Many drivers stick with the same auto-insurance carrier and policy year after year without ever shopping for a better deal or evaluating their coverage. Steps to take:

Check rates.
Before you buy a car, see what insurance will cost for different models. Premiums are partly based on the cost of repairing collision damage, which can vary greatly, even among seemingly similar vehicles.

Compare prices.
Check insurance premiums at Quicken (www.quicken.com/insurance) and InsWeb (www.insweb.com). Do this before you buy a car and regularly with a policy you own to see if premiums have come down.

Size up coverage.
Make sure you have the right coverage. Must-haves include bodily injury liability, property damage, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Also consider collision and comprehensive coverage, personal-injury protection, and medical-payments coverage.

Seek discounts.
You may qualify for premium breaks if your car has current safety equipment such as air bags or antilock brakes and anti-theft equipment.

Group policies.
Most insurers will give you a multiple-policy price break if you let them write your auto, home, and personal-liability policies. и Drive better. Completing a certified defensive-driving course can reduce your premium in some states.

Consider kids.
If you have teens who drive, you’ll save on coverage if they get good grades or attend a school more than 100 miles from your home and don’t use the car there.