According to a recent report by the Ohio Association for Justice, your auto insurance policy purchased in Ohio, may not be all you think it is. Many Ohioans are finding out after an accident that their supposed “full-coverage”policy proved to provide little to no coverage at all.

A number of exclusion are being introduced into insurance policies that exclude the insurance provider from having to pay for medical bills for family members injured in accidents. To illustrate the following scenarios are provided: More...

Here are tips from the Insurance Information Institute on lowering your auto insurance premiums:

• Raise your deductible. Going from $200 to $500 could trim collision and comprehensive coverage premiums by up to 30 percent; raising the deductible to $1,000 could slash premiums by 40 percent or more.
• Drop collision or comprehensive coverage on old cars
• Get a discount by buying two or more kinds of insurance, say, homeowners and auto, from the same insurance company.
• Driving less? You could get a discount if you travel fewer miles than average.
• Compare the cost of coverage before buying a car. Premiums are tied to price, repair costs, safety record and chances of it being stolen.
• Insurers give safe-driver discounts if, say, you had no moving violation or accident in three years, you're age 50 to 55 or your child is a college student not living at home.
• And last but certainly not least, check around! When is the last time you got a updated quote? We offer a no-obligation free quote so why not use it?

So, why does car insurance cost so much? Well, like we have said before insurance companies view you as a set of risks.

When you seek out an insurance quote, the insurance agent is making a prediction on whether or not you will file a claim. To make that prediction he will weigh several factors, including your age, sex, marital status, car type, where you live, and of course your driving record.

Even with all of that information, insurance companies still can't be certain what kind of driver you'll be. So what they do to help get an even better idea of what to charge you for insurance, is compare you to other drivers like you.

For this reason, even if your driving record is pristine, if you fit a certain demographic you could still wind up paying a higher premium. If you are a young single male who drives a sports car, you'll most likely pay a high premium.

Not to worry though! The power of the free market is still at play here. Insurance companies still compete against one another for your business. Some companies focus on certain categories of drivers, such as high risk drivers, and other companies simply run a smoother more efficient business, and can pass along savings to you. If you are interested in getting an up-to-date free car insurance quote, try our free car insurance quote tool We'll provide you a free quote in as little as 5 minutes!

1. You are a set of risks

Car Insurance providers see you not as a person but as a set of risks. They weigh many risk factors about you when deciding what premium to charge you for coverage. Many of the important risk factors are obviously related to your diving history. Insurance companies also weigh other factors though to. The will also consider factors like your occupation, where you live, and who you are. When you buy car insurance, no matter how friendly the  insurance agent may be, remember that in the end you are a set of risks.

2. All insurance companies are NOT equal

All insurance companies don't offer the same product, therefore prices will differ. You need to be sure to shop around to find the best prices. One way to do that is to use our free quote calculator.

3. State Minimums aren't always good enough

Most states require a very small amount of insurance. Some states have old minimum requirements that require smaller amounts of coverage that aren't enough to cover the cost of an accident anymore. OFten you can get a significant amount of extra coverage for a relatively low price.

4. Ask for discounts

Discounts are available for those who have demonstarted reduced risk. If you know you are a low risk driver, don't be afraid to ask for a discount. Billions are wasted annually because people don't ask!

5. Demand quality parts

If you do happen to be involvd in a car accident, make sure you demand quality parts for your vehicle when it's put back together. Some companies will try to buy you reduced quality reproductions parts for your car. Don't allow that to happen. AMke sure you demand original equipment manufacter (OEM) parts.

6. Beware at accident time

At accident time, your insurance provider's job is to get you back on the road, but with as minimum cost to their company as possible. Sometime the insurer's perspecitve will not always match yours.  You need to make sure you prove all of your losses so you can get everything you deserve.

 7. Read your policy before a claim

Before you file a claim, make sure you read over your policy to be sure you know what to expect.

Governor David Paterson of New York announced a savings of almost $515 million for the states insured drivers. Car insurance providers there had proposed a nearly 8 percent increase in rates. Due higher gas prices, and decreased driving rates will increase only about 1 percent instead. Last year, New York drivers paid nearly $10 billion in auto insurance premiums.

Paterson said New York's Insurance Department asked insurance companies to consider reduced driving when setting their new rates. Several insurance providers reduced their rate hikes as a result.

“New York’s auto insurance rates are already the third highest in the nation, and if the original requests for rate increases had been approved, it would have cost New Yorkers more than $600 million,” Paterson said in a statement.

July was the 9th consecutive month to post a decrease in driving nation-wide according the the Federal Transportation Department.