How do I get a pay-in-full discount for car insurance?

Geico does not have a pay-in-full discount – not an official “discount,” at least. But drivers who pay in full, upfront will save money because Geico charges installment fees if you choose one of their multiple-payment plans. Geico just isn't clear about how much because the installment fee can change each time you make a payment. Across the industry, paying in full for car insurance saves drivers between 5% and 15%, or around $10 per month.

To get the Progressive paid-in-full discount, drivers need to pay for six months of coverage upfront. Customers is California and New York can’t get this discount due to state laws about the factors car insurance companies can use to set rates and discounts. Progressive does not provide specific information about how much you can expect to save by paying in full. But paid-in-full discounts from other major car insurance companies range from about 8% to 20%.

If you can’t pay in full...

State Farm does not offer a pay-in-full discount. Some insurers, such as Progressive and Allstate, allow customers to pay less for coverage if they pay the entire cost of their policy in-full up front. But unfortunately, State Farm does not.

Even though State Farm doesn't let you save by paying your entire premium up front, you can still take advantage of other discounts. For example, State Farm has a multiple line discount for drivers who have...