AARP Hearing Center
![Shot of a mature woman making a phone call while working on her laptop at home Shot of a mature woman making a phone call while working on her laptop at home](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarpe/en/home/auto/car-maintenance-safety/save-vehicle-insurance/_jcr_content/root/container_main/container_body_main/container_body1/container_body_cf/container_image/articlecontentfragment/cfimage.coreimg.50.932.jpeg/content/dam/aarp/auto/2018/11/1140-woman-phone-insurance.jpg)
With a little shopping around and knowing what makes your rates rise and lower, you can save big, says Michelle Megna, managing editor of CarInsurance.com: “I recommend doing this at least once a year, if not at each six-month renewal.”
The savings really can be tremendous. A rate analysis by CarInsurance.com shows the average savings you get from comparing rates range between $350 and $3,000, depending on what state you live in. Each insurer plugs dozens of different data points into its equation to come up with a unique price for you.
![member card Image Alt Attribute](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/experience-fragments/uxdia-folder-structure/en/features/membership/inline-membership-promo/default/master5/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/container_copy/container/articleimage.coreimg.75.1140.png/content/dam/uxdia/membership-card-d-and-t.png)
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Labor Day Sale!
Join AARP for just $9 per year with a 5-year membership and get a FREE Gift!
But no two companies calculate rates the same way, which is why it's worth consulting several of them. It’s particularly important to shop around when milestone events occur, whether positive or negative in nature. They include:
- Purchasing a car
- Adding or removing a driver from a policy
- Getting married or divorced
- Moving
- Buying a house
- Getting a DUI or other major violation
- Being in an accident
- Having a significant change in credit score
How to Save on Car Insurance:
Review the discount menu. Don’t just rely on an insurance agent to tell you which discounts you qualify for; ask for the full menu that the company offers and review it carefully. You might find a few that aren’t so obvious. Note that in some states drivers can receive a discount on insurance if they complete a driver safety course, for example, like the AARP Smart Driver Course.
Groom your credit report. CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis found that rates for drivers with fair credit scores were, on average, 17 percent higher than rates for those with good credit scores. Rates for drivers with poor credit were even higher: 67 percent more than those for drivers with good credit.
More on auto
Choose The Right Auto Insurer
Four areas to research before you decide