I’ve spent years on the phone with drivers across all 50 states β I started taking insurance calls back in 2014, and the patterns I saw then still hold true today. The same thing showed up constantly: two people with nearly identical cars, driving records, and zip codes β paying wildly different premiums. The difference almost never came down to luck. It came down to whether someone had actually asked for the discounts sitting right in front of them.
Insurers don’t advertise most of these. You have to ask. Here are the 15 that moved the needle most for the callers I talked to.
Shop and Compare First (Before Anything Else)
1. Compare rates every 6β12 months
This is the single most impactful thing you can do. Insurers don’t reward loyalty β they reward new customers. Rates on your existing policy tend to drift upward every renewal even if nothing about you changed, while the same company might quote a brand-new customer with your exact profile a lower rate just to win the business. Drivers who compare regularly save an average of $447 a year, and doing it takes less than two minutes and doesn’t touch your credit score.
2. Raise your deductible
Going from a $500 to a $1,000 deductible typically cuts your premium 10β20%. Only do this if you can actually cover the higher out-of-pocket amount in an emergency β the savings aren’t worth it if a claim would put you in a tight spot.
3. Bundle auto and home (or renters) insurance
Combining auto with homeowners or renters insurance under the same carrier typically saves 10β15% on both policies. Even if you rent, ask about bundling β renters insurance is cheap enough that the bundled discount often more than pays for it.
Ask About Every Discount β They Don’t Advertise Most of These
This was the biggest gap I saw on calls. Most drivers assumed their quote already included every discount they qualified for. It almost never did β discounts are opt-in, not automatic, and the agent on the phone isn’t required to volunteer them unless you ask.
4. Safe driver discount
No accidents in 3β5 years, depending on the carrier. This is usually the largest single discount available and it’s rarely applied automatically to renewals β confirm it’s still on your policy every year.
5. Low mileage discount
Under roughly 7,500 miles a year. If you work from home, took a job closer to home, or picked up a second car in the household, ask about this β it’s easy to forget to update your mileage estimate with your insurer.
6. Good student discount
A “B” average or higher for drivers under 25. This one’s underused β parents often don’t think to mention their teen’s grades to the insurance company, but most carriers offer a meaningful discount for it.
7. Defensive driving course completion
A short online or in-person course, often under $50, can shave a real percentage off your premium for 1β3 years depending on your state β the Insurance Information Institute has background on how these discounts typically work. It usually pays for itself within the first few months.
8. Paying your full premium upfront
Monthly installment plans almost always carry a small processing fee baked into each payment. If you can pay six months or a year upfront, ask what the full-pay discount is β it’s often 5β10% just for skipping the installment fees.
Understand What’s Actually Driving Your Rate
9. Your driving record
A clean record is your biggest lever. One at-fault accident can raise your premium 30β50%, and it typically stays on your record affecting rates for 3β5 years. Even minor tickets add up faster than most drivers expect.
10. Your credit-based insurance score
This one surprises most people. In the majority of states, insurers use your credit history as a rating factor β drivers with excellent credit can pay significantly less than drivers with poor credit for otherwise identical coverage. It’s legal in most states (a handful, including California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, restrict or ban it), and most drivers have no idea it’s happening. See our full breakdown of how your credit score affects your rate if you want to understand exactly what insurers are looking at. If your credit has improved since you last shopped, that alone can be worth a new quote.
11. Your age
Teen drivers (16β19) see the highest rates of any age group β often $300β400/month on their own policy. Rates drop steadily through your mid-20s. If you have a teen driver on your policy, shop around every 6 months specifically β the savings as they age can be dramatic.
12. Your vehicle
A 2024 Tesla Model 3 costs noticeably more to insure than a 2024 Honda Civic, even at equal coverage levels. Repair costs and theft rates drive this. If you’re shopping for a new car and insurance cost matters to you, get a quote on the specific trim and model before you buy, not after.
13. Your coverage type
Liability-only is the cheapest option but only covers damage you cause to others β it won’t pay to repair or replace your own car. Full coverage (collision + comprehensive) costs more but protects your vehicle too. Gap insurance covers the difference if your car is totaled and you owe more on the loan than it’s worth β worth adding if you’re financing a newer vehicle.
Two More Worth Checking
14. Multi-car discount
If more than one vehicle in your household is insured separately, combining them under one policy with the same carrier is one of the easiest discounts to miss. Even if the cars belong to different family members, ask whether they can be combined.
15. Usage-based / telematics programs
Programs that track your driving through an app or plug-in device can lower your rate if you’re a genuinely safe driver β smooth braking, no hard acceleration, limited late-night driving. Worth trying if your driving habits are steady; worth skipping if your driving varies a lot, since some programs can raise your rate for aggressive driving patterns instead of only lowering it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will shopping around hurt my credit score?
No. Insurance comparison quotes use soft credit inquiries only. Your credit score is not affected in any way by getting quotes.
How often should I actually compare quotes?
Every 6β12 months, or any time your life changes β new car, new address, adding a driver, getting married, or an accident coming off your record.
Is the cheapest policy always the best deal?
Not necessarily. Price matters, but so does the insurer’s claims-handling reputation and financial strength. A cheap policy that fights every claim isn’t actually cheap when you need it.
Last updated July 2026. InsureCompare is an independent comparison service. We may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page. This does not affect our comparisons or recommendations.