Low-Risk Jobs Car Insurance Discounts [2024]
Many companies offer car insurance discounts for low-risk jobs, and average rates can be as low as $67.92/mo. Lowest risk professions for car insurance include professors and military officers. If you think you have one of the best jobs for car insurance (or not), compare rates to maximizes auto insurance discounts for low-risk jobs.
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Kristen Gryglik
Licensed Insurance Agent
Kristen is a licensed insurance agent working in the greater Boston area. She has over 20 years of experience counseling individuals and businesses on which insurance policies best fit their needs and budgets. She knows everyone has their own unique needs and circumstances, and she is passionate about counseling others on which policy is right for them. Licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire,...
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UPDATED: Jul 2, 2024
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Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jul 2, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- People with high-stress jobs tend to be more aggressive drivers, so their insurance premiums cost more
- Working a low-risk job can get you a low-risk driver discount on car insurance
- If you change occupations, you should contact your insurance provider to see if you qualify for any new discounts
Lowest Risk Professions for Car Insurance
Wondering what the best jobs for car insurance are? How do you get occupation-based discounts? Is your job considered low or high risk? Is it even legal for companies to use your job as a way to determine your auto insurance rates? Read through the next few sections to find out.
Are some occupations safer than others?
In terms of getting a discount for a low risk occupation for car insurance, statistics have proven that some occupations tend to have safer drivers than others. For example, car insurance rates for scientists are right near the top of the list in terms of how little they pay, as compared to car insurance rates for self-employed contractors, who are farther down on the list. It’s not just that scientists are less likely to have accidents, but also that they are more likely to pay for damage out-of-pocket rather than file an insurance claim. On the other hand, a self-employed contractor is more likely to file an accident claim because they do not have the financial resources to pay out-of-pocket.
When insurance companies crunch the numbers to determine how occupation relates to risk, the financial resources of a specific occupation are a significant factor.
They also consider the stress levels of individual occupations. Statistics show that drivers in certain high-stress occupations are more prone to accidents and violations than those in less stressful occupations. Because stress equals risk, drivers who worked in a less stressful field are more likely to get a low-risk occupation discount. This goes hand-in-hand with the idea that your driving record will affect your insurance rates. Take a look at this video for more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrsYmk5N6Ww According to sources like Consumer Watchdog, Geico was the first company to start looking at occupation when determining insurance rates. Take a look at this table to see some examples of car insurance rates from Geico for high risk occupations compared to rates for low risk occupations. Geico Car Insurance Rate Comparison of High and Low Risk Occupations
| High-Risk Occupations | 6-Month | Low-Risk Occupation | 6-Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| No High School (chef) | $1,038.90 | Homemaker | $407.50 |
| High School (chef) | $1,038.90 | Professor w/ College Degree | $430.10 |
| Currently Unemployeed | $992.00 | Military Officer (Air Force O1) | $836.80 |
| Actor | $992.00 | Retired Miltary (Air Force O6) | $836.80 |
| Waiter/Bartender/Host | $992.00 | Psychiatrist | $871.50 |
| Athlete | $992.00 | Military E5 (Air Force) | $875.10 |
| Breeder/Groomer/Trainer | $992.00 | Military E5 (Navy) | $875.10 |
| Clerk/Cashier | $992.00 | Military E5 (Army) | $875.10 |
| Machine Operator | $992.00 | Military E5 (Marines) | $875.10 |
| Cleaning/Janitorial | $992.00 | Military E5 (Coast Guard) | $875.10 |
| Repair/Maintenance | $992.00 | No high School (Military E-5) | $875.10 |
| Nanny/Caretaker | $992.00 | High School (Military E-5) | $875.10 |
| Driver | $992.00 | Associates (Military E-5) | $875.10 |
| Security/Prison Worker | $992.00 | Bachelors (Military E-5) | $875.10 |
| Chef/Baker | $992.00 | Masters (Military E-5) | $875.10 |
As you can see, depending on your job, your rates can vary quite significantly. Other insurers have followed suit, to the extent that it’s now common practice. However, this is a somewhat controversial practice. For example, New York proposed a law to prohibit the use of education and occupational status in car insurance rate adjustments. This doesn’t mean insurance companies can’t consider your specific job, but it does mean there are limitations to how your employment can affect your rates.
