Saving Green with Insurance Discounts!

Saving Green with Insurance Discounts!

We’re almost half-way through March and St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, which means a lot of people have “green” on their mind. At Encharter Insurance, we have many ways to save some green this year on your insurance policies. There are numerous discounts that can be applied to your insurance portfolio, and our agents can work to find you discounts that apply to you, regardless of the number of policies you have.

• Auto Insurance Discounts
• Home Insurance Discounts
• Payment Option Discounts
• Combine & Save
• Group Discounts

Auto Insurance Discounts

One of the easiest ways to save on your car insurance premium is to sign-up for paperless billing. Not only are you helping to make the world a greener place, but you’re saving money in the process. Another way to save money is to keep a clean driving record. A Safe Driver Discount is applied to drivers who have not had an accident or violation in the last six years. This would be reflected in your driving record which is used when calculating your car insurance policy premium. Those drivers who have no points would be rewarded with a lower premium and an additional discount, which varies by driving record and carrier.

For drivers who are just getting their license or are still in school, there are discounts specific to them. Student drivers are eligible for a Good Student Discount if they are under the age of 25, enrolled full-time in high school or college and can provide documentation of at least a B grade point average or 3.0 GPA. If your driver is a student under the age of 25 and attends a school that is over 100 miles away, he or she may qualify for a Student Away at School Discount. The actual percentage for these discounts varies by carrier and state. You can also ask your insurance agent about a Driver Training Course Discount. While this varies by carrier and state, there are potential discounts for drivers of all ages who complete qualifying state-approved safety courses.

Other car insurance discount options you can ask your agent about are:

• Low Mileage Discount – actual mileage and discount varies by carrier
• Mature Driver Discount – for drivers who have completed eligible safety courses.
• Anti-Theft Device Discount – for qualifying protective features such as On-Star, lo-jack, etched glass, etc.

Motorcycle rider instead? That’s okay – you’re eligible for a few discounts too! If you’ve taken a safety course that meets your state and insurance carrier qualifications, your may receive a credit on your annual motorcycle insurance premium. You can also talk to your agent about discounts for multiple policies or bikes, and for annual renewals.

Finally, if you have you home insurance policy with the same carrier or agency, ask your insurance agent about the opportunity to combine and save!

Home Insurance Discounts

A homeowner can qualify for a Loss-Free Discount on their policy if they have not had any losses within the last 3-6 years. Most home insurance policy applicants are asked if they are a smoker. Non-smokers can receive a discount on their policy.

Similar to the Safe Driver Discount offered to auto insurance policy holders, you may qualify for a Safe Home Discount or a Protective Device Discount on your homeowner’s insurance policy if you install protective devices. Examples include smoke detectors, central station alarms, and local alarms. A central station alarm is one that is monitored 24/7 by an alarm company who notifies your police or fire department if activated. A local alarm activates a bell, siren and/or strobe light inside or outside your home when set off by the possibility of burglary or fire. However with a local alarm, the authorities are not notified unless done by you or a neighbor.

Talk to your agent about these other home insurance policies while reviewing your coverage:

• New Home Discount
• New Buyer Discount
• Early Shopper Discount
• New Roof Discount

Like with your auto policy, you can save money on your homeowner’s insurance policy by going paperless. Opting to receive all billing and account information via email can save up to 5% percent on your annual premium. If your home and auto insurance are with the same carrier or agency, you may also be eligible for a combine & save discount.

Payment Option Discounts

When activating your policy, if you choose to Pay-in-Full, you will receive a discount. Paying the premium all at once up front can help you save on your insurance policy.

If you are unable to pay for premium at one time and prefer to spread it out over a payment schedule, you can save money by opting for electronic fund transfer (EFT) payments. While there is no percentage discount off your premium, you can save money on the billing fee which can lower your payment and spread it out over 12-months to make the cost more manageable.

Combine and Save Discount

One of the easiest ways to save money on your annual insurance premiums is to combine your policies with the same carrier or agency. By simply asking your insurance agent to write both your home insurance and auto insurance or any other combination of policies, you can see savings up to 33 percent! With agency combine & save discounts, the savings are may not be as big but you’ll still see up to 5 percent off your premium, and your policies will be easier to manage if they are all in the same place.

Group Discounts

If you have AAA, not only can you save money if your vehicle breaks down or gets a flat tire, but you can also save money on your car insurance policy. By simply giving us your AAA membership number and a copy of your membership card, you can see a discount of up to 5 percent off your annual premium. You also will not have to worry about paying for rental and towing on your policy.

If you are a member of AARP, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 6 percent off your annual auto insurance premium. If you have both your auto and your home with us, you could see potential savings of 26 percent off your homeowner’s insurance. To find out if you are eligible, contact your insurance agent!

As you can see, there are many ways to save on your insurance policies, and your agent may be able to find you additional savings based on your individual insured items. The best way to find out about your potential savings is to ask! At Encharter Insurance, our agents are always looking to save you money. Give us a call at 888.754.8299 or fill out an online form to have an agent contact you today!

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