Most people complain about the cost of their auto insurance--hardly surprising, given that a typical policy costs at least several hundred dollars a year. Depending on your age, driving record, and other factors, your annual premium can be significantly more than that. So how can you lower your premium and save yourself money? If you own a car and drive it, going without insurance is generally not an option. In most states, you are required by law to purchase a minimum amount of liability coverage. And you should probably have more than just the bare minimum if you want to provide yourself with adequate protection. There are steps you can take, however, to reduce your auto insurance costs without having to cancel your policy. Some or all of these steps may be appropriate for you, depending on your circumstances.

Surely you've seen them on the road: They're swerving in and out of lanes, ignoring rules of the road, and engaging in other rude - and dangerous - behavior. Or maybe you are that bad driver? A focus group of 30 drivers from Boston who have collectively been involved in 84 accidents over the past three years, and have received 49 speeding tickets, 39 moving violations, and 92 parking tickets, indicates there are some common characteristics to bad drivers. Take a look at these questions to find out if you fit the profile.

Hagerty Classic Insurance, a provider of classic-car insurance, began to look more closely at this issue after a DMV check on an insurance applicant turned up a "restraining order" against anything edible within his reach while driving. The man apparently had several previous accidents related to food on his driving record.

The popularity of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) has never been higher, even with the increasing costs of fuel and growing concern for the environment. Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continue to portray SUVs as dangerous vehicles, with higher rollover than many cars or trucks. As the number of SUV's on the road reaches over 15 percent of the total number of vehicles, drivers are warned that an SUV will not handle the same way as another type of vehicle. The Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC) has ten safety tips for SUV drivers to try and keep both the driver and the passengers, as well as other drivers on the road aorund them, safe.

Your auto insurance company probably has a lot of your personal information, and that`s not necessarily a bad thing. For instance, auto insurers get a hold of your driving record, credit history, and other info to use in making decisions such as whether to cover your vehicles and how much to charge you for coverage.

If your teen is away at school, living part-time with an ex-spouse, or spending a significant amount of time away from your single-parent home, you may be wondering if you are still required to keep them on your car insurance policy. Insuring a teenage driver can be an expensive endeavor, but depending on the circumstance and practices of your car insurance company, you may not be required to keep them on your auto insurance policy.

Insurance.com reports that annual car insurance rates continue to decline. Based on data from the lowest average auto insurance rates viewed by almost 700,000 car insurance consumers on the Insurance.com 2007 platform through June, auto insurance rates are continuing to decline from Insurance.com's 2006 Auto Insurance Pricing Report. "So far in 2007, we have seen a 1% decrease in car insurance rates from 2006," says David Roush, CEO of Insurance.com. "The national average premium in 2006 was $1,916, in 2007 that average has dropped to $1,896 - a modest decline but a nice reprieve considering the rising cost of gas."

When people think of Labor Day they think of rest and relaxation, grilling out and having one last party before the summer comes to a close. However, most would not consider one of the largest party days of the year to be one of the deadliest days to drive...but it is! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Sunday before Labor Day is the 8th deadliest day to drive and Labor Day is the 9th deadliest day to drive.

When many people think of the 4th of July, they think of America's independence, cook-outs, family gatherings, road trips and fireworks. But what most people don't think of is road safety. With July 3rd and July 4th being two of the deadliest days to drive, Insurance.com is reminding all motorists to drive safely during the upcoming 4th of July week. "Car accidents traditionally increase during the summer months, especially during the holidays when alcohol and long road trips are involved," stated David Roush, CEO of Insurance.com. "That is why Insurance.com is committed to reminding drivers to play it safe this 4th of July and plan ahead before heading out to a holiday party or on a 4th of July vacation."

If you've been in a car accident, then you know how scary and confusing it can be. It is easy to find yourself mixed up and unsure of the details you need to protect yourself and your passengers. Your auto insurance company will handle a lot of the logistics out of your control. To help you remain organized and focus on what you can control, the following are steps to take when you're in a car accident.