Due to fierce competition in the insurance market, premiums have been falling, which is good news for those shopping for car insurance. You would be prudent though to bear in mind that the price is not the part of car insurance which is most important.

The prime motivation for comparing prices on car insurance though is to try and get lower car insurance in order to better afford the premiums. Following up with all of the companies and finding out what they have to offer can be a time costing experience to say the least. However there are a number of things you can do to improve your chances of success.

Look around.

Paying attention to the details in the plans is important as they can vary greatly between the different companies. You can ask for quotations from these companies so that you can compare them with regards to the prices and packages they offer. These days there are many web sites online that will allow you to compare prices of the big name insurance companies in one easy location without having to visit them.

Keep a good clean driving record.

If you can show that you are a good driver then insurance companies will consider you a low-risk candidate, and thus will have lower accompanying premium rates.

Another good way that you get a lower insurance premium is to make sure that your vehicle has the latest and greatest safety features. Some insurance companies will automatically lower premiums if they see anti-theft devices, automatic seatbelts and airbags.

Creative mathematics can also bring your car premiums down. Ask for higher deductibles on your car insurance policy. You can get as much as a 15 to 20 percent premium reduction by increasing the deductible on the plan. If this is a way that you choose to go, it is important that you have the money put aside for the deductible.

If you own a second hand car or an old model car, ask to reduce its coverage. If you are paying a premium for a car that is worth less that 10 times the premium amount you are paying, you are paying to much.

You can and should ask the company for more discounts. One such rate discount would include a low mileage discount. Some insurance companies will offer people that have taken a defensive driving course discounts with the proper documentation to prove it. There may also be discounts available for people that have taken an advanced driving test.

Certain professions also qualify people for discounts on their premium payments. Ask the different companies if the profession that you work in places you into one of those low risk categories. Many of the different companies have a list of professions that will group you in between low and high risk. If your profession happens to land in that low risk group, you can be rewarded with low risk premiums.