Car insurance can get expensive, particularly in a large risk pool like Texas.

Every cost-conscious driver, therefore, wants to keep their overall premium price manageable.

One of the most common ways to do so is to see if you can get any discounts on your policy.

Discounts are often easy ways to knock a chunk of cost off your premium. How can you approach your agent about your eligibility for savings?

Don’t let your opportunity for savings pass you by. Your insurance agent can usually tell you about a variety of ways to tap into discounts.

What’s a discount?

If you present lower driving risks, your insurer will face a lower risk to cover you. As a result, they’ll probably be able to offer you cost reductions on your policy. Some of these come in the form of discounts which not every policyholder can obtain. Whether you can get a policy discount depends on your particular risk profile to the insurer. Therefore, whenever you talk to your agent, ask them about your discount eligibility.

Discounts Available from Your Insurance Company

Usually, you can qualify for policy discounts after meeting certain requirements. Qualifications will vary based on the discount in question and your particular insurer. However, some of the discounts available might include:

• Claims-free discounts: If you go a certain number of years without making a claim on your policy, you might be able to get a lower rate.

• Security discounts: Cars that have certain anti-theft systems might qualify for a discount.

• Driver course discounts: Defensive driving courses help you learn critical techniques to stay safe on the road. By proving to your insurer that you passed a course, you can often lock in lower rates.

Not all insurers offer all discounts. So, ask your agent to compare the discount options offered in their policy network. They’ll often help you balance overall price with your qualifications for discounts.

When can you get discounts?

The best time to ask your agent about discounts is during your policy enrollment. Your agent can help you incorporate discounts into your initial policy prices. That way, you’ll know you will pay optimal prices from the get-go.

At the same time, ask your agent what you can do to qualify for more discounts by your next policy renewal. Do so again in the immediate lead-up to your renewal period. Regardless of whether your policy automatically renews, reach out to your agent. Your circumstances might change. Thus, you should always check if you can get further discounts.