If you’re a teacher, you can find discounts at stores, restaurants, parks and even your car insurance. Many car insurance providers give you discounts for working at public or private schools.
What’s the best auto insurance provider for educators?
We rounded up six of the best options out there for people working in education — and other public service jobs. Many of these providers don’t go into specifics about what discounts they offer, so contact an agent or get a quote to see if you meet the conditions.
As always, insurance companies usually consider your unique background, location, credit score and other factors to determine your cost and coverage options.
What are the best car insurance companies for teachers?
As a school employee, you can get a $0 deductible if your car is vandalized or broken into on school grounds. In every state except Pennsylvania, you can get a $0 deductible if you're in an accident while attending or en route to a school-related event.
Also, if any of your teaching supplies or materials are damaged in a crash or stolen from your vehicle, Liberty Mutual will cover them up to $2,500. According to the provider website, you can also receive some exclusive educator discounts on your home and auto insurance.
You can get rate breaks with this provider for belonging to just about any educational organization. Geico's website shows more than 200 possible affiliations that will earn you a discount, so get proof of your membership and see how it lowers your premiums and deductibles.
This provider, which is specially geared to take care of teachers, gives the same kinds of discounts for incidents that happen on school property or while driving to or from school-related events.
The teacher-specific Educator advantage policy comes at no extra cost, and adds liability coverage for any of your students riding in your vehicle. You can also get a discount on rates for life and home insurance through this company with multi-line and multi-policy discounts.
Gap insurance
No
Roadside assistance
Optional
Gap insurance
No
Best payment plans for teachers
California Casualty
Finder score: 5 / 5★★★★★
Despite the name, California Casualty (CC) offers coverage in 44 states and Washington, D.C. — Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan and Wisconsin are the exclusions.
This company exclusively serves teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and health care professionals. Offering customizable policy plans, CC provides extra coverage for damaged or lost teaching materials, as well as an option for no payments during the summer months to make life easier for educators who aren't working through June, July and August.
Gap insurance
No info available
Roadside assistance
Optional
Gap insurance
No info available
How do car insurance discounts work for teachers?
Depending on the insurance company, you could get more monthly discounts as an educator than the average policyholder.
You might even get a lower deductible. But this is usually a trade: Low deductible can mean high monthly payments and vice versa. If you have money set aside for emergencies, lower monthly payments with high deductible might work better.
Because most insurance providers aren’t uniform in their coverage across the country, your policy options and discounts will vary depending on things like where you live, your age and driving record.
Special job titles discounts
Discounts can be offered for different occupations, including:
Educators
Active US military or veterans
Medical professionals
Government employees
Whether or not you can get a discount for your job title depends on your insurance provider, as well as coverage availability and regulations in your state.
Compare policies with teacher discounts and perks
How does being a teacher help you save on auto insurance?
Certain insurance providers are known for their teacher-specific discounts or discounts for being a member of an educational organization.
If you’re a teacher, you belong to a demographic that makes statistically fewer claims than the average driver, and present a lower risk to an insurer. That means car insurance for teachers could be cheaper than for other professions.
A provider that lets you bundle your life, home and car insurance could potentially save you money with not only a bundling discount, but your teacher’s discount too. Look into your current insurers, and find out if there’s a bundle deal geared toward educators.
How teachers can save even more money on car insurance
Even if you qualify for an educator discount through your provider, other factors like your credit score, driving record or the type of car you drive could be keeping your rates higher than they need to be.
Bump up your credit score
In most states, insurance providers use your credit score to assess your risk. Multiple independent studies have linked having a great credit score and being a low-risk policyholder.
Increasing your credit score might only mean marginal gains, but when you’re talking about an expensive recurring payment, every dollar counts.
Clean up your driving record
When you have points on your license or an at-fault crash in your recent history, your insurance rates are going to be higher than if you were squeaky-clean on paper. Even if you were in a crash that wasn’t your fault, some insurers will raise your rates simply for having to file a report or claim.
The good news: By enrolling in a defensive driving course or taking other measures to demonstrate you’re a safe driver, you can negotiate with your provider to bring the monthly rates back down.
Pay a lump sum
By paying your six- or 12-month policy in full at the beginning, you’ll save money over the monthly or bi-monthly option. This is because the insurer knows everything is paid up and no one has to worry about whether you’ll be able to pay later.
Paying this way can also save you from a midterm rate hike if you make a claim, although you may be asked to pay more at the beginning of the next policy cycle following an accident or claim.
Trim the fat
Does your current policy include add-ons you’ll never use, like coverage for driving abroad or liability insurance for others driving your vehicle? Every extra feature on an insurance plan costs you money, and if you really think you’ll never use one area of coverage, most insurers will allow you to cut them.
Keep track of other non-insurance coverage you might have. A membership with AAA or AARP could offer benefits that overlap with your insurance policy, possibly allowing you to eliminate one or the other.
Shop around and compare options
Nothing eliminates your chances of saving money like making a last-minute decision. By taking your time and comparing rates and coverage, you’ll be able to find or negotiate better pricing, and you might find better discounts from certain providers over others.
Bottom line
While there are several car insurance providers that offer a break for educators, you’ll have to check into availability where you live and what conditions you may or may not meet. As always, stay in the know about your provider and what else is available.
To learn more about car insurance in general, from special rates and discounts to state laws and requirements, check out our comprehensive guide to car insurance.
Roslyn McKenna Ayers is insurance manager at ValuePenguin and a former publisher at Finder, specializing in home and auto coverage. Her expertise and analysis has been featured on Bankrate, MSN and Reader's Digest. She holds a BA in writing and communications from Maryville College.
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