Many Americans report that shopping for auto insurance, and the decision of which company and which policy to choose, can often be extremely stressful. Companies can vary tremendously in terms of their coverage of claims, availability, and service, and with so many options available, how do you know which is the right choice for you?

To save money on your car insurance take a look at dropping the towing coverage. The cost of being towed is usually cheaper than the cost the coverage adds to your policy over a 3 to 5 year time frame. Many credit cards and phone plans offer roadside assistance already so there is no need to pay extra for it.

When getting car insurance is not a wise idea to only get your state’s minimum coverage. Most states only require that you cover the other person’s car in case of an accident. If you get that type of insurance and your car is damaged you will end up paying many times more than if you had the proper coverage.

Saving money on auto insurance does not have to be a difficult thing, especially if you are loyal to the same company. Most policies are only for a term of around a year, so make sure you re-up with the same company. If you show loyalty to the insurer, you will be rewarded with lower monthly premium payments.

If you’re currently receiving a no-claims discount for an auto insurance company, it is important that you protect this. Only file a claim if it is absolutely necessary, because once you file a claim with your insurer, your rates could increase instantly by up to 75%. Filing claims should be saved for real accident and injury.

If you have other drivers on your insurance policy, remove them to get a better deal. Most insurance companies have a “guest” clause, meaning that you can occasionally allow someone to drive your car and be covered, as long as they have your permission. If your roommate only drives your car twice a month, there’s no reason they should be on there!

A few years ago, it might have been wise to drop medical payments from your automobile insurance policy when it was common to be able to expect your health insurance policy to cover almost all of your accident-related medical costs. Now, with health coverage becoming more restrictive, it’s worth doing the math to see if it’s worth getting the extra medical payments coverage reinstated to your auto insurance plan.

If you have more than one vehicle, make sure all of your policies are in the same place. This make it much easier to keep track of. More importantly, you might be able to save a little money. The more policies you have with one insurance provider, the more likely you are to qualify for certain deals and discounts.

Even though you may be loyal to a certain auto insurance company, it pays to shop around for other companies each year. The prices of auto insurance are constantly taking and by not looking around, you could be spending far more on your current insurance than you would be with another company.

Your insurance premiums are based on your demographic information. This means that certain categories of people will pay more than others. If you find your insurance too high, perhaps someone else can insure it in their name for you. This is not illegal if this is a shared vehicle.

Keep car insurance in mind when buying a new car. Different cars have different premiums. You might have your heart set on an SUV, but you might want to check just how much it is going to cost to insure before you spend money on it. Always do your insurance research before buying a new vehicle.

To ensure your claims will be dealt with quickly, choose top rated insurance companies only. Unknown insurance companies may offer low rates and may seem like a good deal in the short run, but if they try to avoid paying your claims, they can cost you in the long run. Research insurance companies and be sure to select one with a good record.

Your goal is affordable auto insurance, but what exactly does that mean? By carefully considering the various factors involved, such as the amount of coverage you need, as well as the amount you want your deductible set at, among other factors, you are well on your way to making this important decision.