You may have heard about others who keep snagging great automobile insurance rates, while yours remain high or even rise every year. Though it seems out of your control, you may actually be paying much higher rates than you have to. Unless you check and do some comparison shopping, you will keep paying more than others in your same age or demographic bracket. The sooner you realize that you have the power to change your rates, the more quickly you can start saving. Read here about how to move forward and become an informed consumer.

First of all, make sure you know what discounts are available to you when purchasing a new insurance policy for your vehicle. If you belong to any clubs or organizations, it is possible that you can find a group rate that you already qualify for. In addition, you can check into the possibility of combining your vehicle insurance with others policies such as homeowners or renters coverage, life insurance and policies that cover your business. Ask for safe driver discounts if you have a good driving record.

Always get quotes from multiple companies and make sure you are getting rates for the exact same coverage. Look for similar deductibles and coverage limits for liability as well as for comprehensive and collision. Check to see if the rates you are being offered cover things such as uninsured motorists and theft for items in your car. If you are not covered through medical insurance elsewhere, then you want to have coverage in case you face an injury in an automobile accident. All of these things can make a big difference in the price of your policy, so make a list of what you want and check to see that each quote you gets includes those things.

Particularly if you drive an old car that has very little value, you may want to consider carrying only what the law requires. This would be liability insurance in case you damage someone else’s car or property. It is illegal in most states to drive without this insurance. Get a quote for liability only, then add full coverage and see what the difference is. Do the math and determine what it would cost you to pay for damage to your own vehicle if necessary, remembering that an insurance company will only pay you what the appraised value of the car is. If the monthly cost for full coverage exceeds what it would cost you to fix the car yourself, it’s a no-brainer. You would do better to carry liability only.

Check for rates online, knowing that some companies will offer discounts for signing up on their website. In addition, you will often get lower rates if you allow them to automatically deduct payments from your bank account or credit card. This relieves you from having to remember to make the payment, and helps you avoid late fees.

These are just a few things you can try to get control of rising vehicle insurance rates. Check before each renewal period to make sure you are being a wise and prudent consumer, then enjoy driving with peace of mind.