Auto Insurance Discounts - Getting All You Deserve?
I’ve found getting discounts on auto insurance is just a matter of asking. The insurance company’s not going to go through a list of possible discounts with you to see which apply. But ask and, often, ye shall receive.
Here is a list of auto insurance discounts I’ve found common among the couple of carriers I’ve had.
- Supplemental Restraint Systems. Airbags are ubiquitous now, even among used cars, so this will often be a given, but check to make sure it’s applied to your quote.
- Daytime running lights. I find it hard to believe, but the insurance industry believes these reduce accidents. Whatever. If you have them, make sure the insurer knows.
- Security system. Know the specifics of your system when you ask for the discount. There are systems that just make noise and then there are ones that completely disable the car. If you have a Lo-Jack, that’ll help, too.
- Multiple cars. Having several cars under one policy will get you a discount.
- Student ‘good grades’ discount. Plenty of insurers offer a discount to students who have a good grade point average. I’m not sure what documentation they require, though, since this never applied to me.
- Low mileage. If you’re like me and put very few miles on your car, you get a break on coverage.
- Defensive driving course. If you take an approved defensive driving course, you get a nice break on insurance.
- Multiple insurance products. I can’t personally attest to this, but I understand you get a small discount if you have several insurance policies with a single insurer.
Anybody have any I missed?
insurance
August 21st, 2007 at 9:54 am
AAA gives discounts for people in certain professions. Teachers and scientists both get discounts. It was the first (and only!) time my fancy-pancy paper degree came in handy. A friend had to give them a copy of her transcript because her degree was printed in Latin!
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 am
Cindy, thanks for pointing that out! I forgot that I’ve heard insurers sometimes give different rates based on what you tell them your ‘profession’ is.
Now, if I only had a key to which ones gave you better rates