Do you like to pay to much for car insurance? Not many of us want to overpay for anything, and since auto insurance is a very competitive business these days, a little bit of shopping can often turn up a better deal for quality coverage! Do not assume that your current company offers you the best rates out of some sort of loyalty either, or that they are careful to make sure you are taking advantage of all possible discounts. Shop your current company, and their competitors. Even a 20% cut on your current premium can save you hundreds of dollars every year.

Common Car Insurance Discounts

• Multi-Policy – If you insure more than one vehicle, or need to cover your home and your car, you can find many insurers willing to offer you a lower price if you place all of your business with them. Beware, because some so-called discounters, do not offer all kinds of insurers, so a company that you think is more expensive may actually offer a lower price in some cases.
• Anti-Theft – If your auto has anti-theft devices installed, or if you are willing to install them, you should get a price break.
• Safety Features – If a safety feature can help prevent damage or injury, it should reduce the claims amount, and will usually result in a substantial discount.
• Driver’s Safety Course – Find out if an approved driver’s safety class earns a discount. These usually only take a few hours, and some can be taken at home with a DVD or online class.
• Clean Driving Record – Of course you should obey traffic laws to keep your record free of tickets. Safe drivers will earn a better rate than drivers who have tickets on their records.
• Good Credit Report – These days, many insurers will look at a driver’s credit report to help determine the risk. They have demonstrated that lower credit scores equal higher auto claims. So, with some companies, the best drivers may not get the best rates if they have a credit problem.

Of course, some factors will not be easy to change. Insurers also rate drivers on their age, the way they use their vehicle, and the location where the car is parked at night. But different companies calculate rates with their own unique charts. So the key is to find the company that rewards you, and your family, for the positive things you do to avoid loss or damage, and that does not penalize you much for the negative marks you may have.For instance, I have had an agent tell me that her company had the lowest rates for people with good credit. However, if a good driver has a challenged credit report, that may not be the best insurer to use. Another company may offer a large rate cut for a good driving record, and that would be a better choice.

In any case, you will need to start by finding the top companies who do business in your local area, and then get some price quotes. After you find out the prices, you can dig deeper to discover how those prices are calculated.