Did you get taught at school about liability, collision and comprehensive cover? What about deductibles and all the tips on how to get the cheapest car insurance? You probably didn't, but if you're one of the majority of individuals that drives a car, you've either learnt fast, took whatever insurance your relatives or friends advised or you're about to learn the hard way one day. Take the guess work out of choosing car insurance and read up so you can make an informed choice.

Many motorists pay extra on their rates for a small deductible, and yet they take the minimum liability coverage. You could probably afford that $500 deductible if something happened, but could you afford being sued for $400,000 in damages? Spend your car insurance budget wisely to protect yourself and your assets. Think about raising your deductible and using those savings to raise your liability cover. If you're worth more (you have a well paying job or you're studying for one) or you have a lot of assets obviously you've got more to cover than someone who doesn't. If you do have a lot of assets an umbrella policy may be worth considering to ensure all your assets are covered.

Check your health insurance policy, if medical bills after an accident are covered you can drop personal injury protection off your car insurance policy.

Keep your credit rating up, many companies use it to decide how much to charge you and even whether to insure you at all.

If you don't have an extra car make sure your insurance company will pay for a rental car if you have an accident. The expense of renting a car for a week while your car is being repaired could be a lot of.

Shop around for quotes, a good place to start is a comparison service. Compare quotes from a few different companies and read the policies to see how they compare. If you do switch policies make sure you notify your previous insurance company immediately and make sure there is no gap in your cover before your new policy starts.

Car insurance can be costly, fortunately there are a lot of discounts that you can be eligible for. Maintaining a good driving record is the best way to get cheaper premiums. Other discounts offered include; low-mileage, safety features, multi-policy, senior, taking a safe driving course and paying annually. Take advantage of all the discounts you can for the cheapest rates.

Teenagers can add significantly to your car insurance rates. Think about having your teenager use only the family's cheapest car and exclude them from other policies. Don't forget if your teen moves out to remove them from the policy. Just make sure you don't loan them the car when they come to visit! If you still want your teenager on the policy, find out if your insurer will give you a discount when they're away at school.

If your car has seen better days, and it's not worth much, consider removing collision coverage. The cost of your collision coverage might not be worth it when your insurer will only pay out your vehicles worth.

Make sure you understand what will occur if you have an accident and what choices you have. Will your insurer pay for original or only generic parts to fix your car after an accident? Can you choose your own mechanic or body shop if you have an accident? Read through your policy and make sure you're satisfied with it.

Make calling your insurer your number one priority after an accident. Most insurers have a time limit, usually around 48 hours for making a claim.

If you are unlucky enough to need to make a claim, get a copy of the accident report, keep all your receipts and make sure you record all the details of who you speak to. Make sure you include everything in your loss estimate. You may be entitled to claim sales tax and registration fees if your car has been totaled.

Put a bit of effort into getting your claim processed to speed up the process. Get some estimates and follow up your insurance company regularly to review progress.

Work with your adjuster to get a good outcome. If you don't agree with the amount offered, ask the adjuster for the reasons in writing. If you can't get a satisfactory answer keep your cool and investigate your other options. Speak to the manager of the claims department and request that your case to be reviewed, consider filing a complaint with the state insurance department.