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One of the main considerations most of us take into account when shopping for automobile insurance is, of course, cost. No one wants to pay more for a auto insurance if you can get it for less, right? Isn’t that the American way? With that in mind, let’s explore some of the things you can do to keep your auto insurance costs as low as possible.

By far the biggest single factor in keeping your auto insurance rates as low as they possibly can is a clean driving record. Period. If you’ve had an accident or moving violation in the last three years, your auto insurance rates are going to go up. In some cases, even if you are involved in an accident, your auto insurance company is probably going to hike those rates up noticeably.

Other than keeping a clean driving record, what other things can you do to lower your auto insurance rates? Here are a few tips gleaned from internet searches and a brochure from State Farm Insurance, not necessarily in order of importance.

Shop till you drop — No kidding! Be sure to check out as many reputable auto insurance companies as you can to determine which one is offering the best rates for your particular circumstance. Reputable is the key word here. You don’t want to have an accident and then learn that the one you have your policy with is difficult to get
in touch with after an accident or who consistently low-balls you on their auto insurance estimate. The best place to check out the reputation of auto insurance companies is your state department, easily located in most states with a convenient Google search.

Credit rating — Believe it or not, some auto insurance companies (maybe most) will lower your rates if you
have a good credit rating. That is because a person who is credit worthy will constitute less of an expense for the auto insurance company that those customers who are always late with their auto insurance payments and sometimes even force the company to cancel the policy.

Know what you are buying — Automobiles with higher safety ratings are more likely to allow auto insurance
companies to charge lower premiums than for those that are not as safe. Auto safety ratings can be found at www.iihs.org. The price of the vehicle you are purchasing will also be figured into the cost of your auto insurance because of the replacement factor.

Loyalty rewarded — According to karen.blumenthal@dowjones.com, factor auto insurance companies reward the customers who have been with them for five years or longer with lower premiums. Also, it helps to purchase auto insurance from the same company that you have your home insured with.

Learn to earn — Many major auto insurance companies offer up to 5 percent discounts to their customers who take certified auto safety courses, either in person or on line. In some states, in fact, auto insurance discounts are mandated for anyone over 60 years of age who take an AARP defensive driving course.

Other auto insurance discounts are frequently offered for multiple vehicles insured in same household, anti-theft devices, student academic records and passive restraint devices.