If you are searching for guidance on how much money you need to pay on car insurance without “crashing” your budget, find below 11 car insurance discounts to ask for before signing any agreement.

Many auto insurance companies offer a myriad of discounts that are not always specified on the website. You need to be meticulous when making research as agents don’t tend to disclose information unless you ask for it.

As we understand the importance of setting a budget, find below key car insurance discounts to ask for.

Education Discount

You are eligible for a discount if you are currently pursuing a degree regardless of the course you are taking.

For the most part, auto insurance companies reward people who enroll in college and drivers with multiple degrees get even better discounts.

Did you know that auto insurance reward teen drivers who do well at school? Contact your agent to find out more about their discount for young drivers.

Getting a discount by offering to pay in advance

Another way insurance companies reward drivers is by purchasing a policy a week or even weeks ahead of time.

You don’t need to wait until the start of your coverage to think about what to do next.

It’s a way of showing that your responsibility is 100% appreciated.

Low-mileage discount

Your insurance agent may not tell you about it but the less you drive, the less likely you are to experience a car accident.

If you live relatively close to work or you don’t use your car that often, you could be eligible for a discount that could significantly help you stay on budget.

Note that the minimum number of miles for a low mileage discount varies from insurer to insurer, but anything between 7,500 and 15,000 miles per year is considered lower mileage.

Electronic payment method

People usually ignore this type of discount, but carriers reward drivers who automatically pay their insurance rates from their bank account.

You could get a substantial discount because everyone likes to work with someone who pays on time, which develops a better sense of trust between two parties.

If that’s your case, make sure you leave enough money sitting in your account to avoid running out of money that could affect your savings.

Maintaining a good credit rating

You can save a significant amount of money on auto insurance by keeping a satisfactory credit rating.

If you have a poor credit score, your auto insurance agent will categorize you as a high-risk driver when it comes to filing a claim.

It’s not an official source of discount, but keeping a good credit rating results in lower rates whereas drivers with poor credit ratings are confronted with more expensive rates.

Getting a homeowner’s discount

You may not see any difference in the maintenance of your house, but owning a house results in lower auto insurance rates.

Home ownership means you are ready to take on responsibilities and that’s what makes auto insurance companies feel more confident about you as a client.

The more policies you get for your assets the more prepared you are to get a great deal.

Defensive driving discount

Typically, many drivers get into a defensive driving course following a traffic violation that affects their driving records.

Yet, being part of a defensive driving course also delivers a positive message to auto insurance companies.

In some states, say New York, local authorities encourage insurers to offer drivers, who completed a defensive driving course, a competitive discount rate for a fixed period of time.

Good client/driver discount

Another good indicator for auto insurance companies is your past performance when committing to any sort of insurance.

Agents will pull up information about any past cancellations or non-payments from your records and respond to that accordingly.

In other words, if you were a client who sticked around for a long time with a great driving record, you’ll be the perfect prospect they want to work with.

Telematics

Technology has been applied to driving performance which is becoming increasingly popular.

Devices that track driver’s behavior gather substantial information for auto insurers to determine what policy rates you qualify for.

When it comes to service adoption, telematics seems to be quite controversial. But, as long as you drive safely, you will be saving money on insurance rates at the end of the day.

Discount based on occupation

There’s no doubt that some jobs are more vulnerable to facing road accidents than others.

For example, if you are a teacher or a business owner, auto companies will probably like you so feel free to share what you do for work to find out whether or not you qualify for a discount.

You are strongly advised to be honest and serious when discussing about your occupation with your agent as they can easily detect any fake attempt to impress them.

Association discounts

If you are a member of AAA or AARP, you’ll probably benefit from the discounts they offer including auto insurance.

All you need to do is contact them and express your interest in purchasing an auto insurance policy that reflects your budget.

Some people argue that the savings aren’t necessarily significant but every dollar you save makes a difference when it comes to following a strict budget.

SEE ALSO: Want To Renew Your Florida Tag Online? Now You Can!