One of the most effective techniques to obtain the lowest possible car insurance rate for young drivers is to improve those things about your car which car insurance companies value the most when they calculate your insurance premium. There are several things that you can do before buying a car that will dramatically decrease your insurance premium.  If you’ve already bought a car, however, and are looking for ways to decrease your existing insurance costs, there are still methods you can use that will substantially cut your premium costs.

Install Anti-Theft Devices

Now, below you will find a list of most frequently stolen cars in 2005. For an updated list of Top 10 Stolen Vehicles please go here:

In 2005, the National Insurance Crime Bureau released a list of the most frequently stolen cars in 2005.    The list varies depending on state, however the National list includes the following:

Top 10 Stolen Vehicles Nationally in 2005

1. 1991 Honda Accord

2. 1995 Honda Civic

3. 1989 Toyota Camry

4. 1994 Dodge Caravan

5. 1994 Nissan Sentra

6. 1997 Ford F-150

7. 1990 Acura Integra

8. 1986 Toyota Pickup

9. 1993 Saturn SL

10. 2004 Dodge Ram

Northern states typically have the same top ten as the national list.  However, in the southern states, such as in Alabama, this list is somewhat different – Ford and Chevy makes the top of the list.

Top 10 Stolen Vehicles in Alabama in 2005

1. 1993 Chevrolet 1500

2. 1989 Chevrolet Caprice

3. 1992 Honda Accord

4. 1997 Ford F-150

5. 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass

6. 1996 Ford Taurus

7. 2004 Toyota Corolla

8. 1994 Ford Explorer

9. 1996 Dodge Caravan

10. 1996 Nissan Maxima

While the list is educating, even more enlightening is the fact that the NICB reported that there were a total of 1,235,226 vehicles reported stolen in 2005.  That is a significant enough number of stolen vehicles that all major insurance companies offer discounts for the use of Anti-Theft devices.

It is important to keep in mind that there are different types of anti-theft devices, and the kind that is installed will impact the discount.  There are mechanical devices such as steering wheel locking bars; vehicle alarms with loud sirens to attract attention; and electronic immobilizers such as systems that cut off power or cut fuel to the engine.

Any anti-theft device can be either active or passive.  Active devices are the ones that you need to manually set to enable it.  Passive devices are automatically enabled when the vehicle is turned off with the key removed.

Most discounts offered for anti-theft devices are on passive devices only.  Some insurance companies may offer discounts for some active anti-theft systems, however, in most cases the passive systems are the ones that bring the steepest discounts.  Installing your car with such a unit will dramatically reduce your insurance premium.

Another discount to keep in mind is the fact that many insurance companies offer additional rebates toward the deductible on claims if a vehicle equipped with such a device is stolen or damaged by thieves anyway.

Reduce your Mileage

Another way to reduce the rating of your car toward the premium cost is to drive it less.  While this may sound impossible – in most communities it isn’t.  Many communities around the country offer “Park and Ride” parking lots where you can park and then board a bus that will take you to work.  If you work at one of the larger companies in the area, or at a business that is located near one of the bus stops, you can save significantly by taking advantage of this mode of transportation.

Not only will you save significantly on gas costs, it is also better for the environment, and you will cut down on your insurance costs. How? Many insurance companies currently offer “low-mileage discounts” for drivers who drive less than a particular mileage limit annually.  Usually it is under 15,000 or 12,000 miles each year.

For example, in 2007, GMAC and OnStar by GM technology offered GM insurance customers discounts on their premiums of up to 54% if they drive less than 15,000 miles annually.  This system works significantly well with the OnStar system because actual mileage can be tracked.  However, other insurance companies will use yearly registration records to verify mileage claimed on a premium.  So it’s important not to lie to the insurance company about actual mileage driven – but it’s also important to try to cut back on miles driven if you can if you have an insurance company that offers these sorts of discounts, as they are often significant.