Types of car insurance discounts

Auto insurance discounts fall into a few categories, and there may be dozens of possible discounts within those categories. The categories range from auto insurance discounts for your driving habits to car features.

Here is a summary of different car insurance discount types by category.

Auto insurance discount types

PolicyDriver profileVehicle
Multi-policy (bunding)Safe driver/good driverAnti-theft device
Multi-carLow mileageNew car
Early signingStudent (Good, away from home)Safety features
Paid-in-fullUsage-basedGreen/hybrid
Electronic billing/paperless billingSenior/mature driver
LoyaltyProfession/occupation/group membership/education
Driver ed/defensive driving

Common car insurance discounts and savings

A lot of common auto insurance discounts may be available to you. These are car insurance discounts to ask for when shopping around or from your current insurer. Car insurance discounts may vary by state, vehicle, driving record, credit history, and other factors.

DiscountEligibilityTypical amountCategory
Good/safe driverDrivers with a clean record, no tickets or accidents in the past three to five years.10-30%Driver profile
Affiliation or "affinity"Discounts through employer, school, team, club or other membership.up to 25%Driver profile
Anti-lock brakesCars with anti-lock brakes.3%Vehicle
Anti-theftAlarms, tracking systems, and kill-switches. May have to be factory-installed.2%Vehicle
Auto-paySet up automated payment from checking.5%Policy
Bundled (multi-policy)Discounts for having more than one type of insurance with the same insurance company.14%Policy
Defensive driving courseMay be limited to seniors, teens or inexperienced drivers. Approved course only.5%Driver profile
Driver TrainingUsually for drivers under 21. Approved course only.7%Driver profile
Early signing/renewalFor signing/renewing before policy expiration.5%Policy
Good studentHigh school or college students (under age 25) with at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average.15%Driver profile
Green/hybrid carOwning or leasing a hybrid or electric vehicle.up to 10%Vehicle
HomeownerInsured owns a single-family home or condominium.7%Driver profile
OccupationDiscounts for certain occupations, like teachersVaries by occupationDriver profile
Customer LoyaltyFor policies in-force more than one consecutive year. May increase with each successive year.11%Policy
MilitaryActive military personnel and their households.15% on base, 90% for deployedDriver profile
Multi-carInsure more than one car on a single auto insurance policy.10% to 25%Policy
New carOwn a car that is three or fewer years old.10%Vehicle
Paid-in-fullPay premium in its entirety, at the beginning of its contract.9%Policy
PaperlessView and pay your bill online.4%Policy
Safety; passive restraint and airbagUsually applies to older vehicles (1990s or earlier) with factory-installed airbags.2%Vehicle
SeniorUsually state-mandated and apply to drivers over age 65.15% to 35%Driver profile
Students away from homeStudents without regular access to a vehicle, and living > 100 miles from home.18%Driver profile
Usage or low-mileageDriving 5k to 15k miles per year, depending on insurer.5%Driver profile

How much can I save with car insurance discounts?

As the chart above shows, safe driver, accident-free driver, student, home and auto insurance bundle and multi-car discounts are big car insurance discounts, while others might save just 2%. Advertised discounts also don't necessarily apply to your entire insurance bill. A discount might only apply to your personal medical coverage, which is a relatively small part of your policy. It's also possible that when you claim one discount, the insurer may reduce or eliminate others.

There is often a limit on the overall discount you can get on a policy; for instance, some insurers permit total discounts of no more than 25% or 30%.

Your savings may also depend on where you live; not all discounts are offered in all states. See below some examples of average savings for different types of common car insurance discounts in several states for comparison, as well as the national average.

New driver training discount

New drivers who take a driver training course can enjoy some savings. For experienced drivers, refresher courses or defensive driving training can give you a smaller discount, but every little bit can help.

Company Average driver training savings
Travelers$ 225
State Farm$ 330
Erie Insurance$ 246
National Average$ 488

Good student car insurance discount

The good student discount for families with student drivers under 25 also varies considerably.

Company Average good student savings
State Farm$ 943
Geico$ 500
Nationwide$ 1,221
Travelers$ 402
Farmers$ 1,310
Auto-Owners$ 962
American Family$ 817
Allstate$ 1,640
National Average$ 943

Student away at school discounts

If your child is on your auto insurance but goes away to school, you could save hundreds.

Company Average student away at school savings
State Farm$ 1,465
Geico$ 956
Progressive$ 381
Nationwide$ 172
Travelers$ 208
Farmers$ 348
Auto-Owners$ 1,025
American Family$ 831
Allstate$ 1,391
National Average$ 759

Car insurance discounts by company

Not all companies offer all discounts. Below, you’ll find a list of top companies and which discounts they offer.

