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discounts for car insurance

What discounts are available?
The following is adapted from the Allstate website to provide a list of discounts common in the industry. Check with your provider to see which apply to you and if they offer other discounts.

Responsible and Safe Drivers discounts:

Premier Discount - You may be eligible for this car insurance discount if, for the past three years, you and all the drivers to be insured have maintained continuous automobile liability insurance, have had no at-fault accidents and no chargeable violations. Drivers who have obtained a driver's license within the past three years, must meet the above criteria from the date the license was obtained.

Premier Plus Discount - You may be eligible for this discount if you and all the drivers to be insured have had no at-fault accidents and no chargeable violations within the past five years, and have maintained continuous automobile liability insurance for the past three years. Drivers who have obtained a driver's license within the past three years, must meet the above criteria from the date the license was obtained.

Defensive Driver Class Discount (not available in all states) - If the principal operator of the covered vehicle is 55 or older and has voluntarily completed an approved defensive driving class (in other words, not the result of a violation), you could very likely save on an insurance policy.

Valued Customers Discounts:

Multiple Policy Discount - You might save up to 10 percent on your car insurance if you also carry your property insurance with the same company. That could be a homeowners, condominium, mobile home, or (in some states) renters policy.

Safe Cars discounts:

Passive Restraint Systems (airbags/seatbelts) Discount - You could save on your auto insurance if your car is equipped with airbags or factory-installed motorized seatbelts.

Anti-Lock Brake Discount - If your car has an automatic factory-installed, four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS), you could save on your auto insurance premium.

Anti-Theft Device Discount - In certain states, you could save if your car is equipped with certain anti-theft devices.

Other Discounts:

Good Student Discount - If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are under age 25 (in some states the age is 21) and unmarried, you could save money on your car insurance.

Senior Adult Discount - You could save on your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage if more than 25 percent of the estimated mileage driven on your car is by anyone 65 years of age or older. (PIP coverage and this discount are not available in all states.)

55 and Retired Discount - If you are 55 or older and not employed full time, you could save money on your car insurance.

New Car Discount - This discount may apply when you insure a brand new (never previously titled) vehicle. Eligibility and amount of the discount will depend on the model year of the vehicle and your state.

Economy Car Discount - If you own a certain type of economy car, you could save on your auto insurance.

Utility Vehicle Discount - You could save on your auto insurance if you own a certain type of pickup truck.

Resident Student Discount - If there is a restricted driver on your policy under age 21 who lives at school over 100 miles from home, you could save money on your car insurance policy.

Farm Discount - This discount applies to autos used principally by a person or persons residing on a farm, ranch or orchard, provided the vehicle is not customarily used driving to and from work, other than farming or ranching. The operator's principal profession must be farming or ranching.

What affects the price?

The insuring company. What you pay for auto insurance varies by company.

What you buy. Coverages are priced individually so how much you'll pay depends upon how many coverages you buy, and how much each will pay. Deductibles lower the price by shifting part of a loss to you.

What kind of car you drive affects how much you pay, since coverage on your vehicle depends on its value. Generally, the more expensive the car, the more you pay.

Where you drive. Drivers tend to have more losses if they live where there's a high rate of accidents or vandalism. Generally, urban drivers pay more for insurance than those in small towns or rural areas.

How much you drive. The chance of an accident generally increases as driving increases. People who use their car for business and long-distance commuting normally pay more than those who drive less.

Your age, sex, and marital status. Accident rates are higher for all drivers under age 25, especially young males and single males. Insurance prices in most states reflect these differences. Guys, that's why the premiums for your driving will be two to two and a half times the rate of your sister. You may never have an accident and not deserve it, but history bears it out. Guys have more accidents.

Your driving record also affects price or cost. Drivers who cause accidents generally must pay more than those who are accident-free for several years.