Car insurance is a part of our monthly budget that we must factor in - we’re required by law! Sometimes, however, we are not fully aware of all of the factors that could impact our insurance rates, and wind up paying far more than is necessary.

Here, we will share five little-known factors that could be impacting the rates you are getting on your car insurance in Georgia. We hope that some of these, when brought to your car insurance provider, will enable you access to lower rates!

Are You a Good Driver? In Georgia, if you have a clean driving record and have taken a defensive driving course, many car insurance carriers will offer up to 10% off on your rate! This is known as the Georgia Defensive Driver Discount. Be sure to ask your car insurance provider if they offer this opportunity, and if you might possibly qualify given your driving record.

Don’t Lie About Driving Infractions. If you have had driving issues in prior states or even in Georgia and are not fully transparent with your car insurance agent, you could be penalized. Car insurance companies want to be able to trust you, and if you lie to them, what would be their incentive to keep your rate low? You appear to be a risky customer to them if you lie, so it’s actually wiser for them to keep your rates a bit higher in order to cover themselves. Know that your insurance company has easy access to any accident history that might exist about you, so there is no hiding. You may as well be honest from the start.

Pay in Full. Many car insurance companies will offer discounted rates for paying your balance in full upon obtaining your insurance. This is absolutely worth inquiring about if you can afford to do it, as you can make the argument that since you are paying up front, they don’t need to charge interest on a loan, so you deserve a discounted rate. Then you’ll also simply have one less payment to deal with and remember every month.

Are You a Good Student? Good students in Georgia may likely qualify for discounted rates. State Farm, for example, offers up to 25% off up until the age of 25 if you have gotten good grade in high school and college. Hitting the books has many benefits, it turns out!

Even if You Are a Good Student, your rate may still be higher than average. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, "a 16-year-old gets traffic tickets at a rate 1.8 times that of the average driver…and 3.7 times more likely to be involved in an accident.” Car insurance rates for teens (especially boys) are always far higher than those of mature adults. So again, if you are a teen, make sure you are getting good grades - you are going to need all the help you can get on your rates!

Combine Your Auto Insurance and Your Home Insurance. If an insurance provider is lucky enough to be able to write both policies for you, there is a good chance this will earn you a slightly lower rate on both policies because they have won so much of your business.

The bottom line is this - do your online research before committing to an insurance plan, as there are many more opportunities to save than just the five mentioned here. Be sure to hammer your insurance agents with questions about different ways in which you can save. They inevitably know of many, but their job is to make money by selling you a pricey policy, so don’t ever be afraid to ask questions. Your bank account will thank you!