Get a Good Driver Car Insurance Discount

A good driver discount is a car insurance deal offered by insurers to reward drivers who show they are relatively unlikely to file a claim based on their driving history. There are many different types of car insurance discounts, and this is one of the best.

As you know, every time an insurance carrier sells a policy to someone, they are betting the odds that driver will not file a claim. If there is a likelihood of a claim being filed based on past driving history, insurers will charge more to cover their bet – or refuse to issue a policy at all. So those who present with a good driving history – mainly no claims filed in a certain amount of time – not only get the best price, they also get one of the best discounts.

You can not only get a great discount for having an excellent driving record, you’ll start off with a lower price. If your full coverage car insurance quote is for $2,500 annually, you can typically expect up to 30% off for a good driver discount. That translates to $750 off your policy. If you combine that with a bundling discount, another big one, you could see more than an additional $350 off, for a total premium of $1,400.

That’s quite a savings.

A good driver discount works by rewarding you for maintaining a safe driving record with no claims for a period of time, typically 3-5 years. Good drivers with no claims are a safe bet for insurers since their record shows they appear to follow the rules of the road and do not engage in risky behavior, such as speeding, that can cause an accident.

If you have a clean driving history going back 3-5 years you will probably qualify for this type of discount. This discount is usually applied to drivers who have had their licenses for a number of years and have proven they are safe drivers by their record. There are some groups who will not be eligible for this discount.

There are a few groups who do not qualify for a safe driving discount – either because their record is not good or they don’t even have a record yet. Let’s look at a couple of those groups who most likely will not qualify for this discount.

Young or New Drivers

Drivers who have recently received their license will not have an established record for an insurer to examine, meaning they will typically receive a high price quote until they have established they can be trusted not to file a claim or to drive in a risky manner. Additionally, drivers in their teens face another obstacle and that is they belong to a driving group who collectively files more claims than almost any other group. So, even if your teen is the safest, most responsible driver in the family, they will still face a higher price, at least until they get older. There are some discounts teen drivers can make use of, including the good student discount.

High-Risk Drivers

Insurers see some drivers as particularly risky to insure, usually based on past performance on the road or some other qualifier. These drivers may need to explore high-risk car insurance, which typically costs more than standard auto coverage. What can cause a driver to be labeled high risk? A main factor is being convicted of DUI or DWI. These drivers may not qualify for any discounts – and, in some cases, may be fortunate to even find insurance.

Some other reasons including being convicted of driving without insurance, having an unexplained lapse in insurance, being cited for some moving violations and, in some states, failing to pay child support. For many of these, you’ll need to have your insurer file a certificate of financial responsibility (SR-22) with the state before you can get your driver’s license back, if it was confiscated. Finding cheap SR-22 insurance can be achieved, although it may be difficult.

With today’s wireless technology, some insurers are offering their drivers the ability to achieve a safe driver discount by installing a telematic device in their cars that records and evaluates driving behavior. In conjunction with the ability of newer cars to register the speed limit and other road conditions, the device can report when you are speeding or failing to stop completely at a stop sign, among other considerations.

Among other things, these devices can record time of day, mileage, location and route, acceleration, braking, and phone usage while driving. Some people consider this information to be off limits and would rather not give their insurance company permission to monitor their metrics. The choice is up to you.