When you buy car insurance, you must specify your occupation. This isn't for marketing. And it isn't just your auto insurance company being nosy. Different jobs have different rates of accidents. So, your rate may vary based on your job.
Why Does Your Job Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates?
Insurance is a game of probability. The insurance company you're applying for coverage with is trying to figure out how likely it is you'll get in an accident. Insurers have found that people in certain occupations are much more likely to be involved in an accident than those in others. As with other factors, such as age, applicants get grouped in with people who are similar to them when an insurance company sets rates.
There are two main reasons why some jobs have higher accident rates.
- Some jobs naturally attract people who are more likely to take risks, including speeding and aggressive driving.
- Other jobs may be high-stress and have odd hours — meaning that you'll be more likely to be physically and mentally fatigued when you're driving.
That second factor is likely why people in healthcare often see the highest car insurance rates.
What If You Change Jobs Or List The Wrong Job?
It's important to give accurate information to your auto insurance company and to report any changes when they happen. If you don't, there are a few things that could potentially happen. One is that your insurance company may go back and bill you for higher premiums than you should have paid. The other is that you could potentially have your policy canceled or a claim denied for providing false information.
What About Employer Discounts?
Some insurance companies give discounts if you work for a certain employer. This is more of a group discount than a risk factor. If an insurance company can get many employees from a large employer to sign up, they save on marketing costs and can pass on some of the savings. Discounts can be available to both those in high-risk professions (who usually pay higher premiums) and those with lower risk professions (who already see lower rates).
The availability of employer discounts depends on what kind of agreements each car insurance company and employer have entered into.
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