
Car Insurance 101
Car insurance protects you if you have an accident or your car is damaged or stolen. Auto insurance coverage does not pay for mechanical repairs or maintenance.
by COUNTY Financial
Gas prices, tight budgets and rising inflation – according to our recent survey1, 9 out of 10 people are concerned about achieving financial goals because of the current economy. With expenses running high, many people are looking for ways to make car insurance cheaper.
Your car is a regular expense, but if you're wondering how to save money on car insurance, try use these proven tips to help reduce insurance rates.
Find out more about car insurance.
Find out more about car insurance.
Speeding tickets or other traffic offenses are the most common to see your insurance rates jump. Tickets go on your driver's record with the state, which is reported to insurance, and more traffic offenses make you a riskier driver to insure.
Some insurance companies have programs that measure your driving in real-time to offer discounts for safe driving. They use data from your phone or a device that plugs into your car to measure your driving. The safer you drive, the lower your car insurance.
COUNTRY Financial offers exactly this type of program, the DriverIQ program. Enroll and start with a 10% car insurance discount that could increase to as much as 25% with safe driving.
Another way to save money on car insurance is to stay in good standing with the credit agencies. Pay your bills on time and check your credit history often to make sure it's correct. You can access your credit history for free at annualcreditreport.com.
Luxurious, sports and newer-model cars are expensive to buy and expensive to fix, so they cost more to insure. On the other hand, newer cars with sensors and other safety features don’t just give you peace of mind on the road, they can be safer to drive and help you save money on car insurance. The next time you’re car shopping, call your insurance agent to get rates on the make and model of the car you’re planning to buy. Think of auto insurance as one part of the cost of owning your car, and that could impact your buying decision.
If you have a car in mind and want to see how it fits into your budget, find out with our vehicle affordability calculator.
Many companies offer car insurance discounts, and in some cases, you can qualify for more than one discount for greater savings. For example, when you insure multiple cars or bundle your home and car insurance, you could get a discount. But taking a defensive driving class, keeping a good driving record, being a good student, or having a certain career could layer more car insurance discounts and add up to more savings.
Check with your insurance agent to make sure you get all the discounts you can.
Whether you're looking for auto insurance or need to review your existing insurance coverage, contact your local COUNTRY Financial representative for a quote or to review your coverages or auto insurance discounts.
Updated 3-26-25
Car insurance protects you if you have an accident or your car is damaged or stolen. Auto insurance coverage does not pay for mechanical repairs or maintenance.
Get your car ready for a road trip with a car emergency kit and car maintenance checklist. Make sure you have right coverage for car insurance before traveling.
There are six main types of car insurance coverage. Learn about what they cover, which auto insurance coverage you need, additional coverages and more.
Start a quote or call us at 866-COUNTRY (866-268-6879). Find out more about car insurance.
Contact your rep or call us at 866-COUNTRY (866-268-6879). Find out more about car insurance.
1The COUNTRY Financial Security Index® survey of 1,031 U.S. adults, fielded by market researcher Ipsos.
Discounts and availability vary by state.
Auto insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL.
COUNTRY Financial® is a family of affiliated companies (collectively, COUNTRY) located in Bloomington, IL. Learn more about who we are.
We take pride in providing accurate, truthful information in our articles. See our editorial standards to learn more.