If you're having trouble paying your high-priced car insurance bill, these ten tips can help you cut your premiums today.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' recently released Auto Insurance Database Report, the average cost of car insurance per insured vehicle in 2017 was $1,005.

I wish I only had to pay $1,005 for car insurance. My wife and I recently switched providers, reducing our annual bill from approximately $2,100 for six months of coverage for both of our cars to slightly more than $2,600. (for the exact same coverage). Despite significant savings in insurance costs, we are still paying significantly more than the average.

Although we can't change the fact that our state is the third-most expensive for car insurance, according to the same report, there are a few things we can do to save money on car insurance — and you can, too.

If you're anything like me, you'll want to try at least a few of these money-saving strategies if you want to know how to save money on car insurance without sacrificing coverage.

1.Maintain a clean driving record.

Your car insurance premium is the amount you pay to your insurance company in exchange for them covering some or all of your losses in the event of an accident. No matter how good you think you are as a driver, you still pose some risk in the eyes of your auto insurance company. However, the less of a risk you are, the less you will have to pay for auto insurance.

A clean driving record demonstrates that you are a less risky and more safe driver. You will most likely be offered a lower premium. A driving history that includes tickets and accidents, on the other hand, can raise your auto insurance premium, so maintaining a good driving record is one of the best ways to lower your car insurance premiums.

2.Drive less often

Many car insurance companies request your annual mileage to determine how frequently you drive because it is directly related to your risk of being involved in an accident. If you drive less than a certain number of miles per year — what some companies refer to as pleasure use — you'll typically pay a lower insurance rate. You may have to pay more if you use your car for commuting and exceed a certain mileage limit each year. The exact mileage thresholds differ from one company to the next.

If you are driving less than usual, contact your insurance agent and adjust your policy's declared mileage accordingly. Some companies provide a special low mileage discount, but most will provide some sort of savings if your driving habits have changed and you simply aren't using your car as much as you used to.

3.Increase your credit score.

Believe it or not, the amount you pay for the auto insurance plays a part in your credit score. Car insurance providers will create what is called an insurance score using information in your credit record, such as outstanding debt, payment history and new credit applications.

The amount of your premiums is determined by your insurance score. Your insurance scale measures how effectively to handle your money, and studies reveal how a person is managing their money is a good indicator of the number of times they submit an insurance claim, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

You probably already realize some discounts if you have decent credit. Continue to handle correct money to cut your car insurance rates more while you work on your credit score.

4.Bundle your insurance coverages

You can reward you with savings by many car insurance firms by holding various policies such as cars, homeowners, autos, renters or even home insurance. This also applies if you have insured more than one vehicle via the same firm.

If you now have many insurance plans, try taking insurance quotes out of each of them and consolidation with one insurer. Read through the quotations to compare coverage and prices before you change, so that you actually save money by bundling.

5. Pay the total amount

It may be more sensible to make installment paid monthly on your vehicle insurance than to pay in full, particularly if you pay more than $1,000 a year on average to cover your automobile. However, many automotive insurance firms provide full payment savings. You can pay early if you have sufficient money to cover the costs of a six-month or 12-month policy.

You might save more money by using a flat rate cash back credit card like Citi Double Cash Card if your existing insurance company permits you to make payments using a credit card. You earn up to 2% cash back on all transactions with this card: 1% when you purchase and 1% when you pay. You see instant savings in the amount of $20 for your 12-month coverage at $1,005. While this may not seem like a lot, you don't want to save money?

6.Add an anti-theft device

Your insurer won't pay out for any reimbursements, not to mention a stolen car. If you have an extensive coverage for automobile insurance, your insurance most probably will cover your car's theft – up to the actual cash worth. Your insurer will write you a payment of $15,000 (excluding your car insurance allowance) on this insured loss when your car has a market worth of $15,000. Your insurer can't tell you that he won't cut you a $15,000 check.

There is therefore a significant probability that you could save money if you have specific safety features like an anti-theft appliance on your vehicle. If your automobile is secured by an anti-theft device, many car insurance providers offer a discount. This minimizes your car's odds of getting stolen, reducing your Insurer's chances of cutting your control.

7. Investigate available auto insurance discounts

See most vehicle insurance companies and there are plenty of discounts available to help keep insurance costs modest. Car insurance reductions might be found depending upon the business if your vehicle contains safety features like locking brakes, airbags, and operating lights throughout the day. Serving in army, having a new model automobile, automatically signing up and doing a defensive driving course can also provide discounts. You have the chance. You have the concept.

While these savings vary from firm to business, you may readily go to any important vehicle insurance company's website for driver discounts. Or call and discuss what reductions they can offer with an insurance car agent.

8.Drop unnecessary coverage

There are numerous sorts of automobile insurance policies that help to ensure that you're covered enough on the road. This includes covering your responsibility, covering your and your passengers' medical expenses and helping to cover the costs of your car repairs. Even though you usually buy the coverage you can afford, you should not pay for the coverage you do not need.

Although some liability coverage is needed by state law, full collision coverage and collision coverage are optional, but if your lender or leasing agent finances or leases your car, it can mandate a full collision or collision. It might not be worth paying for these covers in fact if you have an old automobile that is not valuable. All of this depends on your car's value and whether your premiums and allowances on this coverage are more than worth your vehicle.

What about other additional coverage, like as car rental or roadside assistance? Maybe you already are paying AAA, so you can save money by cutting off your insurance policy support on the road. You don't need a coverage of automobile rental if you have a second car, perhaps. The point is, look at your insurance policy and make sure that your coverage isn't unnecessary, if you can instead pay a cheaper rate for vehicle insurance.


9.Switch to a higher deductible

A deductible is the amount of money you pay out of pocket before certain car insurance coverages kick in, most commonly comprehensive and collision coverages. If you are willing to pay a larger portion of the cost of a covered loss, your car insurance company will most likely reward you with lower rates. According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your deductible from $200 to $1,000 can save you 40% or more on collision and comprehensive coverage premiums.

“The best way to save money on auto insurance is to review your deductibles,” says Addie McHale, certified financial planner and Moneyfull founder. “I recommend calling your insurance company or agent and reviewing your deductibles on each coverage, followed by obtaining quotes for a higher deductible. The premium savings may be sufficient to cover the cost of a higher deductible in a year or less.”

So, in a nutshell, if you have enough savings to cover the cost of a higher deductible, you should consider raising your deductible to save money on your monthly auto insurance costs.

10.Comparison shop

As I previously stated, by switching our car insurance for our two vehicles to a different provider, my wife and I saved nearly $2,000 for the year. Our insurance coverage remained unchanged, so we weren't putting ourselves in danger just to save money. This is critical to remember as you shop around for lower prices.

You can now spend an entire day inputting the same information over and over again to obtain a car insurance quote from one of the numerous insurers available. This, however, is not the best use of your time. Consider using an online insurance marketplace instead. Many websites allow you to receive multiple car insurance quotes after providing only one piece of information. This allows you to save time and money by comparing quotes for the coverage you require at the lowest possible car insurance rates.