Are There Auto Insurance Discounts for NY State Employees?

Last Updated on March 6, 2021

When applying for your car insurance, it’s important to do your research to try to find as many discounts as possible. You might be surprised by just how many discounts are available – you may qualify for more of them than you realize. One standard discount that many car insurance companies offer is for state and federal employees. If the state of New York employs you, you may qualify for this discount. Here’s what you need to know about the state employee discount options.

Which Insurance Companies Offer This Discount?

Many national insurance companies offer this discount for any state employees, regardless of where you live. This is an excellent option because if you ever decide to move from New York and work for another state, you can still get your discount. GEICO offers some of the best discounts for state employees because it was actually designated initially as a car insurance company only for government workers. Although they now offer insurance to everyone, you can still get a significant discount as a state employee.

MetLife is another company where you may get a discount for being a state employee. They are based in New York, although they offer policies all over the country. Many New York state government agencies offer MetLife group car insurance policies to their employees. Some other well-known insurance companies offer discounts for state employees as well, including Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, State Farm, National General, and more. Many smaller insurance companies offer this option as well. It’s always worth asking your insurer to see if you can get a discount based on your job.

How Much Can I Expect to Save?

It’s challenging to determine exactly how much you’ll save on your car insurance as a state employee because every car insurance policy is different. When giving you a quote, your insurance company looks at every factor that could affect your driving and comes up with a holistic number that takes all of this information into account. Your discount could be very small, but it could also add up to several hundred dollars per year. Keep in mind that factors like your driving history and the type of car you drive are going to be the most important when determining your car insurance prices.

Why Do State Employees Get Discounts on Car Insurance?

Insurance companies can offer cheaper policies to customers that are less likely to file a claim than others. Since there’s less of a chance that the insurance company will have to pay a claim, they can afford to charge these customers lower monthly premiums. Insurance companies have found that government employees are responsible and are statistically less likely to get into accidents than the general population. The car insurance companies like having these people as their customers and offer discounts to incentivize them to buy a policy. These aren’t the only discounts you can get for being a government employee – many other types of businesses offer these discounts as well.

Should I Get a Group Policy Through My State Employer?

Many state agencies offer group auto insurance policies as a benefit for their employees. While they are optional, they could be a good choice for you, depending on the exact plan offered. In many cases, you can get a cheaper plan with better value for money by going with your work’s policy. This is particularly true for people with a history of accidents or driving tickets. However, it’s important to note that if you decide to switch employers at any point, you most likely will have to get a new car insurance policy. Before committing to your employer’s group insurance plan, be sure to get quotes for individual policies from insurers in your area. This will help you be 100 percent sure that you are getting the best deal.

How Can I Find the Best Possible Discount?

There are many things you can do to ensure that you are getting the best deal on your car insurance. It’s essential to take your time when shopping and get quotes from as many insurers as possible. You never know which company is going to offer the best discounts unless you ask. You should also make sure that you explicitly ask your insurance agent about discounts, because they may not bring them up on their own. It can also help to let the agents know that you are shopping around. Insurers want to win your business, and they may be willing to give you a good price to seal the deal.

Of course, maintaining a good driving record is one of the best ways to get a discount. In New York, you can also take driver safety courses every few years to bring your premiums down slightly. Other things, like installing anti-theft devices on your car and parking it in a secure garage, could also potentially reduce your costs.