Auto Insurance Discounts: Which Careers Save You Money?

Car insurance companies offer reduced rates and discounts to people in certain occupations because they are considered lower risk. Historical data shows that drivers in certain occupations tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer tickets or citations. Some jobs that qualify for auto insurance discounts include teachers, doctors, scientists, first responders, military personnel, and engineers.

Teachers and educators

Some companies that offer discounts for teachers include:

• Liberty Mutual: They offer exclusive teacher benefits, such as a $0 deductible if your vehicle is damaged while driving for school or vandalized on school property, and up to $2,500 coverage for stolen or damaged teaching materials.
• California Casualty: They provide teachers and educational support staff with savings and benefits, including a $0 deductible if your vehicle is vandalized while parked at school or a school administrative office.
• Horace Mann: They offer an Educator Advantage package with added features and benefits at no extra cost, including new car replacement coverage, up to $35 for transportation if you feel unsafe to drive home, and a waived deductible for vandalism or a collision on school property.
• Meemic: Members of the education community can save up to 25% with Meemic Plus, which includes no deductible for covered comprehensive losses occurring on school property and liability coverage for transporting students to and from school events.
• GEICO: They offer discounts for teachers who are members of certain educational organizations, such as the National Council of Teachers of English and the Association of American Educators.
• Farmers: They offer discounted rates to first responders who are union members through a partnership with Union Plus, and members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) can also compare and save on insurance with Farmers Insurance Choice.
• Alfa Insurance: Full-time certified teachers and professors may be eligible for car insurance discounts, with the amount depending on occupation and other factors.
• Country Financial: They offer up to a 10% discount for full-time K-12 teachers in most states.
• Educators Insurance Agency: This company is a subsidiary of The Hanover and has partnered with the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) to offer an exclusive 10% discount to MTA members and their families.
• Teachers Insurance Plan of New Jersey: Part of Plymouth Rock, this company offers lower insurance rates to educators in the state.

In addition to these companies, it's worth checking with your local insurance agent to see if any other providers offer teacher discounts in your state.

It's also important to note that not all companies will advertise teacher discounts, so it's a good idea to ask about potential savings when getting a quote. Teachers are often considered low-risk drivers, which can result in lower rates, and being a member of educator associations and groups can also help you get discounts.

Comparing rates and taking advantage of other discounts, such as multi-policy, safe driving, and good student discounts, can also help teachers save on their auto insurance.

Military personnel

Some companies, like USAA, cater solely to military personnel and their families, while others offer discounts for your service. USAA is only available to current and former service members and their families, and they offer a discount of up to 15% off comprehensive coverage when you garage your vehicle on a secured military base. If you're deployed and store your vehicle in a secured location, you can receive up to 60% off your rate.

GEICO, which was originally created as an insurer for government employees, also offers a military discount of up to 15% for active, retired, and National Guard or Reserve members. They also offer an Emergency Deployment Discount for members who are deployed.

Other companies that offer military discounts include Liberty Mutual (up to 10% off), Farmers (about 10% off), and Armed Forces Insurance (amount varies by state).

In addition to these military-specific discounts, military personnel can also take advantage of general discounts offered to all drivers, such as bundling home and auto policies, having a good credit score, and maintaining a clean driving record.

It's important to note that the availability of these discounts may vary based on the state you reside in, as some states have laws requiring insurers to offer discounts to military service members. For example, Louisiana requires insurers to offer a 25% military discount.

Medical professionals

Discounts for Medical Professionals

Insurance Companies Offering Discounts

Several insurance companies offer discounts for medical professionals, including:

• USAA
• GEICO
• State Farm
• Liberty Mutual
• Travelers
• Nationwide
• Farmers
• AAA
• Allstate
• Progressive
• Country Financial
• Grange Mutual
• Mercury
• Shelter
• State Farm
• Travelers
• USAA
• Allstate

Ways to Save on Car Insurance as a Medical Professional

In addition to taking advantage of occupation-based discounts, medical professionals can also try the following strategies to save on car insurance:

• Practice safe driving: Maintaining a clean driving record can help keep premiums low by demonstrating that you are unlikely to engage in risky driving behaviour.
• Bundle policies: Purchasing auto insurance from the same provider as your home, renters, or condo insurance can often result in a significant discount, sometimes up to 25%.
• Comparison shop: Comparing quotes from multiple providers can help identify the best coverage options for the lowest price.
• Try usage-based insurance: Telematics, or usage-based insurance programs, allow your driving habits to be monitored, which may qualify you for lower rates.
• Review coverage types regularly: As your life circumstances and driving habits change, regularly review and adjust your policy to ensure you're only paying for the coverage you need.

First responders

Some insurance companies offer discounts to first responders as a show of thanks for their valuable work. For example, Country Financial gives a discount of up to 5% to first responders, including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and paramedics, in most of the states where it does business. California Casualty Insurance also offers reduced rates and a reduced deductible if your car is hit or vandalized while at work. They also provide family assistance with premiums if you die while on duty.

The amount of the discount varies by location and insurer, but firefighters can typically expect a 3% to 10% discount on their auto policy by providing proof of affiliation with a fire department. Police officers are often rewarded with an occupational insurance discount, and most insurance companies require proof of occupation or proof of membership in a law enforcement organization. The availability of discounts for EMTs and paramedics may depend on your location.

In addition to these discounts, first responders can also save on auto insurance by increasing their deductible, reducing their yearly mileage, and taking advantage of other discounts they may be eligible for.

Engineers

In addition to their profession, there are other factors that contribute to engineers' low-risk profile. Engineers often work regular hours, don't work on-call, work in low-stress environments, and have college degrees and driving experience. Their understanding of mechanical applications may also contribute to their ability to avoid collisions.

While there are savings opportunities for engineers, it's important to note that the availability and amount of discounts vary by insurance company and state. Engineers should shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies to find the best rates and take advantage of all applicable discounts.

Frequently asked questions