Two things matter to you when you buy auto insurance. Of course, the first thing you will probably consider is the price. Most of us look at the monthly rate as the initial guage of our car insurance purchase. Of course, the second thing we consider is the actual coverage.

Of course you can adjust the coverage to help control the premium. You might consider a higher deductible, limits on rental car benefits, or if you need comprehensive insurance instead of liablity insurance.

However cutting down on coverage could cost you money in the long run. After all, nobody plans on having an accident. I would suggest doing a bit of shopping before you start paring your insurance coverage back too far.

See, price and coverage matter to consumers. However, different things matter to insurance companies. They will peg your rate on coverage of course, buy they also consider your driving record, your age, and even your credit report!

Different companies rate you differently. I will pay for you to do your homework and get competitive quotes from more than one company.

For example, one of the editors at Edmunds typed all of his insurance information into a comparative insurance service. The quotes (for very basic coverage on two old cars) ranged from $1,006 to $1,807 — a difference of $801 a year. If you're currently dumping thousands into your insurance company's coffers because of a couple of tickets, an accident or a questionable credit rating, shopping your policy against others may be well worth the effort.