Safe Driving Tips for Lower Car Insurance Rates

If you maintain a driving record free of accidents and moving violations, your insurance company may reward you with a safe driving discount. Savings towards your policy premium can range from 10% to 30%, and eligibility will vary by the insurance company.

What Is a Safe Driver Discount?

A safe driver discount is a discount on your car insurance premiums that most insurers offer to drivers who avoid accidents and moving violations for three to five years. Drivers who qualify for a safe driving discount can save 10% to 30% on their car insurance rates. Not all insurance companies offer discounts for safe driving.

How Safe Driver Discounts Work and How To Qualify

Eligibility for a safe driver discount can vary by company. Some insurers will consider your accident history, moving violation history or both.

• Stay accident-free: No accidents in the past three to five years (even if you were not at fault)
• Stay moving violation-free: No moving violations or traffic citations in the past three to five years (e.g., speeding tickets, DUIs)
• Stay accident- and moving violation-free: Some insurers will require drivers to maintain a driving record free of accidents and moving violations for three to five years.

Usage-based insurance is another form of savings for driving safely and is calculated based on your driving habits. By downloading a mobile app on your phone, the insurer used telematics technology to track data about your driving behaviors. You may not need to have a clean driving record to enroll in your insurer’s telematics program since savings are based on your driving habits, not your driving history.

Drivers who qualify for a safe driving discount can save 10% to 30% on their car insurance rates.

California Drivers Must Be Offered a Safe Driver Discount

In California, car insurance providers are legally required to offer a 20% discount if the driver has one point or less on their driving record. If you believe you qualify for this discount but your insurer did not offer you this discount, contact your insurance company and inform them of this legal provision.

Get Personalized Car Insurance Quotes Here

Companies That Offer Safe Driver Discounts

Most national insurance carriers offer some form of savings for maintaining a clean driving record.

Company	Discounts
Allstate	Safe Driving Bonus Program: Credit applied toward your policy for every six months you do not have an auto accident Allstate Drivewise: Telematics program that awards a 10% discount just by signing up.
American Family	Good Driver Discount: Avoid accidents, violations and claims for five years and earn a discount KnowYourDrive: Telematics program that rewards up to 20% savings on your car insurance premium
Farmers	Safe Driver Discount: Discount for drivers with zero points on their driving record Farmers Signal: Telematics program that rewards a premium discount at renewal. A Signal score of 80% or better may earn you $100 in rewards monthly.
Liberty Mutual	Accident-Free Discount: Earn a discount for staying accident-free for five years Violation-Free Discount: Avoid moving violations to receive a policy premium discount Liberty Mutual RightTrack: Save up to 30% on car insurance by signing up for this telematics program.
Mercury	Good Driver Discount: Be age 25 or older and avoid insurance claims or traffic offenses for three years to earn a discount Accident-Free Discount: Avoid at-fault accidents for five years to earn a discount Violation-Free Discount: Avoid traffic violations and accidents for three years to earn a discount MercuryGO: Telematics program that applies a discount based on how safely you drive
Nationwide	Safe Driver Discount: Avoid accidents and moving violations for five years to earn a discount Nationwide SmartRide: Telematics program that applies an instant 10% discount for signing up
State Farm	Good Driver Discount: Earn a discount for avoiding at-fault accidents and moving violations for three years Accident-Free Discount: Earn a discount for maintaining an accident-free driving record State Farm Drive Safe & Save: Telematics program that rewards a discount of up to 30%. State Farm Steer Clear: Telematics program for drivers under age 25 that rewards a discount for driving safely
Travelers	Safe Driver Discount: Avoid accidents and moving violations for three to five years to receive a discount Travelers IntelliDrive: Telematics program that rewards a discount of up to 30% for driving safely
USAA	USAA SafePilot: Telematics program that rewards a discount of up to 10%

Get Personalized Car Insurance Quotes Here

Usage-based insurance using telematics is another form of savings for driving safely and is calculated based on your driving habits.

Safe Driving Tips To Lower Your Insurance Rates

Maintaining an accident-free driving record is no accident. If you stay alert, minimize distractions and actively obey traffic laws, you are more likely to lower your car insurance rate with a good driver discount.

Observe And Obey Speed Limits

When you’re speeding, you decrease the time available to react to an emergency situation and can increase the severity of the collision. Receiving a speeding ticket may face added points on your driving record and increase and higher car insurance rates. Always pay attention to posted speed limits and slow down in neighborhoods, school zones and construction areas.

Minimize Distractions

Distracted driving accounted for 3,142 deaths in 2020 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These deaths could have been avoided if the drivers were staying alert while driving. Driving while distracted includes any activity that pulls your attention away from the road, such as:

• Texting
• Eating
• Drinking
• Setting your GPS destination
• Choosing a radio station
• Talking with your passengers
• Bumping up the volume

Minimize distractions by setting your phone to driving mode, waiting to eat and drink until you get home and setting your GPS and radio station before you start driving. Also, set your radio volume at a moderate level so you can hear your approaching sirens and potential hazards.

