07/19/2011 05:00 AM

Car Coach: Insurance discounts

By: Lauren Fix, The Car Coach

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With auto insurance, the same features that keep you safe can also save you money.

When it comes to certain safety features such as anti-lock brakes, crash control and anti-theft devices, those can really add up and give you a discount on your auto insurance.

Insurance expert Michael Petri said, "The same safety vehicles that they give us in our vehicles can give us nice discounts in the ways of premium savings."

You can save money on your auto insurance in five ways. One, make sure you get all of the discounts you qualify for. Two, keep your driving record clean and up to date.

Petri said, "Staying away from those traffic violations, staying away from those accidents, those types of things take you down from a preferred rate to a standard rate to a non-standard rate, and those charges are like carrying luggage. They stay with you for a long, long time."

Three, adjust your coverage to assume more risk.

Petri said, "A little bit more risk is going to be a great premium saver. And if you're that safe driver, it works well. The more cars that are on the policy, the more savings it's going to generate."

Four, drive a low-profile car equipped with certain money saving features and that's not on the high insurance theft list.

Petri said, "The more expensive a car is, high performance cars, which usually is your younger generation, they generally generate much more premium."

Five, shop around for a good low-cost insurance provider. Auto insurance rates change from state to state so make sure to check with an independent insurance agent as well as your own insurance company and ask for those discounts.