Reader’s Question:

I have not been in an accident for two years now here in Arizona. Can I ask my auto insurance agent for discounts for this?

Jeremy

Phoenix, AZ

Most auto insurance companies do not advertise their promos or discount offerings but if you ask your Arizona auto insurance agent about them, you will get straightforward answers. Having a general idea of how auto insurance companies determine premium rates and discounts will aid you in your discussions with your auto insurance agent.

Customarily auto insurance companies take into consideration the total losses they experience from their policyholders. This could be within the state or across the country. These losses could come from settlements made due to accidents. That would include medical expenses for injured parties, and repair or replacement costs for damaged vehicles and property. To recover their losses, insurers implement a general increase in premium rates shouldered by all policyholders. As this will be unfair to insured motorists with clean driving records, auto insurance companies then offer discounts to maintain a sort of equilibrium.

There are many ways an Arizona driver can qualify for a discount and one of them is being accident free. Not having filed any claims for the past two years can definitely put you in a favorable light with your auto insurance provider. Aside from being accident free there are other ways to make yourself eligible for a discount. If your automobile has airbags, automatic seatbelts and other safety features, this can qualify you for a discount. If you’re a non-smoker, your auto insurance provider might also give you a discount. Purchasing both your home and auto insurance from the same company can get you a multiple-policy discount. The ways and means by which you can get a discount is as varied as the number of auto insurance companies that are out there. Factors that usually affect their view are your age, gender, credit rating, make and type of car, driving record, and kind of employment. The bottom line is that if you think you have been a favorable risk to your insurer, then you shouldn’t hesitate to ask your auto insurance agent for discounts.