Car Insurance Discount for First Responders: Top Companies, Potential Savings, and More
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Written byMandy Sleight
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Edited byNick Versaw
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Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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You need special training to become a first responder, and that expertise may get you a special discount on car insurance. A first responder auto insurance discount isn’t common, but you can find it from companies like Farmers, GEICO, and Liberty Mutual.
Here’s what you need to know about the first responder discount, including how and where to get it, which companies offer it, and other ways to save on your auto insurance.
Can First Responders Get Discounted Car Insurance?
Yes, first responders can get discounts on car insurance, but savings can vary by profession, insurance company, and state. This discount can save you from 5% to 12% on your insurance premiums, according to our research.
But some companies offer other perks instead of discounts. For example, California Casualty offers the following auto insurance benefits for firefighters, police officers, and EMS rescue workers:
$500 of personal property coverage
$1,000 of pet injury coverage
Coverage for custom lights, sirens, and furnishings
A lower comprehensive coverage deductible if your vehicle is damaged while parked within 500 feet of your fire station
Free identity theft coverage
Fallen officer/hero benefit assistance to help families pay home and car insurance premiums if a first responder dies in the line of duty
Insurance Companies Offering Discounts for First Responders
First responder discounts aren’t as widely available as other auto insurance discounts. Here are the companies we found that advertise their first responder discounts:
Liberty Mutual: Provides up to 12% in savings for Fraternal Order of Police and International Association of Fire Fighters members.
COUNTRY Financial: Full-time EMTs, paramedics, police officers, and firefighters can save up to 10% on auto insurance.
Alfa Insurance: Savings vary for active-duty law enforcement, first responders, and firefighters in Alabama and Mississippi.
Farmers Insurance: Savings vary for police officers and firefighters.
GEICO: Savings vary for federal firefighters and peace officers.
How to Get a First Responder Discount on Your Car Insurance
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Only specific professions qualify for the first responder auto insurance discount. Availability will vary by insurer and state, but generally, the following occupations may be eligible:
911 dispatchers
EMTs
Firefighters
Law enforcement officers
Paramedics
Even if you’re not an active first responder, you may qualify for an affiliation or affinity discount if you belong to a professional organization like the U.S. First Responders Association, the First Responders Foundation, or the IAFF.
Contact your insurance agent or company to add this discount to your auto policy. You may need to prove that you are a first responder or belong to a first responder organization to get the discount.
The Best Car Insurance Companies for First Responders
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The best car insurance company for you depends on your budget, specific coverage needs, and driving records of drivers in your household. If you’re looking to switch insurers or verify that you’re not paying higher rates than necessary, consider getting a car insurance quote from a few companies to compare prices.
First responders may get lower rates from the following companies.
California Casualty Company
Average premium: $100 per month
Compare.com Rating: 4.71 out of 5
Though California Casualty doesn’t offer a specific discount for first responders, it has several perks that may be equally valuable. If you want options like personal property, pet injury, or identity theft coverage, get a quote from California Casualty if it’s available in your state. You can also get a deductible waiver and premium assistance if you die in the line of duty.
Liberty Mutual
Average premium: $100 per month
Compare.com Rating: 4.71 out of 5
Members of the IAFF or Fraternal Order of Police can save up to 12% on auto insurance through Liberty Mutual. You can get even more discounts if you buy your policy online, get a quote and sign up before your current insurance policy expires, are a homeowner, go paperless, or enroll in automatic payments.
COUNTRY Financial
Average premium: $100 per month
Compare.com Rating: 4.71 out of 5
Protecting your community is enough to earn up to 10% in savings on your auto insurance policy with COUNTRY Financial. It also offers options like personal effects coverage and trip interruption coverage.
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Other Common Car Insurance Discounts
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Although the first responder discount is relatively rare, plenty of common auto insurance discounts can help you get cheaper auto insurance rates. You may also be able to combine discounts to save even more money.
Check out these common discounts:
Multi-policy discount: Bundle your car and home or life insurance together to get a multi-policy discount.
Good student discount: Full-time students with good grades (typically a B average or higher) can qualify for a good student discount.
Telematics discount: Enroll in your insurer’s telematics program for an initial discount, then get a final discount for practicing safe driving habits.
Good driver discount: You only need to have a clean driving record to qualify for the safe driver discount.
Safety features discount: You could qualify for a safety features discount if your car has factory-installed airbags, anti-lock brakes, or an anti-theft device.
Car Insurance Discount FAQs
Some insurers offer special discounts for first responders. Here’s more information about the discount to help you save money on your auto insurance.
Does Nationwide offer a first responder discount?
It depends. Nationwide offers an affinity discount for membership to professional organizations, alumni associations, fraternities, sororities, special interest groups, and credit unions, but a first responder discount may also be available depending on your state. Contact your Nationwide agent to find out if you qualify.
What’s the maximum first responder discount percentage?
The maximum first responder discount amount is 12% from Liberty Mutual, according to our research. Occupation discounts can vary by state, insurance company, and profession.
How do you get a first responder discount for car insurance?
Contact your insurance company or agent to get a first responder discount. Depending on your insurer, it may be called an affinity or affiliation discount. But keep in mind that your insurer may ask for proof of occupation, so have any necessary documents ready.
Do all insurance companies offer a discount for first responders?
No. Only some insurance companies offer a first responder discount, also known as an affinity or affiliation discount. Farmers, GEICO, Liberty Mutual, and COUNTRY Financial are a few car insurance companies offering special discounts for first responders.
Are first responders eligible for USAA?
USAA offers insurance products to U.S. military members, veterans, pre-commissioned officers, and their spouses and children. If you’re a first responder but don’t fall into these categories, you’re probably not eligible for USAA insurance.
Sources:
Insurance Information Institute, “Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs,” accessed November 18, 2024.
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Mandy SleightInsurance Writer
Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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