Practice Defensive Driving

Defensive driving is practicing safe driving habits that encourage alertness and smart reactiveness while driving. Some insurers will apply another auto insurance discount to your policy for completing an approved defensive driving course. Some techniques these courses will teach you include:

• Controlling your speed
• Constantly monitoring the road for potential hazards
• Never assume other rivers are sober and alert (like you!)
• Staying alert for weather conditions
• Minimizing distractions

Stay Calm

Driving when emotions are running high can impede your driving, leading to road rage or any other event that would compromise your judgment behind the wheel. Use these tips to promote calmness while driving:

• If you’re feeling angry or distraught before you start driving, take a couple of moments to collect yourself before starting your car.
• Keep your distance from aggressive drivers.
• Listen to calming music.
• Avoid honking your horn unnecessarily — it may spur other drivers to drive recklessly around you.
• Let it go if another driver cuts you off.

Avoid Driving When Tired

According to the NHTSA, drowsy driving accounted for 633 deaths in 2020. Falling asleep for just four seconds while driving at 55 mph means 100 yards in which you were unconscious. The following tips can help you avoid drowsy driving:

• Get enough sleep each night.
• Do not drink any alcohol before driving.
• Do not take medication that causes drowsiness before driving.

Unfortunately, there may be instances when alert driving is not always possible — you just had a new baby or you had a late work shift, for instance. If sleep deprivation is severely affecting your ability to drive, pull over, drink a cup of coffee and take a nap at a designated rest stop before returning to the road.

Don’t Drink And Drive

If you’re caught drinking and driving, the consequences can go beyond ruining your clean driving record. You risk a suspended license, incarceration and causing injuries or deaths in a car accident in which you would be held liable.

A first DUI offense can cost up to $10,000 in fines and legal fees according to the NHTSA. If you plan to drink, make transportation arrangements for getting home beforehand. The cost of a taxi or a rideshare service is significantly cheaper than paying for a DUI. The same applies when driving under the influence of drugs!

Secure Loose Cargo

Cargo that comes loose while driving can cause severe damage or injuries to other people. Before you secure cargo on top of your car, read your owner’s manual to see how much your vehicle’s roof can support. Next, use the appropriate tools for the job, such as nylon ropes, cinching straps or custom-built roof equipment to secure bicycles, surfboards or other sporting equipment.

Slow Down When Children Are Present

In 2019, 181 child pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents according to the NHTSA. Remain vigilant when driving through neighborhoods because children playing in the streets may suddenly dart in front of your car. Also, stay alert when driving during the hour before school starts and the hour after it ends.

Remember: You must stop whenever a school bus is loading or unloading passengers, even if the bus does not activate lights or the stop sign. This goes for when you’re behind the bus or in an oncoming traffic lane.

Driving while distracted includes any activity that pulls your attention away from the road and makes you prone to accidents.

Maintain Your Car

Car maintenance is critical in ensuring your car is safe to drive and helping you identify hazards. Malfunctioning wiper blades and dirty headlights will directly impede your vision of the road, especially in poor weather conditions. Use the tips below to maintain your car and improve safety for you and drivers around you:

• Clean your headlights
• Replace worn brake pads
• Ensure your tires can travel in dangerous weather conditions (e.g., rain, ice, snow)
• Inspect your wiper blades
• Maintain your oil and brake fluids

Drive Cautiously During Bad Weather

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, weather-related car crashes kill an average of 5,376 people annually. Drive cautiously when there is inclement weather in your area. Wet, icy or slick roads can change how your vehicle behaves on the road. For instance, slow down when driving down icy, wet or snowy roads. If bright sunlight is blocking your view, slow down to give other drivers more space. Use your fog lights when visibility is extremely poor.

Adjust Your Car Setting

Drivers may not always realize that their car setup isn’t the most conducive to their size and driving needs. For example, setting your seat too close to your driving wheel may leave insufficient space for your feet to easily switch from the gas pedal to the brakes. Or, your seat may be set too low and you need to strain to better see the road. The next time you’re in your car, take a few minutes to optimize your seat, side and rear view mirrors for your needs.

Key Takeaways Drivers may save anywhere from 10% to 30% on car insurance by avoiding accidents and moving violations depending on their insurance company. Drivers can sign up for their insurer’s telematics program to earn savings based on data collected about their driving behaviors. Good driver discounts and telematics programs are available through most national car insurance providers. Minimizing distractions, driving in ideal weather conditions and obeying traffic laws can help you avoid accidents and moving violations.

Maintaining a clean driving record and shopping around are the best ways to find affordable car insurance. With SmartFinancial, we compare rates from multiple car insurers to save you valuable time and tons of money. Just enter your zip code below or call 855.214.2291 to receive your free car insurance quote.