Massachusetts’s is one of the 48 states that require auto insurance to drive, but that does not mean you have to be heavily weighed down by the financial responsibility of your policy. Since auto insurance is a requirement, insurance companies don’t have to convince you to invest in a policy; they have to convince you to invest in their policy. Due to this need, there are many discounts available depending on your carrier. Here is a list of many of the discounts available for auto insurance, broken down into three major groups.

Driver Discounts

Insurance companies value responsible drivers and offer discounts to those with proven safe driving habits. But there are also other forms of discounts drivers can take advantage of that don’t necessarily relate to their driving record:

• Good Student Discount: Some insurance companies offer an incentive for full-time students to keep their grades above a designated threshold.
• College Student Discount: Students still in college and don’t often drive their car can benefit from reduced premiums in some policies.
• Affiliation Discounts: Select carriers offer discounts to educators, active military members, and some federal employees
• Good Driver Discounts: Besides safe driving incentives, you can also receive discounts by enrolling in defensive driving courses or driving fewer miles.

To learn more about getting better rates across the board, read our blog, How to Reduce Your Auto Insurance Rates.

Vehicle Discounts

It’s not only the person behind the wheel that influences insurance rates; it’s also the vehicle itself. Some ways to qualify for discounts on your auto insurance are to install vehicle safety features:

• Tracking Device Discount: You can lower your premium if you install a GPS tracker to locate your car if it’s stolen or use telematics to track your driving habits.
• Anti-Theft System Discount: You can save on your comprehensive coverage if your vehicle comes equipped with a built-in anti-theft system.
• Safety Technology Discount: Features such as electronic stability control, which prevents skidding, or auto emergency braking can potentially earn you a discount.

Aside from these features, some policies will even offer a premium reduction if your car is newer than three years old.

Policy Discounts

Insurance companies also offer discounts to retain their customers. They want to incentivize you to cover all your property under their policies, and they want to ensure it’s worth the amount you’re investing with them. Some ways of saving on your auto insurance include the following:

• Bundling Discount: If you enroll in multiple policies – such as both homeowners and auto – most insurance carriers will offer you a discount.
• Family Plan Discount: Similar to bundling, if each member of your family – such as your spouse and children – is covered by the same company, you may be able to save on your rates.
• Renewal Discount: To prevent policyholders from switching to a new carrier, insurance companies may offer a renewal discount for retention purposes.
• Payment Options Discount: If you switch to paperless billing or pay your annual premium in one lump sum, you may qualify for a deduction.

Some consumers can even be offered a discount by shopping around with different carriers. Competitors are always looking for ways to attract new customers. An independent insurance agent is ideal for finding the lowest rates with excellent coverage.

To discover the discounts for auto insurance offered by insurance companies, one must compare policies. The best place to start finding out where you qualify for discounts is by enlisting the help of an insurance agent. At TJ Woods Insurance, we’re able to help with all your auto insurance needs and guide you toward the path to receiving great coverage at a reasonable price. Contact us today to find out what discount opportunities are available to you and to inquire about all your other insurance needs.