You may not realize it, but the insurance rates you pay for your car can vary dramatically depending on the insurance company, agent or broker you choose, the coverage is you request and the kind of car you drive. Listed below are a number of things you can do right now to lower your insurance costs. 

1. COMPARISON SHOP. Prices for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars, so it pays to shop around. Ask your friends, check the yellow pages or call your state insurance department (phone numbers are on back page). You can also check consumer guides, insurance agents or companies. This will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which companies or agents have the lowest prices. But don't shop price alone. The insurer you select should offer both fair prices and excellent service. Quality personal service may cost a bit more, but provides added conveniences, so talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the quality of their service. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the financial ratings of the companies too. Then, when you've narrowed the field to three insurers, get price quotes. 

2. ASK FOR HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES. Deductibles represent the amount of money you pay before you make a claim. By requesting higher deductibles on collision and comprehensive (fire and theft) coverage, you can lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision cost by 15% to 30%. 

3. DROP COLLISION AND/OR COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE'S ON OLDER CARS. It may not be cost-effective to have collision or comprehensive coverage's on cars worth less than $1000 because any claim you make would not substantially exceed annual cost and deductible amounts. Auto dealers and banks can tell you the worth of cars. 

4. ELIMINATE DUPLICATE MEDICAL COVERAGE'S. If you have adequate health insurance, you may be paying for duplicate medical coverage in your auto policy. In some states, eliminating this coverage could lower your personal injury protection (PIP) cost by up to 40%. 

5. BUY A "LOW PROFILE" CAR. Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Cars that are expensive to repair, or that are favorite targets for thieves, have much higher insurance costs. Write to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201 and ask for the Highway Loss Data Chart. 

6. CONSIDER AREA INSURANCE COST IF YOU ARE MAKING A MOVE. Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in center cities where there is more traffic congestion. 

7. TAKE ADVANTAGE Of LOW MILEAGE DISCOUNTS. Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a predetermined number of miles a year. 

8. FIND OUT ABOUT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT OR AIR BAG DISCOUNTS. You may be able to take advantage of discounts on some coverage's if you have automatic seat belts and/or air bags. 

9. INQUIRE ABOUT OTHER DISCOUNTS. Some insurers offer discounts for more than one car, no accidents in three years, drivers over 50 years of age, driver training courses, anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes and good grades for students. 

INQUIRE ABOUT DISCOUNTS FOR: COMPANY A COMPANY B COMPANY C 

$500 deductible _______ _______ _______ 

$1,000 deductible _______ _______ _______ 

More than 1 car _______ _______ _______ 

No Accidents in 3 Years _______ _______ _______ 

No Moving Violations in 3 Years _______ _______ _______ 

Drivers Over 50 Years of Age _______ _______ _______ 

Driver Training Course _______ _______ _______ 

Anti-Theft Device _______ _______ _______ 

Low Annual Mileage _______ _______ _______ 

Automatic Seat Belt _______ _______ _______ 

Air Bag _______ _______ _______ 

Anti-Lock Brakes _______ _______ _______ 

Good Grades for Students _______ _______ _______ 

Auto and Homeowners Coverage with the Same Company _______ _______ _______ 

College Students Away From Home Without a Car _______ _______ _______ 

OTHER DISCOUNTS: _______________ _______ _______ _______ _______________ _______ _______ _______ _______________ _______ _______ _______ _______________ _______ _______ _______ 

You Can Reach Your State Insurance Department At: 

AL: 205-269-3550 

AK: 907-465-2515 

AS: 684-633-4116 

AZ: 602-255-5400 

AR: 501-686-2900 

CA: 800-927-4357 

CO: 303-894-7499 

CT: 203-297-3800 

DE: 800-282-8611 

DC: 202-727-8002 

FL: 800-342-2762 

GA: 404-656-2056 

GU: 671-477-5144 

HI: 800-468-4644 

ID: 208-334-2250 

IL: 217-782-4515 

IN: 800-622-4461 

IA: 515-281-5705 

KS: 800-432-2484 

KY: 502-564-3630 

LA: 504-342-5900 

ME: 207-582-8707 

MD: 800-492-6116 

MA: 617-727-3357 

MI: 517-373-9273 

MN: 800-652-9747 

MS: 601-359-3569 

MO: 314-751-2640 

MT: 800-332-6148 

NE: 402-471-2201 

NV: 800-992-0900 

NH: 800-852-3416 

NJ: 609-292-5363 

NM: 505-827-4500 

NY: 212-602-0203 

NC: 800-662-7777 

ND: 800-247-0560 

OH: 800-686-1526 

OK: 405-521-2828 

OR: 503-378-4271 

PA: 717-787-5173 

PR: 809-722-8686 

RI: 401-277-2223 

SC: 803-737-6117 

SD: 605-773-3563 

TN: 800-342-4029 

TX: 512-463-6464 

UT: 801-530-6400 

VT: 802-828-3301 

VI: 809-774-2991 

VA: 800-552-7945 

WA: 800-562-6900 

WV: 800-642-9004 

WI: 800-236-8517 

WY: 307-777-7401 

For more information, call the National Insurance Consumer Helpline (NICH) at 1-800-942-4242

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