Auto Insurance Savers and Riders

By Meha Ahmad, InsuranceAgents.com Staff Writer

Everyone is looking for a way to reduce their bills, particularly their auto insurance premium. Now is the time when every little bit of savings counts. There are the more well-known ways to save on auto insurance-increasing the deductible, living in a safe neighborhood, keeping a clean driving record-but if there's one thing consumers have learned from the recent economic times, it's that there is always more ways to save.

A quick and easy way to save on auto insurance is to compare free auto insurance quotes.

Here are a few lesser known ways to save on auto insurance:

1. Owning a garage - Did you know just owning a garage can save you money on your auto insurance? Cars kept in garages are much less likely to be stolen, vandalized or damaged. Ask your auto insurance agent about a premium reduction for owning a garage.
2. Low profile car - Statistically, ostentatious vehicles (convertibles, sports cars, etc.) are more likely to draw the attention of burglars, and more likely to inspire the driver to drive recklessly.
3. Not smoking - If a driver is too busy smoking or trying to light their cigarette to keep their full attention on the road, they are putting themselves at a higher risk of getting into an accident. Also, a lit cigarette may result in a fire and damage to your car. That's why auto insurance companies typically charge smokers more for auto insurance than nonsmokers.
4. Car pooling - Car poolers get some pretty sweet deals on auto insurance. They are able to take advantage of low mileage discounts many auto insurance companies offer to clients. The lower their average number of miles a year, the less they will pay for auto insurance.
5. What you do for a living - Auto insurance companies have found a correlation between a driver's risk and occupation. Typically, the more stressful a person's job is known to be, the higher the risk they are, thus increasing their auto insurance rates.
6. Marital status - Yes, your marital status does affect your auto insurance rates. Many insurance companies argue that statistics show that unmarried individuals are more likely to get into an accident than married ones. Single, divorced and even widowed drivers could end up paying more for auto insurance.
7. Working from home and/or stay-at-home moms - Drivers who don't need to commute to work are often given lower auto insurance rates. They are considered less of an auto insurance risk since their road time is considerably reduced.

Be sure to talk to your auto insurance agent about what discounts you are eligible for. Remember, every little bit of saving helps and can add up to significant pile of savings at the end of the year.