What is the Geico defensive driving course discount?

You can lower your Geico car insurance costs by taking advantage of Geico’s discounts, opting for a higher deductible, and improving your driving record, among other things. Some Geico discounts are worth as much as 40% off, and customers can apply multiple discounts to a policy to save even more.

At the end of the day, your Geico auto insurance bill is influenced by many factors. Fortunately, you can take steps to influence some of those factors in order to decrease your premium.

How to Lower the Cost of Car Insurance From Geico

Pare Down Your Coverage

Most states require a certain amount of bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. But there are other coverage options (like comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist) that you may be able to get away with not having, depending on the state.

Less coverage usually means lower premiums, but it could also lead to higher costs in the long run, so it’s important to approach coverage decisions with caution.

Use Geico’s Auto Insurance Discounts

Geico offers a wide variety of discounts that you could be eligible for and not even know it. There are discounts for having certain memberships and professional affiliations, for example, as well as discounts for taking defensive driving courses, bundling insurance coverage, and insuring more than one vehicle with Geico.

Choose a Higher Deductible

Opting for a higher deductible on any of your insurance policies from Geico can lower your premium. But if you decide to go this route, it’s important to set aside enough money to pay your deductible in case you need to file a claim. Otherwise, you might not be able to use the coverage that you have.

Improve Your Driving Record

Improving your driving record, whether by taking a defensive driving course to get points off your license or making sure you don’t get any more tickets, can help you qualify for lower Geico auto insurance rates.

Improve Your Credit Score

Get customized credit improvement advice for free from WalletHub. Improving your credit score could actually make you seem like less of an insurance risk to Geico, so you might see your car insurance costs decrease.

Drive Less

Whether you can shorten your commute to work, use more public transportation, or even ride a bicycle more, driving fewer miles each year could lower your premium. Geico customers save an average of 1.3% for driving fewer miles than the national average, according to a study by the Consumer Federation of America. And the less you drive, the more you are likely to save.

Install Safety/Security Devices

Most new cars include safety features like daytime running lights and driver-side airbags, and those will get you a lower rate from Geico. You may also qualify for discounts if your car has other safety features, like anti-lock brakes and full front-seat airbags.

You could be eligible for a lower rate if you install a modern anti-theft device, too, no matter the age of your vehicle. Geico offers savings of up to 25% on the comprehensive portion of premiums for customers who drive a car with an anti-theft system.

Reconsider Where You Live

Car insurance prices vary by zip code. If you’re already thinking of moving anyway, choosing the right area could lead to auto insurance savings.

Comparison Shop

Shop around to see what other insurance companies can offer, so that when it’s time to renew your Geico auto insurance policy, you’ll be able to see if the company can match any lower rates you’ve been quoted. When shopping around, be sure to find out exactly how much you would be paying for 6-month and 12-month premiums, how much the deductibles would be, and what the coverage limits are.

Finally, if you make changes to lower your Geico car insurance costs, don’t forget to make sure your insurance coverage still meets your state’s minimum insurance requirements.

Geico military discounts give savings up to 15% off overall insurance premiums to eligible active duty customers, veterans, and their immediate family members. To apply for a Geico military discount, call 1-800-MILITARY (645-4827). You will be connected to Geico's dedicated military customer service team, who will help determine which discounts may be available to you.… read full answer

Types of Geico Military Discounts

• Military Discount

Up to 15% in savings on insurance premiums for active duty members, veterans, the National Guard, Army Reserve, or immediate military family members.

• Emergency Deployment Discount

Up to 25% savings on premiums for military members who are deployed to certain “imminent danger pay” zones.

• Membership Discounts

Available to members of professional military organizations and associations, including the Association of the United States Army, the Fleet Reserve Association, and the Armed Forces Benefit Association.

• Auto Insurance Suspension

A pause or reduction of insurance coverage on vehicles stored on a military base while a customer is deployed.

In most states, Geico's overall military insurance premiums are comparable to those of USAA, an insurance company that caters to the U.S. military. However, Geico tends to be less expensive for veterans and those not deployed, while USAA offers better deals to active military, especially members on deployment.

For example, Geico's emergency deployment discount of 25% applies only on deployments to imminent danger zones. USAA’s deployment rates apply anywhere overseas. It’s a good idea to get a quote from each to determine which may be best for you. For more information on the differences between Geico and USAA check out WalletHub's Geico vs USAA comparison.

If you already have a Geico policy, call customer service (800-207-7847) to ask about the additional affiliation discount of up to 8%. The discount is currently available to members of more than 800 partner organizations, and any organization with 50,000 or more active members is eligible for the program. Participating organizations include alumni associations, fraternities, sororities, colleges, universities, societies, charities, and large employers. To find out if your organization is among them, you can enter its name or browse through the categories on … read full answerGeico’s website.

Popular Organizations with Geico Affiliation Discounts

• National Association of Federal Employees
• National Association of Government Contractors
• Texas A&M University
• National Peace Corps Association
• BJ’s Wholesale Club Members
• World Golf Tour

If you find an organization that you belong to in Geico's list, go to the organization’s website and sign in with your member credentials, if necessary. You can then go to the section on member benefits and find a link for a Geico insurance quote. Discounts vary by organization and state.

These affiliation partnerships help Geico market its products and expand its customer base. In return, organization members receive discounts on Geico insurance policies. The organizations also receive a fee from Geico for every member who requests a Geico quote, even if they don’t buy a policy.