5 Ways to Lower your Car Insurance Premiums

Most people understand how to bargain for a lower insurance premium based on
the equipment present on their vehicles. Do you have an air bag ? You can get a discount. Same for anti-lock brakes and anti-theft devices, but there are some lesser known options that can also save you money if you know how to ask the right questions or supply the
right information to get cheap car insurance rates.

• Level of Education Some studies indicate lower risk profiles for given degree holders, in particular
  those with degrees in engineering, science or math. Savings fall in the range of 10 to 30 percent when available.

• Current Occupation Did you know that teachers and farmers have the lowest risk-associated occupations?
  Farmers might have to press the point, but it’s fairly simple for educators to score discounts of 10 to 30 percent.

• Military Service Many insurance providers, including GEICO, give discounts of 2 to 15 percent to
  military personnel, both active and retired. An additional attractive option is decreased coverage levels during periods of
  deployment when the insured vehicle is placed in storage.

• Age In general, people who are retired can avail themselves of a considerable level of
  discounts. Hartford, for instance, offers a AARP Auto Insurance Program with savings of as much as 45 percent. (Membership in AARP
  can benefit drivers in a number of ways regardless of the insurance company involved. Members should investigate this angle fully
  before negotiating their policies.)

• Continuing Driver’s Training Defensive driving courses and other driver’s safety programs can be used to lower
  premiums with almost all insurers. Normally this is an option people look at after a traffic citation, but the classes can be taken
  at any time for insurance purposes. (Note that these classes can now be taken online or via CD or DVD.

Drivers should also remember to investigate procedure-based discounts like
those awarded to multiple policy holders in a single family (husband, wife, and a teenage driver, for instance.) Family rates on
premiums can lower costs considerably. Also, don’t neglect new programs offered by some insurers for teenage drivers when monitoring
or GPS systems are placed on the car. Car leases may come with a substantially lower insurance premiums, but be aware that this option
has become much more rare as automakers have been forced to retreat from leasing due to the current economic climate.

Above all, insurance customers should conduct their own research and ask as
many questions as needed to be comfortable with the coverage offered. Always comparison shop. Never be uncomfortable about haggling.
Simply telling an agent that you’ve been offered a better rate by the competition can go a long way toward opening up the discounts
you need to get the most affordable coverage possible.

Just remember to shop around and request car insurance quotes from multiple providers…