Are There Car Insurance Discounts for Teachers?
Last Updated on April 4, 2021
Drivers with certain jobs may be entitled to certain insurance discounts. That’s because certain professions are linked with lower accident rates. Your insurance company uses your employment information to assess your risk.
Are there car insurance discounts for teachers? Can teachers expect to pay less for car insurance? Today, we’re explaining how teachers may be able to pay less for car insurance.
Yes, Teachers May Be Eligible for Discounted Auto Insurance
Teachers not only play an integral role in society, but they’re also some of the safest drivers on the road. Teachers are statistically less likely to be involved in a collision than many other professions.
As a result, teachers will receive discounted auto insurance rates from some car insurance companies.
However, don’t expect to get big discounts when working with insurers like GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, USAA, and similar big names. Instead, you’ll want to request a quote from insurance companies specializing in auto insurance for teachers.
There are two main options when looking for discounted auto insurance rates for teachers across the United States:
- Horace Mann Insurance – Horace Mann’s free Educator Advantage package includes liability coverage for students riding in your car, personal property coverage up to $1,000 if work supplies are stolen from your car, and $0 deductibles for vandalism or collision claims on school property or at a school-sponsored event. Teachers also get total loss replacement coverage, extra roadside assistance coverage, and up to $1,000 in pet injury coverage.
- Specialized teachers insurance groups like California Casualty (in California) or Meemic (offered in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Georgia)
Both of these options are well-known among the education community. Using these options, you can access discounted teachers’ car insurance rates across the country. Like other low-risk auto insurance collectives, these groups are able to offer discounted rates because, generally speaking, their members make fewer claims than car insurance pools made up of the general public.
Big insurance companies like GEICO, State Farm, and Progressive may offer discounted auto insurance rates to teachers as well. It’s a good idea to compare quotes from all small and large insurance companies serving your area.
While requesting a quote from these companies, you will be asked about your employment status. Tell your insurance company that you’re a teacher. They may call your school to confirm your employment status.
Additionally, teachers who are part of the Members of the National Education Agency (MNEA) may also receive discounted auto insurance.
Can Teachers Skip Car Insurance Payments in the Summer?
Most teachers don’t work over the summer months. In that case, you might explore the option of skipping car insurance payments.
You’re not driving to work every day, so why do you need to insure a vehicle? This option makes sense if your household has two or more vehicles.
Fortunately for you, some insurance companies – particularly the companies specializing in car insurance for teachers – will let you skip payments over the summer.
In reality, most insurance companies don’t really let you “skip” payments over the summer months. Instead, they schedule your payment plan around the school year. That means you’ll pay slightly higher monthly insurance premiums from September to June, then skip payments in July and August.
Other Special Car Insurance Options Available for Teachers
Companies like Liberty Mutual offer special car insurance options just for educators. Some of the bonuses available to teachers through Liberty Mutual and other companies include:
Vandalism Loss Protection: Teachers may pay a $0 deductible if your car is vandalized on school property or damaged during school-related events.
Personal Property Coverage: Do you leave school supplies or teaching materials in your car while parked on school-owned property? If your personal property is stolen or damaged while kept inside your vehicle, you may be covered up to $2,500 per incident.
Collision Coverage: If your vehicle is damaged in a collision while you’re driving it on school business, you’ll pay a $0 deductible.
What Are the Best Auto Insurance Companies for Teachers?
Teachers have plenty of car insurance discounts, but certain car insurance companies are better for teachers than others.
By requesting a quote from the best car insurance companies for teachers, you can get the same car insurance as everyone else – but at a lower rate specific for teachers.
Below, we’ll list some of the best car insurance companies for teachers, including the unique perks, discounts, and bonuses they offer to teachers across the United States.
USAA: If you qualify for USAA membership, then it’s one of the best car insurance options for teachers. USAA offers discounted car insurance premiums to teachers and other professionals. You or a family member must be an active duty or retired member of the military (or an active USAA member) to buy USAA car insurance, although USAA offers some of the best car insurance premiums for teachers. Expect to pay approximately $650 per year for car insurance with USAA as a teacher.
GEICO: GEICO continues to be one of the top-rated options for teachers across the United States. Although GEICO doesn’t have as many teacher-specific perks as other companies on this list, they continue to be one of the best-value options across all professions – including for teachers. The average teacher pays around $702 per year with GEICO.
Liberty Mutual: Liberty Mutual is one of several major car insurance companies offering customized teachers’ auto insurance. The company offers vandalism loss protection on school property, personal property coverage for teaching supplies stolen out of a vehicle, and zero-deductible collision coverage if your vehicle is damaged in a collision while driving on school business, among other perks. Expect to pay around $824 per year for full coverage car insurance with Liberty Mutual as a teacher.
Farmers: Farmers offers competitive rates to teachers across the United States. The average teacher pays around $826 per year for full coverage car insurance with Farmers.
California Casualty: California Casualty is one of the best car insurance options for teachers. The company partners with teachers’ organizations across the country, including unions and other professional organizations. California Casualty continues to be popular among thousands of teachers across the United States, with the average teacher paying approximately $901 per year for full coverage car insurance with California Casualty.
Nationwide: Nationwide offers competitive car insurance premiums to teachers across the country. Expect to pay around $913 per year for full coverage car insurance with Nationwide as a teacher.
Progressive: Like other major car insurance companies listed here, Progressive offers discounted car insurance to all professions – including teachers and others. Progressive is the best option for teachers in many states, with the average teacher paying approximately $923 per year for full coverage car insurance.
State Farm: More teachers insure their vehicles with State Farm than any other company in the United States. As America’s largest car insurance provider, State Farm insures thousands of teachers across the country. The average teacher pays around $767 per year for full coverage car insurance with State Farm.
How Else Can Teachers Save on Auto Insurance?
There are plenty of other ways for teachers to save on car insurance, including:
Shop Around: Different car insurance companies provide different packages to teachers. Some companies offer specialized car insurance products to teachers – like complementary vandalism loss protection. However, you might still be better off with a general policy from another company. Shop around and compare rates carefully. A company might offer bonus services to teachers – but these services may not always be worth it.
Bundle Policies: Teachers need more than just car insurance. Some teachers need homeowners insurance or renters insurance. Some teachers need life insurance. If you need multiple insurance products, then you can bundle policies together with a single company to save money.
Bundle Multiple Vehicles: If you or your partner have multiple vehicles at one address, then bundling multiple vehicles together can help you save hundreds per year.
Adjust Coverage as Needed: Teachers have similar car insurance needs to other drivers. However, some teachers live close to school. They have a shorter commute. Other teachers stop commuting during the summer for weeks or months. You can adjust car insurance coverage to save money. Many teachers are surprised to discover they qualify for low mileage car insurance, for example, which can help them save hundreds per year. Others drop certain coverage during summer. Others lower or raise a deductible – or drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles.
Although some companies offer special perks for teachers, they’re not always the right choice. By shopping around and comparing prices, you can get the cheapest car insurance as a teacher.
Compare Auto Insurance Quotes to Find the Best Car Insurance for Teachers
Generally speaking, teachers are safer drivers than drivers employed in other professions. Teachers have lower claims rates, which means they’re less costly to insure in the eyes of the insurance company. That’s why teachers can often access lower rates on car insurance. Alternatively, some companies offer unique bonuses to teachers – like the option of paying a $0 deductible when your claim involves school property or school business, for example.
Compare auto insurance quotes for teachers today to find the best prices in your area.