Can my job get me a discount on auto insurance?
Searching for new auto insurance can be tough. Everyone wants to find the best deal and save the most money while staying protected.
A large portion of your insurance premium is calculated when insurers look at your driving history, your age and gender, and your location. But did you know that certain providers will give you a discount on your policy if you work (or are trained) in a certain profession?
Why do certain jobs get discounts?
Since your insurance is calculated by a range of factors that center around risk, if drivers from the same profession show they have a reduced risk of filing a claim, they will receive a discount as they're found to be “low-risk” professionals.
Some insurers want to “give back” to professionals that build and serve the community; teachers, librarians, pilots and registered nurses, for example, get certain cutbacks on their premiums.
What sort of professions qualify for a discount?
Since every insurance provider is different, the types of jobs that actually receive a discount will vary from company to company. You need to be shopping around and asking insurance agents exactly which professions receive insurance breaks from their company before you sign on the dotted line.
Generally speaking, however, the occupations listed below can be eligible for discounts from participating insurers:
- Architects
- Certified Public Accountants
- College professors
- Dentists
- Doctors
- Elementary and high school teachers
- Engineers
- Firefighters
- Lawyers and judges
- Librarians
- Military service members
- Pilots
- Police officers
- Registered nurses
- Scientists
As you may be able to discern from the list, professions that require a lot of schooling and/or training see insurance discounts. Perhaps it’s due to the assumption that the more training you have in one field, the more caution or prowess you can bring to another job, such as the road.
These professions, based on all the insurance data, were found to file fewer claims than others. This is why educational backgrounds and professions often get associated with your risk profile when you apply for insurance.
What are the other types of car insurance discounts?
So, if you don’t fall into one of those highly-trained professions above, you may be able to get an auto insurance discount another way.
Here are some other types of discounts that may be surprising to you:
- Private parking space discount (garage or private driveway)
- University student discount (on a shared policy)
- Good student discount (80% average or higher)
- Hybrid vehicle discount (depends on insurer)
- Driver’s education discount