If you aren't in on today's top car insurance saving secrets, read on. The economy isn't what it used to be. Lay-offs and pay cuts are occurring in record numbers, and we are all learning to live with less. Because we cant legally drive without car insurance, we must take advantage of discounts and tips that allow us to pay less for it.

The first thing you need to do is ask your auto insurance agent for all the discounts that they offer. Some agents when signing up their clients don't disclose all discounts unless they are asked about them. You might be surprised over what you find.

You need to look up how much coverage your state's require. This is usually listed on the states DMV web page. When you sign up for auto insurance, do not settle for the minimums! It will not be sufficient to cover you in a serious collision, and you will have to pay out of your own pocket.

If you can afford to pay a $1,000 deductible or higher, go for it. If your car insurance company has to pay out on a claim, you must pay the deductible. Setting a higher deductible will save you a percentage on your premium (for example: changing your $500 deductible to $1,000 will save you around 15 percent on your premium). A higher deductible is a great way to save some money on your car insurance premium, but only if you can afford it.

Lastly, your credit score is becoming a common factor for auto insurance companies to base your payments on. So before getting a insurance policy, make sure you credit is top notch.

Lowering your auto insurance payments isn't all that hard and can be done pretty fast if your know what your doing. Use the tips shown to you above to maximize your chances of getting discounts .If your current provider does not give you the price reductions you want go online and get price quotes for competing companies. Your provider right now might now give you discounts but if you switch providers you might get serious discounts from one of their competitors!