Whether you’re buying car insurance for the first time to insure a new vehicle, or simply switching providers, you know that this is the biggest expense in maintaining your vehicle on most months. Car insurance rates are often exorbitant, so you want to make sure you are going to get the very lowest rate you can for your situation. Everyone’s situations are unique, so the discounts you qualify for will be unique.

If you are about to purchase a new vehicle, consider purchasing an old one instead. New cars usually are insured at higher premiums than older cars.

Next make a list of factors which can influence your insurance premiums. For instance, your education level and age can both make a difference. It also can make a difference what you’re going to be using the car for and how many miles you plan to drive each year. If you won’t be taking the car to work each day, that is a potential discount. If you use it to carpool, that can be yet another discount. If you aren’t going to surpass a certain mileage threshold each year, that can be a discount as well.

You may have heard that women can get cheaper auto insurance. This was true in Europe for a long time, but this year it changed, and it has never been true in the United States. On the other hand, you might be able to get a discount for marital status.

Do you keep your car on the street, or do you park it in a sheltered garage or driveway? This can qualify you for a discount since the insurance company considers your car safer when not parked on the street. Similarly, you can often receive a discount for adding an alarm to your car which is capable of locking your ignition.

Before you start calling insurance companies in Saint Petersburg, make a list of these possible discounts. When you speak to the insurance agencies, ask them about their rates, but don’t forget to inquire about all these discounts. The best deal for cheap auto insurance in Saint Petersburg may not be obvious on the surface. It may only become clear after discounts have been applied.