Next time you receive your renewal notice it’s time to begin comparison shopping. Spend an hour researching insurance rates. When I took some time to shop car insurance I reduced my annual rate by $300.00 and retained similar coverage. If you have more than one policy, i.e. car and home, go through the same agent to receive a multiple-policy discount.

Car insurance is an increasing expense for almost everyone. We can’t afford to have it, and we certainly can’t afford to not have it. When researching insurance companies it is a good idea to follow a few easy guidelines to get the most coverage for your insurance dollars in order to pinch those pennies.

Get auto insurance quotes from as many carriers as you can. Insurance rates may vary drastically depending on the year and model of your car, and the type of coverage you need.

Consider as high a deductible as you can reasonably afford, since higher deductibles translate into lower automobile insurance premiums.

Review quotes and policies carefully to make sure you are only paying for coverage you really need.

Then once you decide, try to pay your premiums by the year if you can, most companies charge a fee if you make monthly installments. Also saves on stamps.

Keep up with routine maintenance on your car such as oil changes and tune ups. This can avoid costly repairs down the road. As the old saying goes "pinch a penny today, or spend a buck tomorrow".

If you are in a position to do so, change your own oil. Just make sure you dispose of it properly. Don’t go to the auto parts store to buy your oil, Walmart is cheaper for the same product. Sometimes dollar stores also carry oil and filters, check the local shops.

GAS: Use less expensive gas. If you live in North America and have Internet access, you can search for the cheapest gas price in your neighborhood with Gas Buddy, (www.gasbuddy.com) or Gas Price watch, (www.gaspricewatch.com). Caution, don’t go 3 miles out of your way just to save a penny per gallon.

by Simon Harris

Gas prices are higher than ever, so you’re likely to see more advertising for "gas-saving" products. Yes, we want to improve on fuel efficiency, but are these products really helping? Or are they just taking an extra bite out of our already shrinking car budget?

The truth is, you should be suspicious of any gas-saving claims for certain devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been miniscule. You’ll see all sorts of claims and testimonies. "This gas-saving product improves fuel economy by 20 percent."

Yeah, yeah. Actually, the EPA has tested over 100 of these supposed gas saving doo-hickies, and none of them were found to do the job well. Some of the products can even damage your car. So much for cost savings! Please be skeptical of advertising claims for gas saving devices.

Here’s another quote you might read. "This gas-saving device is approved by the Federal government." Actually, no government agency endorses gas-saving products for cars. If the seller claims the EPA has evaluated its product, ask for a copy of the report, or check http://www.epa.gov for information. Ah, I love the power of the internet.

If you want to save money at the pump, try these tips. They’ll serve you much better than some snake oil product.

• Buy only the octane level gas you need.

• The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Its a fact.

• Use overdrive gears during highway driving. This also saves wear on your engine.

• Use cruise control on highway trips.

• Avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration. That means no tailgating! This tip alone can improve your fuel economy by 5 to 10 percent. Sudden starts and sudden stops are wasteful, not to mention the barf factor involved for those of us who get car sick.

• Unnecessary idling wastes fuel.

• Avoid carrying excess weight in your trunk.

• Keep your engine tuned. Engine troubles can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent.

• Make sure your tires are properly inflated and aligned. Check them once a month. Under-inflated tires increases fuel consumption by six percent.

• Change your oil.

• Check and replace air filters regularly. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption.

There’s no need to buy products that cost you more money than they save. These little fuel saving tips can add up to an extra hundred bucks or so in your pocket each year!

This article courtesy of http://www.car-alarm-guide.net

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