Read more:
- Compare Homemaker Car Insurance Rates
- Compare Nanny & Caretaker Car Insurance Rates
- Compare Professional Engineer Car Insurance Rates
- Compare Self-Employed Worker Car Insurance Rates
What if I change occupations?
From time to time, an individual driver may change occupations simply by taking a new job. Yet few know how much influence your occupation has on your insurance rates. As a result, fewer still go out of their way to contact the car insurance provider to inform them of their new job. If more drivers did so, they would probably be surprised to know that they might be eligible for certain discounts. On the other hand, you also take the risk of having your insurance rates go up. If you work in a high-risk occupation it may not necessarily be worth it for you to switch to a lower risk one just to save on your car insurance.
According to statistics from 2010 that listed the top 60 occupations, the difference between the lowest and highest rates is only a matter of a couple of hundred dollars annually.
A lower car insurance rate may not justify the cost of changing occupations. Regardless of where you work, whether you change jobs, etc., it’s incumbent on you to be honest with your insurance company. Any false information on your insurance application from where you work to where your vehicle is garaged or your driving history can be considered insurance fraud, which currently costs the U.S. over $40 billion annually according to the Insurance Information Institute. As a result, fraud is taken seriously and can mean cancellation of a policy, or in some cases, depending on the severity of the offense, even jail time.
How do I maximize my car insurance discounts?
The car insurance discounts made available by insurance companies are not uniform across the board. In other words, insurance company A might offer 12 different discounts while company B may offer only eight.
In order to maximize your discounts, you need to ask for a comprehensive list while you’re shopping for a new policy. Any company unwilling to provide you with a list of discounts is probably one you don’t want to do business with anyway.
To help you get started, we’ve summarized some of the major discounts available by company in this table. Take a look. Car Insurance Discount Availability by Provider
| Discount Name | Allstate | American Family | Farmers | Geico | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide | Progressive | State Farm | Travelers | USAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control | NA | NA | 10% | 10% | 5% | 3% | NA | 7% | 10% | NA |
| Adaptive Headlights | 15% | 15% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 10% | 15% | 5% | 5% | 15% |
| Anti-lock Brakes | 10% | 10% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 10% | 5% | NA | NA |
| Anti-Theft | 10% | NA | NA | 23% | 20% | 25% | 20% | 15% | NA | NA |
| Claim Free | 35% | 10% | 15% | 26% | 15% | 10% | 15% | 15% | 23% | 12% |
| Continuous Coverage | NA | 10% | 10% | NA | 15% | 15% | 10% | 10% | 15% | 5% |
| Daytime Running Lights | 2% | NA | 2% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 3% | NA | NA |
| Defensive Driver | 10% | 10% | NA | 10% | 10% | 5% | 10% | 5% | 10% | 3% |
| Distant Student | 35% | 15% | 30% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 20% | 7% | NA |
| Driver's Ed | 10% | 10% | 8% | NA | 10% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 8% | 3% |
| Driving Device/App | 20% | 40% | 20% | NA | 30% | 40% | 20% | 50% | 30% | 5% |
| Early Signing | 10% | 12% | 15% | 15% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 15% | 10% | 12% |
| Electronic Stability... | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 5% | NA | 5% | NA | 3% | 2% |
| Emergency Deployment | 5% | NA | 20% | 25% | NA | NA | NA | NA | 20% | 25% |
| Engaged Couple | 10% | 10% | 5% | NA | 5% | 10% | 5% | NA | NA | 10% |
| Family Legacy | NA | 10% | NA | 5% | 10% | 5% | 5% | NA | 5% | 10% |
| Family Plan | 20% | NA | 15% | NA | 10% | 25% | NA | 15% | 15% | NA |
| Farm Vehicle | 10% | NA | 10% | NA | 10% | 5% | NA | 5% | 10% | NA |
| Fast 5 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Federal Employee | 13% | 15% | NA | 12% | 10% | 16% | NA | 15% | NA | NA |
| Forward Collision Warning | 5% | 10% | 5% | 10% | 5% | NA | 5% | 5% | 5% | 10% |
| Full Payment | 10% | 10% | 8% | NA | $50 | 8% | 10% | NA | 8% | NA |
| Further Education | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10% | 15% | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Garaging/Storing | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 90% |
