There’s a science to securing the lowest car insurance rates on the market. While shopping around for car insurance rates can seem daunting, there are a few things you can do reduce your premiums. If the goal is saving money, then follow these steps when searching for car insurance.

1.Maintain a good credit history. Auto insurance companies often analyze your credit history to determine your risk factor status. This might seem obvious, but all it really means is that you pay bills on time and stay out of debt. A good credit history will also help keep your home insurance rates low.

2.Live in the country. Purchase a home in a rural or suburban area rather than in the city. In rural areas, less crime and less traffic means it’s less likely your car will be vandalized, stolen, or involved in an accident. This is much easier said than done, but it’s the hard truth. Living in a city means you’ll pay more for auto insurance.

3.Drive fewer miles to qualify for car insurance discounts. Many car insurance companies offer low-mileage discounts to customers who drive less than 8,000 miles per year. Also, if you use public transportation frequently, you may qualify for a commuter’s discount.

4.Pay a higher deductible. You can slash your monthly insurance premium by up to 20% if you agree to pay a higher deductible. Of course this means that you’ll be responsible for paying the deductible if you’re involved in an accident. But, if you’re a safe driver, a higher deductible and a lower premium can save you lots of money.

5.Purchase a ‘plain Jane’ car. All auto insurance companies rate cars based on their make, model, year, and sometimes, even their color! Most insurance companies will place powerful sports cars or flashy automobiles in the high-risk category. This is because car thieves target these cars more often than ‘regular’ cars. Also, the fact that some of these cars can reach speeds in excess of 180 mph motivates the insurance companies to classify them as high risk.

6.Be a defensive driver. Many auto insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who have no traffic violations or accidents for a period of 3 years. Sometimes these price breaks are quite significant, so you should obey the law and be very cautious if you want to take advantage of these discounts.
7. Park in a garage. If you report that you park your car in a garage, you can often receive small discounts from insurance companies. This is due to the fact that cars in garages are less likely to be damaged or vandalized than cars parked on the street.
As you can see, there are a variety of ways you can reduce your monthly insurance expenses. Be sure to take advantage of any discount you might be able to procure. Many people believe it takes practice to combine discounts and reduce your price. Either way, it’s smart to capitalize on discounts so that you end up paying less for auto insurance.

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1. The Vocabulary of Auto Insurance Rates
2. How Motorcycle Insurance Rates are Determined
3. High Insurance Rates and Disputed Claims

Post: 7 Steps to Lower Auto Insurance Rates taken from: Ratelines.com