How much can I save with a Good Driver Discount?

Preferred risk drivers are often eligible for substantial discounts on auto insurance premiums by what is commonly known as the Good Driver Discount.

Car insurance companies love to insure drivers with clean driving records and reward lower risk individuals with much better premiums.

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The definition of a good driver (or preferred risk driver) will vary depending on which insurance company you speak with however most good driver discounts are awarded to drivers who meet a profile similar to:

• Good Driving Record – Your driving record should be free of car accidents, speeding tickets, moving violations for at least 3 years and sometimes 5 years
• Aged 25 or over with a valid driver’s license more than 5 years
• Good Credit
• No convictions for vehicle related crimes

Drivers who fall into the preferred risk category always have the most choices for car insurance and can take advantage of the best pricing from almost any provider.

How much money can I save with a Good Driver Discount?

The Good Driver Discount is certainly one of the most common car insurance discounts and can often save up to 30% or more on standard auto insurance premiums.

One of the reasons why drivers sometimes see a large increase in premiums due to a car accident or speeding ticket is not so much higher premiums for the additional risk but the removal of the Good Driver Discount.

It’s important to understand that your overall premiums are not solely based on your driving record although it certainly does a play large role. Some of the most important variables used to calculate car insurance rates include:

• Where you live
• What kind of vehicle is being insured
• How many additional drivers are named
• What type of auto insurance you are purchasing
• Who the car insurance provider is
• Your credit score
• and more

Falling in the preferred risk category provides many advantages including the widest range of car insurance companies to choose from but sometimes even the best drivers have to pay high premiums based on other factors.

Will a single speeding ticket affect my good driver discount?

Yes and No. The answer to whether or not a single speeding ticket will increase your car insurance rates depends on a number of factors including:

Your Auto Insurance Provider

Some car insurance companies are much more conservative than others and automatically penalize you for a speeding ticket.

Some states have passed laws which prevent auto insurers for increasing rates due to a single speeding ticket (where the speed was less than 15 miles over the speed limit) however sometimes even these laws are skirted around by some providers.

For the most part a single speeding ticket will not increase your car insurance rates with many providers but you really need to check with your car insurance company. Have more than one ticket? Surely expect to pony up at some point.

How fast you were driving

Some auto insurance companies provide a waiver for a single speeding ticket but these waivers generally have exclusions where if the driver was convicted of speeding excessively or for reckless driving these waivers will not apply.

A good driver discount is provided to drivers who are low risk and with any conviction for speeding you obviously are now higher risk than drivers who have never been ticketed so always understand your car insurance company’s policy on a single speeding ticket well before buying a policy.

Do parking tickets affect my good driver discount?

No. We are not aware of a single story where a driver was penalized for having 1 or 100 tickets by a car insurance company. Now, if you fail to pay your tickets and have your vehicle registration suspended or driving license privileges suspended this is a whole other story.

Remember that the good driver discount is a privilege and based on rewarding drivers who have showed a responsible track record behind the wheel. No one owes you a discount or cheap car insurance rates and once you violate laws or drive irresponsibly this discount can quickly go away.

Always comply with rules of the road and your pocketbook will reward you.

Use our FREE quote comparison tool to find auto insurance rates today!