Car insurance is a must have for every driver and the coverage that an insurance policy gives you is essential. You may carry the bare minimum of insurance coverage or a more comprehensive package, but there is one thing all motorists have in common: they could save on their premiums by doing a car insurance quote comparison.

You are almost certainly spending more for your insurance than you need to. By comparing quotes from a number of different insurance companies, you can find lower rates - and if you speak with an insurance agent, you can find out about discounts which you may be qualified to receive.

Before you actually begin doing a car insurance quote comparison, there are other things to do.

The first thing to do is to find out if you are getting the lowest possible rate from your current insurer:

1. Talk to an agent from your insurance company and ask them if you may be entitled to any of the discounts they offer. Most insurance companies provide discounts to people in the military, government employees, part time drivers and other groups. You might be able to get a significantly lower rate just by asking about these kinds of discounts.

2. Drive a car which is economical and practical; a new sports car, for instance, tends to cost a lot more to insure than an economy class car. If you are in the market for a new car, this is something to keep in mind.

3. Having safety features like anti-lock brakes, airbags and the like will usually make you eligible for a discount. If your insurer doesn't mention this discount, ask them if it is available - they may not advertise this discount, but almost every insurance company has this if you ask.

4. Be responsible on the roads. Drivers who have maintained a clean driving record for at least three years are eligible for lower rates, as are drivers who have low average mileage - try to drive only when you really need to. If you take defensive driving classes, this will also make you eligible for a discount from many insurance companies. If you have been with the same insurer for at least three years, you can also usually receive a longevity discount - again, this is something which isn't usually advertised, so ask your insurance company.

Secondly, get quotes for bundled policies. Car insurance quote comparison does not only mean provider comparisons but package or service comparisons as well. Auto insurance and homeowner's insurance are two types of insurance every decent and responsible individual has because it's something every person needs. Most insurance providers offer each separately or in bundles. If you obtain both homeowner's and car insurance from the same provider, you'll likely get as much as 25% off on premiums.

Doing a car insurance quote comparison can save you a great deal of money; and when you have narrowed down your choices to the top three companies, ask them if they can match or beat the rates offered by their competition. This can sometimes mean even bigger savings on your insurance.