Chances are, if you’ve been operating a vehicle for any amount of time, you’ve gotten some sort of traffic violation, been involved in an accident or had something else happen to blemish your driving record. If so, finding a good deal on auto insurance is tough. But armed with a little knowledge, your chance of securing a decent rate is much better.

When trying to keep down the cost your auto insurance, try to maintain a clean credit record. For some reason, auto insurers believe that people with a better credit record are also better drivers and will suffer fewer accidents. Knowing your credit score puts you in a better position to negotiate for lower rates.

When considering extras for your auto insurance, you can most likely do without the car rental insurance. You will pay nearly $50 a year for rental insurance, when that is the same cost for renting a car for one to two days. Also, your rental car is most likely already covered under your policy, anyhow.

A great way for you to save money on your auto insurance is to find an all-in-one insurance carrier. If you can find a company to provide your auto insurance, homeowners’ insurance, and health insurance, you can purchase one large package and save up to 40% off of purchasing separate insurance packages.

Check with your auto insurer to find out if registering your spouse as a co-driver can help reduce your premiums. Many insurance companies offer discounts in such situations. Their reasoning is that married drivers are motivated to drive more cautiously. If your insurer offers such a deal, be sure to take advantage of it.

Once your car gets to be older and worth less, consider dropping the collision and maybe even the comprehensive coverage. You will save a good bit of money on your premiums. Find out how much your car is worth and calculate what you pay each year to insure it. If the numbers are close to each other, reduce the coverage.

Research the car insurance company prior to opening a policy with them. You will want to make sure that they are well off. You do not want to buy an insurance policy through a company that is not doing well financially because you may be in an accident and they do not have the money to cover you.

Consider switching the deductible from $1000 to $100. There a many pros and cons for lowering a deductible, even so the pros usually outweigh the cons. You might find yourself paying for a minor collision or two, but you should ultimately be saving a lot more money if you are a safe driver.

Always receive quotes from multiple providers when seeking auto insurance. Even those providers you wouldn’t consider at first could be offering the lowest rates. You never want to settle on any policy before comparing the price to others as there can be a great difference from one policy to the next.

Although you may think your insurance will be reasonable because you are driving an economy car, you may just have a surprise. Some cars are considered to be highly sought by thieves and if this is true of your car, you will see an increase in the price of your insurance, as well. Be sure to be aware of this when purchasing your car and consider avoiding these “hot” cars.

With a spotty driving record, finding cheap automobile insurance won’t be easy, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Just remember that the insurance companies want and need your business. Follow the tips that you’ve learned, to make sure the insurance company is willing to work with you, to offer the lowest auto insurance rate possible.