People from all walks of life are trying to cut their expenses. In a tough economy where people have either been laid off or fear losing their job they look for ways to save some dough. Many look to change or shop their auto insurance policy to save some money. Before you can do that you need to understand what factors determine your insurance rates.

Here are a some factors that determine your auto insurance rates:

Who are you? – Who you are affects your insurance rates. If you are under 25 then you will pay more than someone over 25. Younger people are more prone to tickets and accidents so insurance companies naturally charge them more. Drivers in their 50’s and 60’s are the safest group of drivers on the road so they end up paying less in insurance.

In the past gender played a role in insurance rates. However, that has changed as more and more women are taking to the roads. Women are just as big of a risk as men when it comes to driving.

Are you single? If so and with all else equal, your car insurance is probably going to be more expensive than your married counterpart. Married people tend to have fewer accidents so naturally insurance companies don’t need to charge them as much.

Geographical Location – The city and state you live in is an important factor in determining your auto insurance premiums. Rural areas tend to be less expensive than a dense city location because there are fewer cars and less of a chance of getting into an accident. There is also probably a smaller chance of vandalism or theft in a more rural setting.

Are you a bad driver? It is pretty simple – if you want low auto insurance rates then be a safe driver. If you have accidents and traffic citations on your record then you are naturally going to pay more than someone who has a clean record. If you were running an insurance company wouldn’t you do the same thing? If you want to enjoy lower rates then drive more carefully and maintain a clean record.

What do you drive? The car you drive will affect how much you pay. Variable such as the price of the car, mileage, year, model and safety features will affect how much your insurance company charges you? Obviously, the guy driving a $90,000 BMW will pay more than the guy driving a $5,000 Ford Truck.

Finding Cheaper Car Insurance:

Shop around to various companies before buying or renewing your auto policy. You can shop around several ways. One is to poke around on the internet, another is to contact your local insurance agent and finally you can call the 800 line of a major national carrier. Don’t figure that all companies will charge you the same rates. You might find some large differences:

What is great about the internet is how you can comparison shop between insurance carriers quickly. You can get quotes from various companies so you can compare policies and rates easily.

Sometimes it is nice to just deal with someone in your own home town. You may want to contact your friendly neighborhood insurance agent to help you with the process. They might be able to save you a few bucks here and there. If you ever have to file a claim it is probably easier to do with some locally than calling an 800 number.

Slade Tanner – Auto Insurance in Tampa, Florida