As the economy continues on to its downturn, more and more people are tightening their belts. Getting insurance is a necessity but premiums might be heavy on your budget. Like any other types of insurance, auto insurance can eat a large portion of your budget and getting car insurance discounts is a must.

Fortunately, there are ways to pay less on insurance premiums. Moreover, insurance companies give discounts and all you have to do is know how to qualify.

Insurance companies are good in risk calculation. These companies evaluate how much risk a client brings with them. The higher the risk, the more you will pay for your auto insurance premium. Below are some tips to qualify for discounts on your auto insurance.

Clean driving record.

Avoid committing driving violations such as speeding or illegal parking. The more violations you commit the higher the risk involved. Most insurance companies keep their records for the past 3 years so be consistent in having a clean driving record.

Safer car - lesser risk.

Having safety devices for your car such as ABS, airbags and anti-theft alarms can reduce certain risk factors. The safer your car is, the more likely you get a discount for your insurance.

Bundled coverage.

Getting a single insurance company to cover all your insurance policies will save you money. It is like getting a buy-one-take-one deal.

Age and location factor.

If you are older or if you are already a senior citizen you will get to qualify for a discount. Older people have more experience than the younger drivers, taking away many risks. Older people seldom drive fast or take risks, unlike younger drivers. For this reason, there is a lesser risk.

People living in the suburbs pay less premiums than those who live in the urban areas. The reason behind this is that there is less traffic in the rural areas than the urban areas. Less traffic means less accidents and less car crime.

Get Good Grades in Driving Education.

A student driver is a risky client for insurance companies. However, if a student driver gets higher GPA from his driving lessons, it is more likely to get a discount. Getting a good grade is good indication that the student driver is a responsible driver and therefore not that risky.

It always pays to shop online for car insurance discounts as you can save a lot of money this way using these tips.