would we be without nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals? If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that these workers deserve everything! Whether you’re a CNA, LPN, RN, APRN, you can get discounts on your car insurance.
Similarly to teachers, healthcare professionals give so much to our communities and are statistically less risky drivers. These discounts can range from state to state, and depend on your insurance company. However, if you’re a member of your state’s nursing board or association, you can check to see which insurance providers can get you car insurance discounts.
First Responder Discounts
Most car insurance companies offer first responders like firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and emergency volunteers discounts. Being a first responder makes you a reliable and responsible person, who’s constantly giving back to the community. First responders also know the rules of the road better than anyone else, making them super low-risk drivers.
Higher Education Discounts (And More Jobs With Discounts)
If you’re a university or college alumni, you can get up to 4% off your car insurance! The more education you have, the more likely you are to receive a discount from your car insurance company. Even members of honor societies, sororities, fraternities, professional associations, or other special interest groups can receive discounts.
Even if you might not think your bachelor’s degree can get you discounts, many professions can still get discounts similarly to nurses and teachers. Some other professions that can also get discounts on car insurance include:
- Scientists
- Law enforcement
- Military personnel or veteran
- Architects
- Certified public accountants
- Engineers
- Piolets
Even if you’ve retired, you can still receive discounts in some instances. Contact your insurance company to see what discounts you can receive for your level of education and career. You can also call Quote Purple to get in touch with one of our partners who offer discounts on their car insurance.
Teens and Young (25 And Under) Drivers
Teens and young drivers pay some of the craziest rates on car insurance. It makes sense since they’re less experienced and don’t always have the best judgement. However, young drivers can still get some sweet discounts by joining their parent’s existing policy.
Many young drivers may not have that option, but there are other ways your insurance company will recognize a responsible driver. Car insurance companies will reward students for good grades and driving safely. Young drivers with a higher grade point average (3.0 GPA or higher) shows you can be responsible and make good decisions.
Starting good safe driving habits as a teen will also ensure you save money on car insurance later in the future. So always remind young drivers to prioritize safety over anything else.
Do you have some other insurance hacks and discounts? Let us know in the comments! Or share this if you know someone who can save some serious cash on car insurance.