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West Virginia - like almost every state in the U.S. - requires that every one of its drivers buy car insurance. For many people the cost of car insurance can be a hardship on the family budget, but fortunately there are several steps that almost any driver can take that will lower the cost of their car insurance month after month.

For example, if you can keep your car in a garage at night you can save money on your insurance.

Many companies will give you a break if you simply buy (and use) a steering wheel lock for your car or if you install a simple device that will disable your fuel pump unless you press a hidden button each time you start your car. Talk to your agent. There may be several small and inexpensive ways to make your car less susceptible to theft and which will save you money every single month.

If you have other insurance polices, such as life insurance or health insurance or a homeowner's policy, consolidating all of them with the same insurance company will earn you a Multi-Policy Discount.

Don't make small claims. If you are claim-free for six months to a year (depending on the insurance company) you can qualify for a Good Driver Discount.

The biggest factor that will determine whether or not you qualify for the best rates on car insurance in West Virginia is your own driving. If your driving record has speeding tickets or other moving violations on it, or if you have a DUI or DWI conviction on your record you can forget finding the best rates for several years. Always drive safely and legally.

If it is possible for you to use public transportation for the majority of your "driving" needs you may be able to reduce your cost of car insurance substantially. If you can reduce your driving to under 500 miles per month most companies will reward you with a Low Mileage Discount.

Along those same lines, if you can carpool to work you can save a lot on your insurance. A portion of your premium each month is based on the number of miles you drive to and from work each day in rush hour traffic, so if you can cut those miles in half you will save a great deal.

If you retire or if you stop driving back and forth to work everyday for any other reason let your agent know. The fewer rush-hour miles you put on your car each month the more you are likely to save.

If you are thinking of buying a new car talk to your agent first and get a list of cars that cost the least to insure. It can really hurt to get your heart set on a make and model that you just can't afford to insure.

Older cars - especially vehicles with little or no Kelly Blue Book value - should not be insured for collision or comprehensive since your insurance company will not pay off on them even if you continue paying for the insurance.

Your deductible can have a big influence on how much you pay for your car insurance. The larger your deductible the less you'll pay for insurance each month. Don't go overboard, however, and promise to pay more than you can actually afford.

Buying your car insurance online will also save you money each month. Don't rely on just one car insurance quote site, however. If you are really serious about saving money you'll need to look at prices on a minimum of 3 different price comparison websites.

You will also need to enter the exact same information into the form on all 3 websites so that you are comparing the same insurance policy all the way around. But once you've done that your job is basically done.

Now simply review all the prices you found and choose the cheapest car insurance you can find. You are now an expert when it comes to finding ways to get the best rates on car insurance in West Virginia.