This Little-Known Trick Could Knock Up to 15% Off Your Car Insurance Premium in a Weekend

The average car insurance premium has risen 22.6% over the last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's enough to bump the average car insurance premium up from $3,017 in 2023 to $3,699 in 2024. Some drivers pay even more.

Things like driving safely and choosing a higher deductible can help keep costs down, but they can only do so much. Fortunately, they're not the only ways you can save. Here's another option that could save you up to 15% and only takes a few hours.

Brush up on your safe driving skills

Many of the best car insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who take time to learn more about safe driving. To earn these savings, policyholders need only complete an eligible defensive driving course.

These courses teach drivers about accident avoidance techniques that help them reduce their risk of getting into crashes. Most states offer online and in-person options. Online classes give drivers the freedom to learn on their own time from anywhere, but they're generally less personalized. Some insurance companies may also not accept online defensive driving courses.

In-person courses often include practice behind the wheel and give participants the option to ask questions of the instructors. Usually, they take place over an afternoon or a weekend. The exact number of hours required depends on the course, but it's usually between four and 12.

Defensive driving programs usually aren't free. Online courses can cost up to $40, while in-person courses can be as much as $100. But the savings they could provide make it well worth it.

On average, these courses can save you about 5% to 10% on your auto insurance, though some companies offer savings of up to 15% for those who complete an approved course. Exact savings can vary by state as well as by insurer.

To put this in perspective, a 10% savings would drop the $3,699 average annual car insurance premium to $3,329. That's a savings of over $30 per month.

How to claim a defensive driving course discount

Drivers interested in scoring cheap car insurance with a defensive driving course discount should first check with their insurance company to learn what its requirements are. Typically, the course must be certified by the state's Department of Motor Vehicles. Those who have questions about which courses qualify should reach out to their insurer for clarification before signing up.

It's important to note that while many companies offer discounts for defensive driving courses, some restrict who is eligible for these discounts. For example, some companies only offer defensive driving course discounts to drivers over 50 or under 25. Those who fall in between this range may not be eligible for a discount with their current insurer, even if they complete a qualifying course. However, they might be eligible for a discount with another company.

Once a motorist has found a qualifying course, they'll need to complete it. This means watching videos through an online course or attending in-person classes. There may also be a test at the end of the course to ensure that participants have retained what they've learned.

Drivers who successfully pass their course should notify their insurer at once so it can apply the appropriate discount to their premium. It might also be worth shopping around for new quotes at this time to see if any other companies offer larger savings for having completed the course.

Generally, this discount lasts for three to five years from course completion. But this varies by insurer. That's another thing worth checking out when pursuing this discount.

It's a pretty simple way for drivers to save if they have the time and a bit of money to spare. If it's not feasible right now, keep it in mind for the future. There may come a time where you have a little more free time and enough cash to do it.