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If you are serious about getting the best rates on car insurance in Alabama then the very first thing you need to do is to look at your own driving style. Do you speed? Do you drive recklessly? Have you ever driven while intoxicated?

These are the kinds of things which can greatly affect how much you pay for car insurance each month. Even one speeding ticket or other moving violation can send your rates skyrocketing. And if you have a conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) then you won't be seeing the best rates on car insurance for several years.

Also, don't bother your insurance company for the small stuff. Only report major accidents and major damage. Some companies reduce your premium if you are accident-free for as little as six months - other companies make you wait longer, but staying accident-free saves you money.

If possible park your car in a garage at night rather than leave it out on the street. If you can garage your car at night you can save money every month on your premium.

Ask your agent how much you can save every month if you make a one-time purchase of a steering wheel lock or an electronic fuel pump lock that only operates if a secret code is entered or a hidden button is pressed. Both devices are inexpensive and easily installed.

If you are under 25 years old then you are automatically placed in a high-risk insurance category and your premiums reflect this. You can lower your rate by maintaining a flawless driving record, remaining on your parents' insurance policy (if possible) and by staying in school and maintaining a "B" grade average or better so that you qualify for the 5% Good Student Discount.

Older drivers, those 55 and older are also seen as an increased driving risk. Ask your agent if your company offers a discount if you take and pass a Driver's Refresher Course. Not all companies offer this discount, but those that do will often deduct as much as 10% off your monthly premium.

If you have recently retired and are no longer driving to work every day be sure to let your agent know as this should trigger a nice monthly decrease in your premiums.

How many miles do you drive in an average month? Many people are starting to use public transportation as often as possible and only driving their vehicle when absolutely necessary or on special occasions. If you can decrease your driving mileage to below 500 miles per month you may qualify for a rather hefty Low Mileage Discount.

If you own more than one car be certain that all of them are insured by the same company. This qualifies you for a Multi-Policy Discount every month.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to decrease your monthly car insurance premium is to simply increase your deductible. However, you need to be careful using this tactic since you have to pay your deductible in cash any time you have a claim before your insurance company will pay its share. Don't promise to pay more than you can actually afford.

Now it's time to go online and find 3 different websites that let you compare car insurance prices between different insurance companies. Based on all of the tricks and tips you learned in this article fill out the forms on 3 different comparison websites, being careful to put the exact same information into all three forms so that you are comparing the same policy each time.

Then simply choose the company with the best price - and there you have it! You've done your homework, you've made your comparisons, and now you've gotten the best rates on car insurance in Alabama and you can laugh all the way to the bank each month with all the cash that you're saving!