Most likely you are over paying on your car insurance, and most likely you can lower your car insurance premium by shopping online just as well.  Interesting enough, a recent study found that 60% of Americans are actually over paying on their insurance premium.  What was more interesting was that those same 60% of the people would take several days searching for a car online, but will not spend an hour to shop online for car insurance.  Why not prove them wrong and in return save yourself some cash?

Online car insurance companies have become very competitive in recent years.  The convenience of getting quotes online has saved savvy shoppers hundreds of dollars annually on their car insurance policy.  With today's increasing expenses of operating a car, insurance expense is one that you can control to certain extend.

You need to be well prepared when you start your shopping process.  Prepare a copy of your current car insurance policy and start checking online.  You could even call the online insurance company if you prefer talking to somebody.  And it might not be such a bad idea too, simply to ask the company rep if you would qualify for certain discounts.

Here are some of the discounts you should look and ask for:

1. Low Risk Occupations (Engineers, Teachers, etc.)
2. Short Daily Driving Distances (Less than 5 miles each way to work)
3. Clean Driving Record (No points or accidents in the last 5 years)
4. Combined Coverage (Car and home)
5. More Risk Assumed by Driver (Increase deductible)
6. Senior Citizens
7. Certain Association Memberships (AAA, AARP, SEA, etc)
8. ABS Brakes
9. Airbags
10. Company Employee (like Ford, GM, GE etc)
11. Reduce Teen Insurance premiums

Believe it or not, car insurance research over the years indicates that engineers tend to have and cause fewer accidents then other drivers.  As such, they are rewarded with lower premiums.  Teachers were in second in line.  If you are either, ask your insurance company for that too.

Another way to reduce your car insurance premium is to increase your deductible.  The reason behind it is that most collision shops are willing to waive your deductible in the first place.  So in reality you are not assuming any more risk, but lowering your premium by as much as an additional 15%.  Some people have increased their deductible to $1000 and saved as much as 30%.

And last but not least, you might save even more if you insure your home as well and get a combined coverage discount.  Plus it would be easier to deal with one company rather than two companies.

Anyway, you can always save on your car insurance.  Spend a couple of hours at the most and you could save as much as 15-30% on your car insurance premium.  Now that is smart savings especially when that can add up to more than half the purchase price of your car over its life time.