Have you ever had to make a claim on your car insurance? If you can answer yes to this question then I bet there is a good number of you that were disappointed with their auto insurer. Perhaps many of you will have had to do alot of the groundwork chasing the insurance company to get things done, some of you will probably have had to fight with your insurance company about the costs, and no doubt most of you will have found it stressful.

One of the main reasons for this is that cheap car insurance deals are often not worth the paper the certificate was printed on. When looking to renew you auto insurance, it generally pays to go with a reputable firm. They don’t always provide the cheapest deals but thats because, like with most things, you are getting what you pay for.

The title of this article suggests that it can arm you with information that will help you reduce your auto insurance costs? Well, what alot of drivers do not realize is that they can exert alot of influence over how expensive their car insurance is likely to be. Keep in mind that your auto insurance charges are all directly related to the amount of risk you pose to the insurer. Based on this, you can make yourself less risky by considering some of the following 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 amount of deductible that you pay The deductible is the amount of money you are required to pay yourself in the event of any claim for car damages and medical expenses and the cost of your insurance policy gets cheaper the more you are prepared to contribute. Careful, safe drivers who have the advantage of a clean driving record may find that it is in their favor financially to agree to pay a higher deductible - this can significantly lower the price of your auto insurance policy but of course keep it in mind that in the event that you do have an accident then it will work out more expensive since you will be required to meet more of the costs yourself.

4. Car Security Car theft also has a big impact on car insurance costs. Make your vehicle more difficult to steal with anti-theft devices such as an alarm and immobilizer - this is most important if you own a make and model that has a high theft rate. Be sure to mention these security devices that you have installed on your car 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.