In most U.S. states, anyone who operates a motor vehicle must carry auto insurance. The minimum amount of insurance that is necessary varies by state. Beyond the legalities of the situation, it is in a driver's best interest to have decent car insurance. Without it, a car accident can turn into a financial nightmare. 

Since the vast majority of people use auto insurance, there is a great deal of competition out there concerning car insurance rates. The people who get the lowest premiums are the ones who do their homework. Although criteria does vary from one insurer to another, there are a few basic rules that are generally universal when it comes to finding cheap car insurance; a handful of the most important ones are outlined below.

Age Matters - There's no way around it: Young drivers pay more for auto insurance. The older a person gets, the lower his rates generally get, too.

Being Accident-Free Counts - A person's driving record is the primary thing that an insurer focuses on when preparing quotes and calculating premiums. A person who is accident-free will enjoy lower rates than one whose record is riddled with fender-benders and other accidents.

Obeying the Law Saves Money - Accidents aren't the only determining factor when it comes to a person's driving record. Moving violations - like speeding tickets - can increase rates as well. In most states, points are applied to a person's driving record for certain moving violations. Auto insurance providers take the number of points that a person has into consideration when calculating rates.

Anti-Theft Devices Help - One way to lower car insurance premiums is by installing anti-theft devices on a vehicle. Theft is a costly proposition for any car insurance provider. By doing everything that he can to keep his car from getting stolen, a driver can enjoy lower auto insurance rates.

Type of Car Can Be a Factor - The type of car that a person drives can have a profound impact on his auto insurance rates. Sporty cars that are designed to fly along at top speeds tend to make insurance premiums skyrocket. On the other hand, conservative cars - especially those with exceptional safety scores - tend to make premiums go down.

There is no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to enjoying great auto insurance rates. By keeping the preceding points in mind, though, drivers can increase their odds of enjoying more affordable premiums.