For an insurer to compute your rate, a lot of factors are given serious consideration. Therefore, if you want affordable car insurance, you’d have to be on the right side of those factors. We’ll concern ourselves here with things that increase a vehicle’s safety rating and, by extension, your eligibility for lower rates…

Safety features in your automobile reduce the likelihood of claims and, where claims are made, reduce the amount claimed. You effectively reduce the risk factor involved in insuring you by a huge margin. But which are worthy of your time and investment?

1. Airbags: These kind of burst open to protect the driver from smashing his/her body into the steering wheel. In addition to helping you stay alive and well, it will also help you get a cheaper rate.

2. Anti-Lock Brakes: They are known to keep your wheels from jamming if something makes you step on your brake suddenly. With these you’ll have better control is such tough situations. At the same time it will reduce your stopping distance. It good to let your agent know your car has this feature. However, do bear in mind that although you’ll get a discount from most, NOT all insurers give this discount is it’s NOT mandated by law.

3. Anti-Theft Features: Your car alarm and features that allow keyless entries are good examples of these. All things being equal, car thieves will generally opt for car that are without these.

4. Automatic Seat Belts: Even though we know the law demands that you fasten your seatbelts before driving, some drive without sometimes. However, with cars that have automatic seat belts, you must fasten your seatbelt or else it won’t move. For those with cars that have this, don’t fail to inform your agent about it.

5. Etch Your VIN. Having your VIN etched on your windows will help discourage thieving rats because this will make it harder for them to resell stolen items.

You can even etch it into your bumpers, fenders, mirrors and windshields. Just go ahead and do it wherever it makes sense — Just don’t disfigure your car.

All these safety devices will help cut down your auto insurance rate. But bear in mind that there is NO fixed amount you can save. It depends on your insurance carrier…

Each insurance company gives a different weighting to each of the factors used to compute your premium. Because of this rate quotes are always different from one insurer to another — Sometimes just slight; at other times, huge. This is the reason why you are always encouraged to get and compare quotes from many insurers before settling for one.

If you do this well, you’ll easily get the best price/value.

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