Protect yourself by checking your credit score at least once a year.

The road to the lowest possible auto insurance premiums is full of potholes. It often comes in the form of a traffic cop whose flashing lights in your rear view mirror attract your attention. This happy soul has noticed some infraction. Perhaps you ran a red light or were traveling a little too fast through town. In this situation, it may be worth paying an attorney to avoid both the ticket and the usual premium increases. It’s comforting to think that if the accident was not your fault, or you live in a state which operates a no-fault insurance scheme, your premium will not be affected. Unfortunately, the world is rarely fair and insurers frequently reward your claim with a premium hike. However, there’s a change in strategy from some auto insurance companies. To encourage customer loyalty, some now reward the good drivers alongside penalizing the bad. That means you can get an additional discount if your driving record remains spotless or the right to reduce the deductible if you prefer. If more companies followed this policy, it would give us all a real incentive to drive more safely and avoid accidents. It’s up to you to do a little research to find out which companies writing policies in your state offer these incentives. If you already have a ticket or two, or you have made a recent claim, the best companies will start the clock running. A ticket or claim free period of three years or more will earn you relief. Some will reduce your basic premium. Others will reduce the premium conditionally, i.e. have another accident or pick up a new ticket and your higher premiums kick back in.