What discounts are available?
The difference between the cheapest and the most expensive car insurance policy in your state can be more than $1,000 (assuming you are not a high-risk driver when the premium rate may be set higher as a deterrent). If you also have the misfortune to live in a state which has higher than average premium rates, this can make driving an expensive business. That means you have to take every opportunity to access the discounts. In some states, nothing will make the car insurance cheap, but it can become more affordable.
The discount everyone starts with is the deductible. This is you agreeing to pay the first slice of every claim. Usually, the maximum is $1,000 and this will earn you an average discount of 10%. Before you agree to this, check out your savings. If you were unlucky and were involved in two accidents close together, could you afford $2,000 in cash. Remember, if you do not pay the deductible, nothing comes from your insurance company. The next substantial discount comes from bundling cars and homes together. The more business you give the same insurance company, the bigger the savings. But the biggest discounts in the car insurance world now come to low mileage drivers through the pay-as-you-drive policies. If you are prepared to sacrifice some of your privacy, you can now earn big discounts by fitting a black box in your vehicle. This tells the insurer when and where you drive. If you drive only a few miles at off-peak times, there are big savings.
Now come to the vehicle itself. Hopefully, you chose to buy a make and model that's cheap to insure. Now look at the add-ons. The more safe you make the car and the more difficult to steal, the bigger the savings. Check out what insurers want to see installed in that particular model and work out whether it's going to be cost-effective to fit them. Now focus on yourself. Is your GPA good? Have you been on a defensive driving course? Some of the courses for older drivers bring good savings. Do you have a good credit score? If you currently park overnight on the road, can you find a garage or somewhere more secure to store the car when not in use? Talk to the car insurance companies and find out which discounts apply to your situation.