Car insurance is a necessary expense but certainly not a fun one. After all, you can pay your premiums on time for years and never file a claim. The best way to improve your attitude regarding car insurance is to get the lowest price possible. Use the following five ways to lower your car insurance premiums to get the best-valued car insurance Ireland has available.

1. Drive safely. This may seem like a no-brainer, but even the safest of drivers can take it to the next level and avoid ever having a claim, thereby keeping their car insurance premiums low. Take a defensive-driving course and put the lessons to use. Looking both ways before entering an intersection, even when you have the right of way, is just one way you can be a safer driver and save money over time. Certain car insurance companies even offer a discount for passing such a class. On that same note, store safely as well. Store your car in a locked garage whenever possible. If you must park it outside, lock it and do not leave any items in the car, whether expensive or inexpensive. If a criminal can see it, he might just want it enough to smash your window and take it. Also, consider taking public transportation to work whenever possible. The less time you spend on the road, the lower your risk will be.

2. Shop often. While some companies offer discounts to loyal customers, shop around every six months anyway to see if you can get a better deal. Car insurance companies evaluate you every six months, checking for traffic violations and considering any claims, so why shouldn’t you do the same? You might find that your current insurance company no longer offers the lowest price.

3. Use a car insurance broker. Speaking of shopping, using a Car Insurance broker often results in lower premiums. Since brokers do such a large volume, they have access to prices you may not. Those that deal with only certain types of drivers also offer better deals. For example, one of the leading car insurance Ireland brokers, QuoteMe.

ie, will only price policies for you and your vehicle if you meet the following requirements:

– You’ve lived and worked in Ireland or the United Kingdom for at least the past three years.
– You have no pending prosecutions or convictions against you for any motor offense.
– You’ve had no accidents, losses or claims against you in the previous five years.
– You haven’t been denied car insurance coverage nor had a car insurer impose special terms or conditions on you.
– The car you want to insure is right-hand drive and valued at €100,000 or less.

4. Bundle your policies. If bundling your car insurance, home insurance and any other applicable policies can save you money on the overall cost of insurance for a certain period of time, do it. This is an easy way to save anywhere from 5 to 20 percent on each policy.

5. Ask about additional discounts. You never know what might qualify you for a discount. If you use an insurance broker, often the online application form will prompt you for information that qualifies you for common discounts. Don’t stop there, though. Discuss the discounts by phone with the broker to see if any others exist. When evaluating your current policy, call your insurance company directly and inquire about discounts. New programs may have rolled out since you signed the original policy documents.

If you are ready to shop for the best-valued car insurance Ireland has available, start by finding a car insurance broker. Look for one that offers an online application process but also provides phone support. Car insurance can be a tricky subject, and you will likely have questions during the quote process. The best brokers, such as QuoteMe.ie, even offer online chat support if you prefer that method of communication.

Keeping all of the tips above in mind will help you to lower your premiums and feel better about paying for car insurance. Insurance expenses, in general, evoke negative feelings, especially if you never have to use your benefits. You will be grateful that you have insurance if you ever do need to use it, but in the meantime, paying less for your premiums results in greater overall satisfaction with the expense.

Mike Murphy recently shopped for the lowest-priced Car Insurance Ireland has available. He used QuoteMe.ie and found the process to be easy and the rate to be lower than his current policy. He now plans to use the broker to re-evaluate his policies every six months.