If you look at costs of living your car is certainly up there, perched towards the top, ever looming down. It seems every year, no matter how safe or careful we drive, our car insurance premiums increase.

There are though a lot of useful ways you can keep control of those spiralling car insurance premiums - a few of which I will cover here:

1. Keep Your Car Safe: Imagine you are a car insurance company. You have to think about the car, owner, location, security before you can accurately assess the likelyhood of a potential claim - which ultimately governs your car insurance quote. If you keep you car secure at night by way of a garage or alarm/immobaliser, it will lower your risk of theft or damage and therefore lower your potential for making a claim. Car insurance companies recognise this and therefore will provide a lower quotation.

2. Shop Online: Most major car insurance companies offer a discount simply by buying your car insurance over the internet. Many companies are now competing with each other, this alone is driving costs down, but as car insurance companies are offering on average a 10% discount this can certainly save you some money.

3. Haggle: With the very high increase of companies offering car insurance over the phone or online many companies are prepared to haggle in return for your custom. Follow the simple motto of `if you don`t ask, you don`t get`. Don`t be worried or afraid to ask for a further discount , car insurers are looking for your custom.

4. Type of car: If you are deciding on your next car, but are also concerned with the cost of car insurance then consider buying a car that fits in to the lower insurance band. Typically smaller engine cars will attract a lower quotation.

5. Accurate estimation of annual mileage: Some people when asked for yearly mileage over estimate by as much as 50% of the actual annual mileage! The lower the number of miles you drive, the lower your car insurance will be. By providing the average miles you drive in a year will help keep your quote as accurate as possible.

6. Drive Safely: May sound an obvious tip but by keeping safe on the roads and accident free it will help increase your no claims bonus and reduce your car insurance premiums. Not only that but it will also make driving much more of an enjoyable experience for the rest of us!

There are many places to obtain car insurance, make sure you shop around to get the best deal for you - and your car!