Check out these five ways you can take control of what you pay for auto insurance.
Certain things in life are out of your hands: aging, the job market, the weather.
The good news is that your auto insurance rate doesn't have to be one of them.
In fact, there are several ways you can gain more control of your auto insurance rate and potentially lower your costs.
Check out these five ways you can take the wheel on your car insurance rates
Choosing the right company to insure your vehicle can take a bit of patience, but it may also help lower your rate.
According to the North Dakota Insurance Department's February 2011 cost comparison study, each "good" hypothetical driver was given 18 monthly quotes from 18 different companies. Rates varied by as much as $604, proving that shopping around may yield significantly different rates.
On the other end of the spectrum, one "high risk" driver was given quotes from 16 insurers, which varied by as much as $1,451.
So regardless of your driving history, don't assume you're locked into your current rate. Each company is different, and each quote will likely vary as well.
Overall, knowing your options and taking the time to find them could provide you with significant savings.
#2 - Keep a Clean Driving Record
"Being accident-free and having no serious traffic violations on your record tops the list of things you can do to lower the cost of insurance," says Lynne McChristian, Florida representative for the Insurance Information Institute (III), an organization dedicated to the enhancement of public understanding of insurance.
The better you are behind the wheel, the better chance you'll have more - and cheaper - options when comparing quotes from insurance companies. A quote is the monthly rate that a company would make you pay if you were to choose them as your insurer.
For example, the North Dakota Insurance Department's cost comparison study created hypothetical drivers with different driving records, and then had state insurance companies provide sample quotes for each driver.
Three "good" drivers were covered by most low-cost insurers, while the two "high-risk" drivers both received significantly higher overall quotes.
Tips to Save on Car Insurance