You are probably aware that there are a lot of advantages if you are able to either walk to work or take public transport. You can feel good about doing your part to save the environment. If you’re walking, your waistline might start to see a serious improvement. And, most important to many, you don’t have to pay for gas or parking.
A huge reason for a lot of people deciding to leave their cars at home is the money they can save by doing it. But, many of them don’t know they could be saving even more! Many insurance companies will reward infrequent drivers with lower auto insurance quotes.
It’s called a low-mileage auto insurance discount, and many insurance companies are offering it to consumers who own a car, but rarely use it. The logic behind it is, the less you drive, the less risk there is of you getting into an accident. Because you are at a decreased risk, they are able to lower the price of your insurance.
The specifics vary between companies. For some, you qualify for a discount if you drive fewer than 7,500 miles per year. Other companies offer a discount up to 16,000 miles. The amount of savings also varies, but is generally between 10% and 20%. It also works on a sliding scale; the fewer miles you drive, the more you save.
This discount is common for city-dwellers who are able to walk, bike, or take public transit to get to work. It’s also great for people who work from home. If your household has two cars, you might be able to save some money by getting a low-mileage discount on the second; since its not the primary vehicle, there’s a great chance it meets the necessary qualifications. Finally, this is a discount many senior citizens can take advantage of which is great, since their auto insurance rates are otherwise increasing. Most seniors are retired, which means they no longer have to commute to work. When they do drive, it is usually for a shorter distance to the grocery store or to a doctor’s appointment, for example than an extended trip to different city.
If you have to drive to work, you might still be able to get a low-mileage discount. If you live near some of your co-workers, start carpooling. Carpooling is a great option, because it means you will be using your own vehicle less frequently. There are other advantages to carpooling, too. You’ll save money on gas and parking, you can use the carpool lane and beat traffic, and you’ll be taking one small step towards saving the environment.
Because the qualifications differ between companies, its a good idea to shop around and get multiple auto insurance quotes. If one company turns you down for the discount, another might still say yes.