What Is the Early Signing Discount?

Signing your car insurance policy documents early may get you a discount. Read more about the early signing discount here.
Man signing car insurance documents

Did you know that you can save money on your premium by renewing your policy before it ends? Insurance companies typically refer to this as the early signing discount. This is a way for insurers to reward you for showing initiative and loyalty.

Staying on the lookout for benefits like this is a great way to lower your premium. Your rates can increase for many reasons at any time. So, watching out for perks like this is one of the best ways to keep your prices low. The early signing auto insurance discount is only one of many incentives insurers offer to keep your loyalty.

Here’s a small sample of the discounts insurance companies provide to entice new customers:

Keep in mind that each insurer treats every discount uniquely. For example, some providers may offer you a savings when you sign on the dotted line early, while others may not. And some may want you to renew longer in advance than others. It’ll just depend on which carrier you decide to do business with.

In this article, we’ll tell you all about the early signing discount. This includes a breakdown of how to qualify and the difference between signing early and similar rewards. Finally, you’ll learn which insurance companies offer it. 

How the Early Signing Discount Works

Depending on your provider, you can lower your rates by renewing your policy before it expires. Insurance companies call this the early signing discount. For instance, Allstate will give you a break on your premium if you add your signature to your new policy documents seven or more days before your period start date.

Early Signing vs. Early Quote

Many major car insurance companies offer rewards referred to as the early quote, or early bird discount. Because of the name similarity, they may seem related. But it’s important to remember that the two are quite different, each with their own requirements.

The early signing discount refers to when you renew your policy before it ends. Early quoting, on the other hand, is for when you get quotes from competitors before your policy ends. A helpful way to remember is that early signing is for existing customers and quoting is for new customers.

You can get the early bird if you receive a quote from a company and switch seven days before your policy with your current company ends. This is a way for your new company to reward you for switching to them.

Companies Offering the Early Signing Discount

Few insurance companies list an early signing discount on their website. And many more don’t offer any savings at all. But as mentioned, this doesn’t mean that they don’t have it. Since it’s easy to qualify for, it’s worth double-checking to see if it’s available.

Allstate

Allstate wants to keep your business so badly that, if you sign your documents ahead of time, you’ll receive a price break. Allstate is the only major insurance carrier that offers the early signing discount. It’s a pretty good deal, too. You’ll receive up to 10% off your premium if you renew your policy seven days in advance. Allstate doesn’t go into any other details. But, honestly, there isn’t much more to say. Just sign before your policy period ends and save! Contact your agent to learn more.

Liberty Mutual

You can get lower rates from Liberty Mutual for getting a new quote before your current active policy expires. Liberty Mutual calls this the early shopper discount and it works the same as signing. How much you’ll save isn’t specified, but every little bit helps. To find out, we recommend either contacting an agent or the company directly.

Some state’s prohibit insurers from offering this reward, making availability limited. It’s also noteworthy that so many factors determine the exact savings from the early discount that it’s impossible to provide an exact number.

How Much You Save

You may not save a ton from the early shopper rewards, but qualifying is so easy that it’s basically free money. The 10% you save on car insurance from Allstate for the early signing discount will probably be one of several perks on your policy. Liberty Mutual is tight-lipped about this reward’s details, but you should expect at least several percent off your premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an early signing discount?

Some companies, such as Allstate, reward customers with an early signing discount when they their new policy before their current one expires. In terms of dollar savings, it’s not the biggest benefit. Even so, it’s easy to qualify. All you need to do is keep track of your policy and resign before your end date.

What is a lapse in coverage?

A lapse is when you go any length of timer without having any auto insurance. Lapses will often result in higher rates. They may even force you into high-risk driver pools. This is because you’ll appear to be an unreliable customer. Insurers prefer it when you bring continuous coverage to the table.

What is an early bird discount?

Several insurers offer an early bird discount to new customers. You can usually qualify by getting an insurance quote from another company seven days before your policy with your current carrier ends.

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