• A multi-vehicle or multi-car discount means you’re insuring more than one vehicle with the same insurer. The discount typically ranges between 10% and 25% off your annual premium.
• Different insurers will have different eligibility criteria to qualify for a multi-vehicle discount.
• Combining a multi-vehicle discount with other discounts insurers offer adds up to substantial savings.

If you own more than one vehicle, should you insure them with the same insurer or not?

Most car insurance companies will offer their policyholders what’s known as a multi-vehicle or multi-car discount to insure all of the sets of wheels you may own. That discount typically ranges between 10% and 25% off your annual premium.

In general, here’s how it works:

If your household has more than one private passenger vehicle, every eligible driver could get a discount on their policies provided those policies are with the same insurance company. Usually, those vehicles need to be registered and stored at the same residential address. It doesn’t matter if the vehicles are owned or leased.

Qualifying for a multi-vehicle discount

Different insurers will have different eligibility criteria to qualify for a multi-vehicle discount. For instance, some carriers will allow one driver to insure up to five vehicles in their name, others will limit it to two or three cars.

Your car insurance provider will take a close look at the following factors to determine your premium and whether you qualify for a discount, including:

• Your driving record
• Your insurance history
• Your age, gender, and where you live
• The vehicles to be insured, including the makes and models, what the replacement values are, and the average cost to repair them if you file a claim

Moreover, if a single primary driver wishes to insure more than one vehicle in their name, your insurer will also want to know how the vehicles are used. For example, do you use one or both to commute to a workplace? After all, the less you drive, the cheaper an auto policy is. On that note, suppose you have two vehicles, and one is more expensive than the other. If you tend to drive the less expensive car most of the time (such as driving to work on weekdays), and the pricier wheels occasionally (going for a spin now and then on weekends), that too can save you a few bucks.

Car insurance discounts can add up to substantial savings

Qualifying for a multi-vehicle discount can save you money on your annual premium. And when combined with other discounts insurers offer for using winter tires, and bundling an auto and home insurance policy, as well as choosing higher deductibles for your coverages, those savings can add up.

Since different insurers offer different rates that change often, and multi-vehicle discount eligibility and percentages vary between them, do yourself a favour and compare policies and premiums from a broad range of insurers to get the coverage you need at a price you can afford.