The good news? Cheap car insurance is not just a pipe dream!

There are plenty of ways to lower your auto insurance premium, without resorting to public transit. Some of these – like driving carefully – are no big secret, but some may actually come as a surprise. Here are eight tried and tested ways to cut the cost of your car insurance.

1. Drive carefully.

It should go without saying that the best way to lower your auto insurance premium is simply to drive carefully. Keeping a clean record is the most reliable way to cut your premium down to a minimum.

The more violations or accidents a driver has on his or her record, the more he or she will have to pay in annual premiums. Plus, the more demerit points a driver accrues on their licence – typically for breaking certain driving laws – the higher their premiums can get.

There’s no way around it – driving carefully means paying less!

2. Install a certified anti-theft system.

That’s right – equipping your vehicle with certified safety and security features can actually lower your premium. If you drive a vehicle that comes equipped with several safety features (like airbags and anti-lock brakes) as well as security features (like engine cut-off or anti-theft systems) you may very well be qualified for discounts on your car insurance premium.

Why? According to statistics, cars with built-in security systems are less likely to be stolen, and those equipped with safety systems are less likely to be in an accident, than cars without such features.

3. Combine policies.

If you’re insuring your vehicle with one provider and your home with another, you may be losing out on some solid discounts. Insuring your vehicle and home with the same provider will typically save you money, since many insurers offer discounts for combining policies. By the same token, insuring multiple drivers and/or vehicles with the same provider may very well lower your premium, too.

Desjardins Insurance offers a Multi-Line Discount when you insure both your home and vehicle together – whether you own a home, rent an apartment, or even have a cottage, the Multi-Line Discount is made to save you money. Plus, the Desjardins Multi-Vehicle Discount offers even more savings when you insure all of your vehicles together.

4. Choose a vehicle with low insurance rates and repair costs.

It makes sense that a flashy SUV costs much more to ensure than a safe, small commuter vehicle. When you opt for a luxury vehicle, you’re also opting for a higher car insurance premium – that’s because, generally, it costs much less to repair an economy-class vehicle than it does a high-profile luxury car.

Plus, the older your vehicle, the less you’ll have to pay in premiums – older cars are often cheaper to insure than their modern counterparts. If you’re curious about how age affects premiums, take a few minutes to get a quote online and compare rates for cars of various models, and from various years.

5. Increase your deductible.

One foolproof way to decrease your premium is to increase your deductible. A deductible is the amount of money you are willing to pay in the event of an insurance claim. This means that, if your collision deductible is set at $500, in the event of an accident you have to pay the first $500 of your car’s repair costs, while your insurer pays for the rest.

Simply put, the higher your deductible, the less you have to pay in premiums.

6. Shop around.

If you’re not satisfied with the cost of your auto insurance premium, it’s more than worth it to simply shop around. A little time spent comparing quotes could save you a lot of money down the road.

To make sure you’re comparing quotes properly, give the same information to every insurance company that you receive a quote from, including the make of your vehicle, the number of drivers, how you use your vehicle, and the driving records of its drivers.

7. Sign up for the Ajusto app.

Be rewarded for safe driving with the Ajusto app, and save up to 25% off your car insurance premium!

To sign up, all you need is a car insurance policy from Desjardins Insurance, a smartphone, and a data plan – simply download the app onto your phone then create a profile, and you’ll be on your way to serious savings.

Driving better and paying less? Now that’s something to celebrate!

8. Park in the garage.

Believe it or not, it’s true – if you park in the garage, you could be eligible to save on your premium.

Instead of leaving your car on the driveway or street, simply park in the garage instead – it’s that simple. This is because, statistically, vehicles parked in garages are less likely to be stolen or to be involved in accidents than their driveway-dwelling counterparts.

Can’t get your car in the garage for all the clutter? Not to worry – here are a few space-saving storage solutions to help you clean out that garage and then potentially save on your premium.