| Good Credit | 10% | NA | 5% | 10% | 5% | NA | 10% | NA | 10% | NA |
| Good Student | 20% | 23% | NA | 15% | 23% | 10% | 8% | 25% | 8% | 3% |
| Green Vehicle | 10% | NA | 5% | NA | 10% | NA | NA | 10% | 10% | NA |
| Homeowner | 3% | 3% | 5% | NA | 5% | 5% | NA | 3% | 5% | NA |
| Lane Departure Warning | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Low Mileage | 30% | 30% | 25% | 25% | 30% | 25% | NA | 25% | 30% | 25% |
| Loyalty | 5% | 15% | 5% | NA | 15% | 5% | 15% | 15% | 5% | NA |
| Married | 5% | NA | 5% | NA | NA | NA | 5% | NA | NA | NA |
| Membership/Group | NA | 7% | NA | NA | 10% | 7% | NA | NA | NA | 7% |
| Military | NA | NA | 15% | 15% | 4% | 10% | NA | NA | NA | 30% |
| Military Garaging | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 15% |
| Multiple Drivers | 25% | 20% | 20% | NA | NA | 25% | NA | NA | 25% | NA |
| Multiple Policies | 10% | 29% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 10% | 12% | 17% | 13% | NA |
| Multiple Vehicles | NA | 10% | 8% | 25% | 10% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 8% | NA |
| New Address | NA | 5% | NA | NA | 5% | 5% | NA | 5% | NA | NA |
| New Customer/New Plan | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| New Graduate | 5% | 15% | 10% | NA | 5% | 15% | 10% | 5% | 15% | 10% |
| New Vehicle | 30% | NA | 30% | 15% | 40% | NA | 40% | 10% | 12% | NA |
| Newly Licensed | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5% | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Newlyweds | 10% | NA | 5% | 5% | 5% | NA | 10% | NA | 10% | NA |
| Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker | NA | NA | 10% | NA | 10% | 10% | NA | NA | NA | 10% |
| Occasional Operator | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Occupation | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10% | 15% | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| On-Time Payments | 5% | 10% | NA | 10% | 10% | 15% | 15% | NA | 15% | NA |
| Online Shopper | 10% | NA | NA | NA | 10% | NA | 7% | NA | 10% | NA |
| Paperless Documents | 10% | 5% | NA | 5% | 5% | 5% | $50 | 10% | 5% | 10% |
| Paperless/Auto Billing | 5% | 5% | NA | NA | 3% | $30 | NA | $20 | 3% | 3% |
| Passive Restraint | 30% | 30% | NA | 40% | NA | 20% | NA | 40% | NA | NA |
| Recent Retirees | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4% | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Renter | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Roadside Assistance | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Safe Driver | 45% | NA | NA | 15% | NA | 35% | 31% | 15% | 23% | 12% |
| Seat Belt Use | NA | NA | NA | 15% | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Senior Driver | 10% | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Stable Residence | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Students & Alumni | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10% | 7% | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Switching Provider | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10% | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Utility Vehicle | 15% | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Vehicle Recovery | 10% | NA | NA | 15% | 35% | 25% | NA | 5% | NA | NA |
| VIN Etching | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5% | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Volunteer | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Young Driver | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | $75 |
Read more:
- MetLife Car Insurance Discounts
- Driving Device/App Car Insurance Discounts
- Electronic Stability Control Car Insurance Discounts
- Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker Car Insurance Discounts
- Engaged Couple Car Insurance Discounts
- Recent Retirees Car Insurance Discounts
- Volunteer Car Insurance Discounts
- Passive restraint car insurance discounts
- Forward Collision Warning Car Insurance Discounts
Maximizing your discounts means finding a company that offers not only the most discounts but rather the best overall price. It is possible for one insurance company to charge slightly more, even with all of your discounts included, than a competitor. To make sure you’re getting the best deal, you always have to look at the overall price, the value of included discounts, and how much coverage you are getting for the money. For most drivers, it will be the total amount of coverage that is most important.
