Auto insurance premiums have climbed sharply in recent years, and many drivers simply pay the renewal notice without question. That's expensive. Here are seven levers you can pull to bring your premium back down — most of them in an afternoon.
1. Shop your policy every year
Loyalty rarely pays in insurance. Insurers reprice constantly, and the company that was cheapest three years ago may be the most expensive today. Getting fresh quotes is the single highest-impact move on this list.
2. Raise your deductible
Increasing your deductible from $250 to $500 or $1,000 can meaningfully cut your premium — just make sure you keep enough in savings to cover the higher amount if you ever file a claim.
3. Bundle home and auto
Most carriers offer a multi-policy discount. If you own a home or rent, bundling can shave a percentage off both policies at once.
4. Ask about every discount
- Safe-driver and accident-free discounts
- Low-mileage or pay-per-mile programs
- Telematics ("safe driving" tracking) apps
- Good-student and military discounts
- Paperless billing and pay-in-full discounts
5. Review your coverage on older cars
If your car is worth only a few thousand dollars, paying for collision and comprehensive coverage may cost more over time than the payout you'd ever receive.
6. Improve your credit
In most states, insurers use a credit-based insurance score. Paying down balances and fixing report errors can lower your rate over time.
7. Don't over-insure rental and roadside
If your credit card or auto club already provides roadside assistance and rental coverage, you may be paying twice. Trim the duplicates.
Compare auto insurance quotes
See rates from multiple insurers in minutes with our partner, RateCompare.
The bottom line
The fastest way to know if you're overpaying is to compare. Pull your current declarations page, gather a few quotes, and match coverage limits apples-to-apples. Most drivers who shop find a better deal within an hour.