Is your current car insurance company charging you too much for your car insurance?

Fortunately there are things you can do to help improve your car insurance rates. Keep continuous coverage to show you have a history of being a responsible driver. Drive safely within the speed limit. Pay attention to the road and other drivers instead of your phone call or thinking about what you're going to do later that day. Know what your vehicle is worth and choose a deductible for your car insurance policy that is approrpriate for the car or truck you're driving.

You want to balance the cost now vs. the cost of "what if." Remember, if you think YOU have "idiot proofed" your car insurance, someone else out there might decide to build a better idiot. This happened to me a few years ago when I didn't have collision insurance on my pickup truck because it had over 100,000 miles on it, and I wanted to save money on my car insurance premium. The policy was "idiot proof" from my end of the policy but...

Because I wasn't carrying any collision car insurance, I was left with a pile of scrap metal when some pot-headed uninsured driver who had been recently cancelled for non-payment of his insurance premium decided to rear end me on the highway in rush hour traffic.

It's obviously the car insurance company's job to sell you coverage and to make a profit while providing you with a reputable service. Just make sure you ask questions and shop around to make sure you're getting the best deal you possibly can get on your car insurance. The car insurance company that is cheapest for your friend might not be for you, so invest a little bit of time shopping around. And make sure you choose a company and an agent with a good reputation for reliable and fast service. Not all car insurance companies are created equally. Neither are insurance agents.

One of my friends chose his insurance company because it's the same one his parents and friends had always used, but when he moved to a different state to go to graduate school, he found that his new agent was completely unhelpful. So be willing to tell a lazy agent to take a hike. There are lots of other reputable insurance agents out there who would love to have your business and are willing to earn it.

(Disclaimer: This site is funded by paid advertising. Advertisement on this site is not intended as an endorsement of one car insurance company over another one. Make sure you contact several car insurance agents and choose the car insurance company - and agent! - that is right for you.)