How do I lower it without losing coverage?

The short answer

Compare the same coverage from more than one company, ask about the discounts that apply to you, and check what a lower price changed before you accept it.

Compare the same coverage from more than one company, ask about the discounts you actually qualify for, and be careful which protection you cut to get a lower number.

Don't know a word? Press any purple word to see what it means. They're all listed at the bottom of the page.

Compare the same coverage, more than once

Insurers price the same driver very differently.

can greatly vary. That’s why you need to shop around.California Department of Insurance, on premiums

47%of policies had been shopped in the previous year by early 2026, the highest since 2020LexisNexis

Same limits, same deductibles, same drivers, same carsIncluding uninsured motorist cover. Otherwise you are comparing two different products.
At least three quotesThe Insurance Information Institute suggests it, and “the lowest price isn’t always the ‘cheapest’ option.”
Once a year, at renewalThe Insurance Information Institute suggests asking your current insurer first, then comparing.
Avoid a lapseA gap in coverage can raise your next price (New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance) and, in Florida and Pennsylvania, suspend your license or registration.

Discounts worth asking about

Which apply, and how much each is worth, depends on the insurer and the state.

Discounts

Ask about these

BundlingHome or renters with auto.
More than one carSeveral cars on one policy.
Low mileage, safe drivingPlus approved driving courses.
Good student and group plansIncluding employer plans.

Credit-based insurance scores

Where the law allows it, a credit-based insurance score can also affect the price. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan are among the states that ban or limit it.

The trade in driving-tracking programs

A real discount, a small one, and a data trail.

$120median yearly saving among people using oneConsumer Reports, 2025, about 40,000 policyholders, self-reported

Read what is collected first

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners notes these programs “can also lead to higher premiums” and raise privacy questions, and in January 2026 the Federal Trade Commission finalized an order over the sale of drivers’ location and driving data.

Do this

Before you accept a lower price

Ask whether the liability limits or the uninsured motorist cover changed. Steps 2 and 3 are why they matter.

Remember this

A lower price is only lower if the coverage stayed the same.

Words on this page

Liability limit: The most your insurer will pay for damage you cause someone else.
Premium: What you pay for the policy, whether you make a claim or not. It can be paid monthly, every six months or once a year.
Uninsured motorist: Pays for you and your passengers when the driver who hit you has no insurance or too little.

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