How to lower your rate.
Not every discount is worth chasing. Here's what actually moves the number, roughly in order of impact.
1. Shop the same coverage across insurers
This is the single biggest lever, and it's the reason Open Rate Index shows a spread instead of one number. The gap between the cheapest and priciest filed rate for identical coverage in the same city is routinely 30 to 50 percent. Loyalty to one insurer rarely pays that back in discounts.
2. Raise your deductible, if you can absorb it
Moving your comprehensive and collision deductible from $500 to $1,000 typically saves 10 to 20 percent on those portions of your premium. Only do this if you genuinely have $1,000 set aside; the savings aren't worth it if a claim would put you in a bind.
3. Ask about bundling, but check the math
Bundling home or renters insurance with auto often unlocks a discount, but the bundled price isn't always cheaper than the best unbundled combination. Compare the total, not just the discount percentage.
4. Let time work for you after an incident
An at-fault accident or a ticket typically affects your rate for three to five years, but the effect usually shrinks each year rather than staying flat. If you're mid-surcharge, it's worth re-shopping annually rather than assuming your rate is locked in.
5. Reconsider your coverage level, not just your insurer
See our guide on full coverage vs liability for when dropping comprehensive and collision on an older, paid-off car can make financial sense.
What doesn't move the needle much
Small usage-based telematics discounts and minor loyalty perks are real but usually modest, often under 10 percent, and can't compete with simply comparing insurers for the same coverage.