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Can You Negotiate a Lower Car Insurance Rate?
While you can’t negotiate your car insurance rate, there are other ways to save—like shopping for a better premium.
Written by Liz Jenson
Edited by Amy Bobinger
While your
car insurance
rates aren’t negotiable, you may be able to lower your premiums with discounts or use Jerry
to shop around to find more affordable coverage elsewhere.Can you negotiate your car insurance rate?
Unfortunately, car insurance prices can’t be negotiated.
Haggling doesn’t exist in the insurance industry. When you request quotes, an insurance provider will use several factors—including your driving history, credit history, age, zip code, and more—to determine the cost of your car insurance policy.
That being said, you might be able to find lower premiums with a different insurance carrier. Each provider uses its own algorithm to determine the cost of car insurance, which is why it’s so important to compare rates before purchasing or renewing a policy. You might also qualify for discounts or find ways to lower your insurance costs over time.
Other ways to lower your car insurance rates
While insurance quotes aren’t negotiable, there are ways to find opportunities for savings and lower auto insurance rates. Here are a couple of strategies to try.
Shop around for a better rate
To ensure you’re getting the best insurance rates available, shop around and get quotes from several different insurance companies.
The easiest way to do this is by gathering car insurance quotes and comparing rates. You can do this on your own or via an insurance agent, but it’s way easier when you use an independent broker like
Jerry
to get personalized quotes in a matter of minutes.Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
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Check for discount opportunities
Every car insurance company will offer
car insurance discounts
of one kind or another, even if they aren’t directly advertised. With the right type of insurance discount, you could save up to 30% on your premiums.Some of the most common car insurance discounts include:
- Safe driver discounts: If you can avoid at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and other types of traffic infractions, you might qualify for asafe driver discountof up to 40% based on your clean driving record2.
- Good student discounts: Still in school? Some insurers offer astudent discountof up to 25% for maintaining a B average or better3.
- Pay-in-full discount: Many providers offer a lower rate if you’re financially able to pay for your entire policy upfront. Savings average at 9%.
- Telematics discounts:Telematicstechnology tracks your driving habits, including how quickly you brake, your average driving speed, the time of day you drive, and more. Insurers may offer discounts of up to 40% for installing a telematics device in your vehicle or using a telematics program via their mobile app4. With some providers, you’ll get a discount just for signing up.
- Low-mileage discount: If you drive less than 10,000 miles per year, you may qualify for a discounted rate with some insurers. Discounts range from 5% to 30%, though the actual percentage varies by state and insurance company. This type of discount is often offered as a form of a telematics discount, but your provider may ask you to send pictures of your odometer instead.
- Anti-theft discount: Some providers offer discounts for vehicles with factory-installed or aftermarket anti-theft devices. Discount rates range from 5%-25%, but usually fall in the lower part of that range. Some providers will offer discounts for safety features, too.
Check for discounts as you shop around for insurance quotes or use
Jerry
’s discount tool to learn more about your options with different providers.Raise your deductible
When you carry
comprehensive coverage
and/or collision coverage
, you can improve your car insurance premiums by choosing a higher deductible.You pose a lower risk to insurance companies with a higher deductible, since you’ll pay for a larger percentage of property damage costs out-of-pocket in the event of a car accident. Just be sure that you never raise your deductible higher than you can afford; once the cost of damages has been assessed by your insurance claims adjuster, you’ll have to pay your deductible before your insurance coverage kicks in.
Our experts analyzed thousands of car insurance policies to determine how your deductible can affect your full coverage car insurance rates. Here’s what they found:
Insurance company | $500 | $1,000 | $2,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
$270 | $264 | $255 | |
$241 | $228 | $224 | |
$185 | $181 | $179 | |
$193 | $184 | $179 | |
$224 | $218 | $213 |
Work on your credit score
In all states except
California
, Hawaii, Massachusetts
, and Michigan
, your credit score can have a huge impact on your rates. Even something as simple as staying current on your credit card monthly payments can improve your rates over time as your credit-based insurance score
improves. Here’s how your insurance rates may be impacted as your credit score changes.
Credit score | Minimum liability | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
Less than 600 | $70 | $145 |
601–699 | $65 | $132 |
700+ | $62 | $121 |
Consider adjusting your coverage
It’s best practice to carry as much insurance coverage as you can afford.
At full coverage, plus any other state minimum required insurance (such as
Jerry
, our expert insurance agents recommend carrying at least 100/300/100 liability insurance
and uninsured motorist coverage
, PIP
, and/or MedPay
). However, if you’re unable to afford your policy, dropping unnecessary coverage is always better than driving without insurance.The type of vehicle you drive should also influence the amount of coverage you purchase. You should always carry
full coverage
on a new car, for example, but older cars have much lower repair and replacement costs. This results in a lower payout for you In the event of an accident, especially if you have a high deductible. If you could reasonably afford to repair or replace your vehicle out of pocket, you may not need to carry full coverage.Find out if Jerry can help you save on a full coverage policy.
Find out if Jerry can help you save on a full coverage policy.
Compare quotes from 55+ top providers to find your best price
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FAQ
Do your personal finances impact your insurance rates?
Yes, your personal finances will impact your insurance rates. As the policyholder, you’ll want to have good credit when applying for car insurance, since insurance providers will use that information to inform your insurance quote—that is, unless you live in
California
, Hawaii, Massachusetts
, or Michigan
.Can you negotiate your home insurance rates?
Like auto insurance rates, home insurance rates are not negotiable. However, you may be able to save money by comparing quotes from multiple providers, searching for applicable discounts, and bundling your home insurance policy with your auto coverage.
How bad is an auto insurance gap?
An insurance gap, or a period of time when you don’t have coverage, can raise your car insurance rates by as much as 50%5. This rate increase will follow you across providers, too. As such, it’s very important to maintain continuous coverage to keep your rates low.
Meet our experts
Liz Jenson
Liz Jenson is an insurance writer who specializes in general automotive and insurance topics. Liz’s mission is to produce informative and useful content to help car owners make smart choices when buying cars and car insurance. Since joining Jerry in 2021, Liz has written nearly 4,000 long- and short-form articles on topics including state-specific insurance recommendations, common car insurance questions, and deep dives into vehicle model details.
Before they came to Jerry, Liz was a full-time student at Indiana University, Bloomington working on a double major in English and French.
Amy Bobinger
Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Editor
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars.
Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
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