You can make your car insurance premiums affordable by shopping around, knowing what discounts to look for, and knowing what type of insurance to maintain on your car. Take time to shop around for your policy and be prepared to know what to ask and look for and you could end up saving up to $500 a year on your car insurance!

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The following article provides tools you can use to get the best deal on your car insurance while still maintaining the insurance you need to protect yourself against loss.

How can I compare car insurance premiums?

These days there are many ways to compare car insurance premiums. First of all, you can compare car insurance premiums online using tools like the one on this page. You should always get at least three different quotes from three different car insurance providers.

Be sure and compare like products with like products. Make sure the coverage is comparable. After all, if the premiums are cheaper but the coverage is less, it may not provide you with enough insurance to cover any potential loss.

The second way to compare car insurance is to call or visit local agents in your area. Sometimes talking to someone in person or on the phone may get you a better deal due to the fact that they are local business men and women.

Type of Vehicle Features

There are many kinds of discounts you should ask for when shopping for car insurance premiums. Many companies automatically ask the customer if they have certain features on their cars to enable them to receive the discounts.

First of all, there are safety discounts that can enable you to save money on car insurance premiums. The most common safety features that garner a discount are seatbelts, and since nearly all cars have seatbelts, this will get you guaranteed savings.

The next most common safety feature that provides a savings in car insurance premiums is anti-lock brakes, also known as ABS. Most cars have anti-lock brakes, but the agent will most likely still ask if you have them on your car.

A third option for a discount involves airbags. Not all cars have airbags, but most cars since 1988 have been made with standard front airbags. Side airbags are newer but are still available in many cars, trucks, vans, and sports utility vehicles.

According to Reader’s Digest’s article “9 Car Safety Features to Look Out for“, two car safety features to look for are traction control and electronic stability control. Certain car insurers may offer a discount for either or both of these. These two systems stabilize the car when taking dangerous curves, or accidentally hitting curbs or guardrails. They also help in stabilization in accidents or inclement weather.

Anti-theft devices can also save you money on your car insurance. Some cars come with these automatically installed, but this is an item that can be easily added after the purchase of a car.

Lastly, you may want to ask about lane departure warning systems. This is one of the newest safety devices available in many higher end car models. According to the Traffic Stop Newsletter’s “Car Safety Features Past and Present“, the Lane Departure Warning System, known as LDWS, notifies the driver when they start veering out of their lane. It is able to detect when the driver is falling asleep or is no longer paying attention.

What kinds of non-car related discounts are available with car insurance?

There are many non-car related discounts available to policyholders on their car insurance. The easiest discount to get on car insurance is a multi-car discount. Most people own more than one car or there is more than one car within the same household. If they insure them with the same car insurance provider, they will see savings on their rate.

The next discount you can get is for having a good driving record. Pull your driving record ahead of time, so you can ask for this discount with confidence. You usually have to be free of car accidents or driving infractions for five years or more to get this discount.

Annual car insurance policies are going to be automatically cheaper than if the company has to send you a monthly invoice. If you can set aside your money every month for car insurance and then pay it yearly, you can save a lot of money.

Knock down your coverage to the minimums but be sure that you are protected in case of a loss. Reducing your coverage is only beneficial if the car is older or is not driven often. There are also storage rates for vehicles that sit in the garage or are being restored.

Ask about organizational discounts. If you are a member of a certain group, organization, profession, or school, you are often eligible for a discount.

Take driver courses for a discount. Many companies will provide discounts for taking defensive driving courses.

Get your car insurance from the same company through which your house is insured. You can usually get a discount for having more than one type of insurance from the same company.

Ask your insurance company to match a rate. If you have been a customer for a long time, your insurance company might not want to lose your business to a competitor. They may match or even beat the quote you receive from a competitor.

Car insurance companies pull your credit rating to see if you will actually pay your bills. If you have good credit you may be eligible for a discount or receive lower premiums than someone with poor credit.

Teenager drivers can receive discounts for being good students and maintaining a good grade point average. They can also receive discounts for taking driver’s education classes at their school.

Research the make and model of the car you want to buy. Find out how much it would cost to insure. It is not worth buying a cheaper car if you are going to pay more in insurance than you would for a car that costs a little bit more.

If you are married you will be guaranteed a less expensive rate than someone that is single. Male drivers also pay more for insurance than female drivers. Retired individuals receive discounts, because they are no longer driving to work on a daily basis. Be sure and tell the insurance company when you retire or if you are retired.

Do not park your car in high crime areas. If you can, utilize a parking garage or do not drive if you work in a high crime area. Notify your insurance company of the location of your vehicle during work as they may cut your premium if it is garage parked.

What about changing my coverage or deductible?

Raising your deductible is a great way to make your car insurance more affordable. However, you need to make sure you will be able to pay your deductible should something happen.

Lastly, you can make your car insurance more affordable by lowering your amount of coverage. However, you need to make sure you maintain the state’s minimums and that you are sufficiently protected should something happen.

There are many ways in which you can make your car insurance premiums affordable. Take time now to start comparing car insurance rates by using the tool box located on this page now!