The following outlines seven ways you can reduce your automobile insurance premiums.

Reduce your auto insurance premiums by parking in a garage
The simplest way to knock as much as 20% off your premium is to put your car in a garage, either your own or a commercial establishment. Most thieves won't try to steal a garaged car, and of course, your chances of being sideswiped are dramatically reduced. If you regularly park on the street or a parking lot, the best you can get is a standard rate. A garage can mean the difference between a preferred and a standard rate, saving up to 20%.

Shop around for a better rate
Prices for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars, so it pays to shop around. Ask your friends, check the yellow pages or call your state insurance department (phone numbers are on back page). You can also check consumer guides, insurance agents or companies. This will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which companies or agents have the lowest prices. But don't shop price alone.

The insurer you select should offer both fair prices and excellent service. Quality personal service may cost a bit more, but provides added conveniences, so talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the quality of their service. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the financial ratings of the companies too. Then, when you've narrowed the field to three insurers, get price quotes.

Consider higher deductibles
The deductible is the amount of money you pay before you make a claim. By requesting higher deductibles on collision and comprehensive (fire and theft) coverage, you can lower your premium costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision cost by 15% to 30%. Of course, you will have to pay that higher deductible should you make a claim.

Drop collision and/or comprehensive coverage on older cars
It may not be cost-effective to have collision or comprehensive coverage on cars worth less than $1000 because any claim you make would not substantially exceed the deductible, and if the repair costs are too high, the most the insurance company will pay you is the blue book value of your car minus your deductible.

Eliminate duplicate medical coverage
If you have adequate health insurance, you may be paying for duplicate medical coverage in your auto policy. In some states, eliminating this coverage could lower your personal injury protection (PIP) cost by up to 40%.

Buy a "low profile" car
Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Cars that are expensive to repair, or that are favorite targets for thieves, have much higher insurance costs. Check out the vehicle's rating by visiting the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Consider area insurance cost if you are making a move
Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in cities where there is more traffic congestion.

Take advantage of low mileage discounts
Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a predetermined number of miles a year, or a certain number of miles to and from work (usually less than 10 each way). If you have a car that is only used occasionally, it should qualify for this discount.

Find out about automatic seat belt or air bag discounts
You may be able to take advantage of discounts on some coverage if you have automatic seat belts and/or air bags.