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Sorting out your car insurance is one of those chores all drivers need to do once a year (well all the legal ones anyway). Have you ever had to make a claim? Out of those of you that can answer yes, I bet there is a fair number of you that were disappointed with their insurer – some of you will have had to chase the insurance company, some of you will no doubt have had to battle with the insurer about the costs, I bet most of you will have found it stressful.

Those cheap car insurance deals are quite often not worth the paper the certificate is printed on, the inefficiency of the insurer, the small print that you didn’t read, this all adds up to a surprise for most people when it comes to making a claim (and I’m not talking about a nice surprise financially). All things being even (sorry I was at the casino las night) it generally pays to go with a reputable firm when looking to renew you auto insurance. These firms do not always provide the cheapest deals but thats because you are getting what you pay for.

So where is this article going based on the fact that the title suggests it will help you reduce your car insurance costs? Well, what alot of people do not realize is that they have alot of control and influence over how expensive their auto insurance is likely to be. Bear in mind that your auto insurance charges are all directly associated with the level of risk you are to the insurer’s investment in you – here are out tips for helping keep your car insurance costs down:

1. Think about the Make and Model of the car you drive The type of vehicle you drive has a big impact on your insurance premium, with performance cars, SUVs,and those that have a high theft rate falling in higher risk groups since they are statistically likely to cost the insurance company more money and so naturally cost more to insure. If you are about to buy a new, or second-hand car, then find out which models fall in these high risk groups groups and cross them off your list of cars you are considering buying.

2. Be a safe driver Drivers who have been handed speeding tickets and who have made insurance claims recently should note that they will fall into a high drivers risk profile with the insurance companies and so will find that they do not qualify for cheap auto insurance. Driving convictions and claims made in the last few years again make you a bigger risk to the insurer. Drive safely and you will be rewarded with lower insurance quotes at the end of the day.

3. Consider the deductible you pay How much deductible do you pay with your current policy? – this is the amount of costs you are required to pay in the event of any claim and the cost of your insurance policy goes down the more you are prepared to contribute. If you are a careful, safe car driver and you have the advantage of a clean record then it may be in your favor financially to agree to pay a higher deductible – this can considerably lower the price of your auto insurance policy.

4. Make and model of your car Make your vehicle more difficult to steal with anti-theft devices and other security systems such as alarms – this is especially important if you have a model that has a high theft rate. Make sure that you mention any security systems you have installed on your vehicle when obtaining an insurance quotation.

5. Loyalty Discounts When it is time to renew your policy check with your current provider about any loyalty discounts and ask about the your risk profile if you have a had a clean driving record over the past year.

Teri lives in Las Vegas and is an insurance actuary. She writes at the las vegas car insurance guide where you can find more resources for car insurance in las vegas.