Americans are not utilizing all of the discounts that may be available to them in their homeowner and auto insurance, according to a new national survey conducted for Trusted Choice and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA).

The survey queried home and auto owners about whether they are taking full advantage of all the discounts they qualified for on their homeowners and auto insurance policies. The study found 34% of respondents, representing 53 million households, admitting they are probably not taking advantage of all homeowners insurance discounts or indicating that they simply didn’t know. The results were largely similar with auto coverage, with more than 20% of car owners either not knowing or employing all the discounts available to them.

“The latest survey shows what we suspected: many Americans could be foolishly throwing money away because they fail to ask about insurance discounts for which they may qualify,” says Madelyn Flannagan, IIABA VP of agent development, education and research. “Companies often offer some unique, regional, very specific and, at times, quirky discounts. In these economic times, every dollar counts—some consumers may be able to nickel and dime their way to big savings.”

Robert Rusbuldt, IIABA president & CEO, says the results underscore the value proposition of insurance agents.

“One of the biggest advantages to using an independent insurance agent is that they can explore the various companies and find the best possible coverage for each individual family or business,” says. “Finding specific discounts can be time-consuming and confusing, so we advise consumers to consult with their Trusted Choice independent insurance agent and ask questions.”

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