4 Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates

Car insurance premiums are soaring, with prices up around 26% at the start of 2024 compared with the year prior. Unfortunately, paying so much for auto insurance can be a huge financial burden.

The good news is, there are ways drivers can reduce the huge costs they're paying. Following these four tips could provide some relief and leave a little extra money in a bank account to use for stuff that's a lot more fun than insurance.

1. Taking a defensive driving course

Defensive driving courses give motorists the skills they need to reduce the chances of a crash. A lower collision risk means reduced premiums. Typically, motorists who take a defensive driving class can get around a 10% discount on premiums.

Always check with an insurer to find out how much completing a particular course might save, and to see if any specific requirements must be met to get the premium reduction. This can help drivers ensure they benefit from the price reduction they're expecting.

2. Earning good grades as a young driver

Insuring young drivers is a financial nightmare because insurers know inexperienced motorists with brains that are not yet fully developed tend to present a higher risk of something going wrong.

However, good students -- usually defined as those with a B average or better -- are viewed as safer. As a result, some insurers reduce premiums by as much as 20% for those who have the grades to qualify.

Young drivers who have good grades should let their auto insurance company know so they can benefit from this chance to save.

3. Bundling insurance coverage

Insurers reward people who buy multiple policies. Bundling auto insurance and homeowners insurance could allow policyholders to reduce premiums for both policies by as much as 20% to 25%, depending on the company offering the coverage. The more kinds of coverage purchased, usually the lower the costs become.

While it's important to make sure the insurer has a good reputation for handling home and auto claims (as well as claims for any kind of policy included in the bundle), this is often a good way to save and simplify things since there will only be one insurer to pay -- or to make a claim with if something goes wrong.

4. Asking about discounts

Finally, asking about discounts can be important, too. Insurers offer the chance to save for many reasons, including being a member of specific groups or working for a certain employer. Many people don't know about all these chances to reduce premiums, so they don't alert their insurer that they have a specific job or are a member of a club that lets them save.

By taking these four steps, motorists will often find they can score a notable reduction in premium cost. None of them are difficult, and with prices up so much, it's worth trying all of them to get a little bit of financial relief.