CompanyLow MileageMulti-PolicyMulti-VehiclePaid In FullOwn HomeLoyaltyAir BagAnti-LockAnti-TheftNew CarGood StudentTeen Driver edStudent AwayDriver TrainingSafe DriverAccident FreeMature DriverJob DiscountTransfer From CompetitorStart Quote Online/Buy onlineEarly SigningAuto PayPaperlessAffinity
AAAxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Allstatexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
American Familyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Auto Club of Southern Californiaxxxxxxxxx
Auto-Ownersxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Country Insurancexxxxxxxxxx
CSAA Insurance Groupxxxx
Direct Generalxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Erie Insurancexxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Everest (Arrowhead)xxxxxx
Farmersxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Geicoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Infinityxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Liberty Mutualxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mercuryxxxxxxxxxxxx
MetLifexxxxxxxxxxxxx
Metromilexxxx
National Generalxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nationwidexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Progressivexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Safecoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
State Farmxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Generalxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Hartfordxxxxxxxxxx
Travelersxxxxxxxxxxxxx
USAAxxxxxxxxxxx

How to get discounts on car insurance

Getting discounts on car insurance is easy; you simply have to know what’s available and then find out if you qualify. And if so, you have only to ask. Here are some simple steps to getting more car insurance discounts.

1. Know the available discounts

Make sure you know which discounts you qualify for, and then make sure they’re added to your policy.

Insurance is a business, and its goal is profit. Dan Wade, an attorney with the California Department of Insurance and formerly with the non-profit consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, talks about "insurers' increased use of 'price optimization,' which refers to how much a consumer is willing to pay for the product/how much of a price increase they will tolerate or notice before switching."

In other words, your premiums may be based on what your company thinks you're willing to pay rather than the risk you present. And they might not give you discounts unless you ask.

2. Shop around yearly – especially for discounts

Discounts vary widely by company and state, so the only way you can be sure you're getting the best deal is to compare quotes whenever you renew or change insurers. And don’t just look at discounts.

"One important thing to keep in mind is that the key to savings is not necessarily getting discounts, but the final price. A company that offers few discounts may still have a lower overall price," Loretta Worters, vice president of communications at the Insurance Information Institute says.

3. Don't spend money to get discounts

Be cautious about spending money to obtain richer discounts. For example, you might earn a discount of between 2% and 23% for fitting anti-theft devices (though some companies insist they're factory-fitted to qualify), such as tracking devices, alarms and kill switches. But some expensive add-ons earn you very little.

Tracking devices can cost you more than $1,000 but only save you well under $100 yearly.

4. Make sure you get what you need

When you're comparing quotes for automobile insurance, it's easy to focus on the bottom line and go for the lowest premium. But that's a dangerous strategy.

Senior vice president and managing director of Private Client Advisors at HUB International Patti Clement says she regularly sees how chasing those discounts without regard to other factors can lead to trouble.

"Make sure that you understand what insurance coverage you have and what your potential out-of-pocket expenses will be in the event of a loss,” she says.

And Clement warns, "Also, make sure that you carry good liability coverage, not the minimum state requirement. Many people are under-insured – not understanding that if you cause bodily injury or property damage to others, you are responsible for the damages, even if they exceed your insurance policy limits."

6. Compare quotes quickly but carefully

Comparison shopping for insurance and financial products can be daunting, but there are ways to simplify the process:

  1. Gather what you need to get quotes, including driver and vehicle details, to make sure the quotes are accurate.
  2. Get car insurance quotes from multiple companies.
  3. Organize them in order of cost, with the least expensive on the top of your actual or metaphorical pile.
  4. Read through them first, comparing what they offer with your existing policy. Focus especially on coverage, exclusions and deductibles.
  5. Work your way down the pile, pulling out the ones that give you all you need at low prices.
  6. Check each company’s reputation with third-party sites like AM Best and J.D. Power.
  7. Call the insurers' call centers and run through the list of discounts on this page to see if you can get an even lower premium.

Taking a little time ensures the best policy at the best price.

Auto insurance FAQs

How much does car insurance cost?

The average car insurance cost for a full coverage policy in the United States is $1,682 per year or about $140 monthly. However, this amount can vary greatly depending on many factors, including the type of coverage you choose, your driving record, and the state in which you live.

How do discounts lower your car insurance rates?

Here are the three stages of calculating premiums and how a discount affects car insurance rates:

  1. Base rate. Your insurer determines your base rate based on your risk factors, the car you drive and where you live.
  2. Surcharges. Factors that could result in surcharges are considered, such as a ticket on your driving record, and may add a surcharge to your premium.
  3. Discounts. Discounts for which you qualify are then applied to the policy, reducing the rate by a certain percentage.

Base rate + surcharges - discounts = final premium.

How long do you have to be with an insurance company to get discounts?

Some discounts are applied automatically, while others can be earned only if you meet specific criteria. You can get a discount immediately, for instance, if you purchase a new car or complete a defensive driving course. Some insurers also offer loyalty discounts, which give customers a break on their rates.

How much is a good student auto insurance discount?

The discount amount varies by company, but it can be as much as 16% off your premium.

Which features of your car are worth a discount on your car insurance?

It depends on the company. Most offer a small discount for things like anti-lock brakes, passive restraints (seatbelts) and airbags. Anti-theft systems usually also reduce your rates.