Both doctors and engineers spend long years getting through school. After graduation, lower car insurance costs are one of the hidden perks of these professions. Generally, medicine and engineering are considered low-risk professions, leading to lower car insurance premiums from insurance companies.
Although both enjoy lower rates, engineers save slightly more on car insurance costs. Explore average car insurance costs for these professionals and how to lock in lower rates for your car insurance.
- Doctors pay 10% less for car insurance than other drivers, saving an average of $226 annually.
- Engineers pay 12% less for car insurance than typical drivers, an average of $258 less per year.
- Doctors save 2% more per year than engineers, amounting to $32 per year.
Average car insurance cost for doctors and engineers
Before applying a professional discount of 10%, doctors pay $2,110 per year on average for full coverage car insurance. Engineers pay an average of $2,143 for coverage before a professional discount of 12%.
“Insurance companies take on a certain risk when they offer coverage,” says Kevin Kramer, COO for Ignition Dealer Services. “The greater the risk they deem the insured to be, the higher the premium they will charge. Because insurance companies tend to view certain professions, like doctors, as less risky, they may offer them a lower premium compared to the average insured individual.”
Car insurance rates by state: Doctors vs. engineers
Car insurance costs can vary dramatically from state to state. For example, doctors in Louisiana pay an average of $3,359 for annual coverage, while physicians in Maine pay $952 for annual coverage.
However, the differences vary mostly by state, not by profession. In Washington, D.C., for example, doctors and engineers pay the same exact rate—the same in Connecticut, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia and Vermont.
Use the table below to find average rates for your profession and state:
| State | Average annual rate for doctors | Average annual rate for engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,660 | $1,675 |
| Arkansas | $1,879 | $1,830 |
| Arizona | $1,415 | $1,407 |
| Colorado | $1,864 | $1,853 |
| Connecticut | $1,418 | $1,418 |
| Washington, D.C. | $1,180 | $1,180 |
| Delaware | $1,663 | $1,601 |
| Florida | $2,689 | $2,633 |
| Iowa | $1,531 | $1,496 |
| Idaho | $1,113 | $1,113 |
| Illinois | $1,775 | $1,870 |
| Indiana | $1,222 | $1,189 |
| Kansas | $1,587 | $1,561 |
| Kentucky | $1,781 | $1,767 |
| Louisiana | $3,359 | $3,325 |
| Maryland | $2,390 | $2,380 |
| Maine | $952 | $940 |
| Minnesota | $1,985 | $1,985 |
| Missouri | $2,979 | $2,910 |
| Mississippi | $2,410 | $2,377 |
| Montana | $1,505 | $1,505 |
| North Carolina | $1,528 | $1,528 |
| North Dakota | $1,427 | $1,406 |
| Nebraska | $2,284 | $2,251 |
| New Hampshire | $1,441 | $1,431 |
| New Jersey | $3,538 | $3,538 |
| New Mexico | $1,587 | $1,580 |
| Nevada | $1,760 | $1,695 |
| New York | $1,883 | $1,883 |
| Ohio | $975 | $967 |
| Oklahoma | $2,132 | $2,110 |
| Oregon | $1,685 | $1,743 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,174 | $2,120 |
| Rhode Island | $1,956 | $1,946 |
| South Carolina | $2,010 | $2,010 |
| South Dakota | $2,743 | $2,703 |
| Tennessee | $1,902 | $1,874 |
| Texas | $2,808 | $2,775 |
| Utah | $1,553 | $1,553 |
| Virginia | $1,550 | $1,540 |
| Vermont | $1,116 | $1,116 |
| Wisconsin | $1,714 | $1,709 |
| West Virginia | $1,557 | $1,512 |
Annual rates by state and profession
Affordable car insurance companies for doctors and engineers
Car insurance companies have different methods of determining car insurance premiums, and some carriers charge more than others.
The table below highlights the most affordable auto insurance companies for doctors:
| Company | Average annual cost | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile Club MI (AAA) | $2,382 | $199 |
| Country Financial | $1,555 | $130 |
| GEICO | $1,609 | $134 |
| Grange Mutual | $1,046 | $87 |
| Mercury Insurance | $2,166 | $181 |
| Progressive | $2,126 | $177 |
| State Auto | $4,143 | $345 |
Engineers can expect to find car insurance cheaper. The table below highlights the cheapest car insurance options for engineers.
| Company | Average annual cost | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile Club MI (AAA) | $2,357 | $196 |
| GEICO | $1,595 | $133 |
| Grange Mutual | $1,046 | $87 |
| Mercury Insurance | $2,100 | $175 |
| Progressive | $2,096 | $175 |
| State Auto | $4,143 | $345 |
How to save on car insurance as a doctor or engineer
If you want to save money on auto insurance as a medical professional or engineer, use the following strategies:
- Shop around: Every insurance company uses different methods to determine auto insurance premiums. Comparing car insurance quotes allows you to find the cheapest rates for your situation.
- Seek out discounts: Most car insurance companies offer several ways to save. Some offer discounts to professionals who graduated from specific schools, have a certain employment status, or belong to professional associations. It never hurts to ask if you qualify for a lower rate.
- Bundle policies: If you need other types of insurance, like home, life, or renters insurance, buying your policies through the same insurer could lead to a discount.
- Raise your deductible: Generally, a higher deductible leads to a lower insurance premium. If you have the money to cover the added out-of-pocket cost, you might consider a car insurance policy with a higher deductible to take advantage of lower car insurance premiums.
Final thoughts
Although doctors and engineers tend to pay less for car insurance than some other drivers, coverage remains a significant expense. To minimize this cost, shop around for the best rates and seek discounts to avoid overpaying for coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How do insurance companies determine rates for doctors and engineers?
As with all drivers, insurers consider many factors when determining rates for doctors and engineers. These include vehicle, location, daily commute, driving history, driver age/gender, vehicle make/model and more.
What type of discounts can doctors and engineers qualify for?
Some car insurance providers offer discounts for doctors and engineers based on their occupations. Others provide discounts to members of university alumni groups or professional associations.
What factors make doctors and engineers more likely to pay lower car insurance rates than other professionals?
Many insurance companies consider doctors and engineers low-risk drivers, leading to lower car insurance costs than those in other professions.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute, “What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?” Accessed January 2025.
- Texas Department of Insurance “Ways to save money on car insurance.” Accessed January 2025.
Methodology
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2022 to field rates for drivers with full coverage car insurance in 4,686 ZIP codes across the U.S. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
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