The car insurance policy doesn’t do you any good if it provides insufficient coverage, regardless of the discounts you receive.
Therefore, it’s always wise to assess your insurance needs before you even begin shopping for car insurance. Once you know what your needs are, you can compare policies side-by-side, including the discounts they offer.
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Case Studies: Car Insurance Discounts for Low-Risk Jobs
Case Study 1: Professor’s Advantage John, a tenured professor at a reputable university, recently renewed his car insurance policy. To his surprise, he discovered that his occupation as a professor qualified him for a low-risk job car insurance discount. As a result, his monthly premium decreased by 15%, saving him $18.00 per month. Case Study 2: Military Officer’s Benefit Sarah, an active-duty military officer, was exploring options to reduce her car insurance costs. She compared quotes from different insurance companies and found that her occupation as a military officer made her eligible for a significant discount. By switching to a provider that recognized her low-risk job, she managed to save $25.00 per month on her car insurance premium. Read more: Disabled Veteran Car Insurance Discounts Case Study 3: Scientist’s Savings Emily, a research scientist, had been paying high premiums for her car insurance coverage. After learning about car insurance discounts for low-risk jobs, she decided to shop around for better rates. By switching to an insurer that acknowledged her occupation’s low risk, she was able to secure a discount of 10%, resulting in a monthly savings of $12.00.
The Bottom Line for Car Insurance Discounts for Low-Risk Jobs
Geico and other car insurance companies often take your occupation into consideration when adjusting your rates (this is just one of the many risk-based factors insurers consider). High risk jobs, specifically those associated with high stress (meaning you may be at higher risk of being in an accident) or lower pay (meaning you’re more likely to file a claim) will typically mean higher rates than low risk jobs. After taking the time to do a little bit of investigation, many drivers are surprised to learn that the low-risk job discount is not the only one offered by car insurance companies. There are discounts for defensive driving, going “green” by driving a hybrid, signing up for paperless billing, and even for allowing the car insurance company to electronically monitor your driving. Suffice it to say, there’s probably at least one discount for which every American driver is eligible. Shop around to make sure you’re getting the best coverage mix, discounts, and rates for your needs and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are low-risk jobs car insurance discounts?
Low-risk jobs car insurance discounts are special offers or reduced premiums provided by insurance companies to individuals who work in occupations that are statistically less likely to be involved in accidents or file claims. These discounts recognize that certain professions tend to have safer driving habits and lower risk profiles.
Which occupations typically qualify for low-risk jobs car insurance discounts?
Several occupations are commonly considered low-risk by insurance providers. Examples include accountants, teachers, engineers, nurses, scientists, and other professionals whose work does not involve significant travel or high-risk activities. However, the specific occupations that qualify for these discounts may vary among insurance companies.
How much can I save with low-risk jobs car insurance discounts?
The amount you can save with low-risk jobs car insurance discounts varies depending on your insurance provider and the specific discount program. Typically, these discounts range from 5% to 20% off your premium. However, it’s important to note that individual factors such as your driving history, age, and location also influence your overall insurance rates.
Do I need to provide proof of my occupation to qualify for the discount?
Yes, insurance companies typically require proof of your occupation to qualify for low-risk jobs car insurance discounts. This can be in the form of employment verification documents, such as a pay stub, letter from your employer, or professional license. Some insurers may also use occupational classification codes to determine eligibility.
Are there any drawbacks to low-risk jobs car insurance discounts?
While low-risk jobs car insurance discounts can result in cost savings, it’s essential to understand that they are just one factor influencing your insurance premium. Other elements, such as your driving record, the type of vehicle you drive, and your coverage options, also play a significant role in determining your rates. Additionally, not all insurance companies offer these specific discounts, so it’s essential to shop around and compare quotes to ensure you’re getting the best overall deal.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Kristen Gryglik
Licensed Insurance Agent
Kristen is a licensed insurance agent working in the greater Boston area. She has over 20 years of experience counseling individuals and businesses on which insurance policies best fit their needs and budgets. She knows everyone has their own unique needs and circumstances, and she is passionate about counseling others on which policy is right for them. Licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire,...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.