Auto show season is upon us! And with it, all the driving and automotive enthusiasts come out to check out the next best set of wheels on the road. This year's auto shows include:

 

• 2008 Canadian International Auto Show

February 15^th to the 24^th in Toronto, Ontario

 

• Edmonton Motorshow

February 27^th to March 2^nd in Edmonton, Alberta

 

• Salon de l'Auto de Québec

March 3^rd to the 9^th in Québec City, Québec

 

• Calgary International Auto and Truck Show

March 12^th to the 16^th in Calgary, Alberta

 

• Ottawa-Gatineau International Auto Show

March 27^th to the 30^th in Ottawa, Ontario

 

• Vancouver International Auto Show

March 29^th to April 6^th in Vancouver, British Columbia

 

Bitten by the car bug?

If after visiting an auto show you get the bug to buy a new car, don't forget to factor in the cost of insurance into your buying decision. After all, buying a car for most people is a long-term commitment and knowing you can affordably insure it year-after-year is important.

 

Maybe you're thinking of buying practical with a Honda Civic; green with a Toyota Prius; mid-sized with the Nissan Altima, industrial with a Ford F-150; luxurious with a BMW 3-series; really luxurious with a Mercedes-Benz C-Class; sporty with the Ford Escape; sporty AND luxurious with a Cadillac Escalade; or powerful with the Dodge Charger? Whatever vehicle you're thinking of buying compare auto insurance quotes from competing insurers first, because not only do rates between insurers but also across vehicles.

 

Consider the quotes obtained from the insurers competing online through kanetix.ca. The following is the lowest quote shown for each of the vehicles mentioned above for a 35-year old driver living in Toronto. See for yourself the range in rates across vehicles:

 

• $1183 for a 2008 Honda Civic
• $1175 for a 2008 Toyota Prius
• $1115 for a 2008 Nissan Altima
• $1047 for a 2008 Ford F-150
• $1249 for a 2008 BMW 328i
• $1446 for a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic
• $1061 for a 2008 Ford Escape XLT
• $1047 for a 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV
• $1078 for a 2008 Dodge Charger R/T

 

The range in premiums quoted is almost $400!

 

When no other car will do!

All right, maybe you have your heart set on a particular car, and the fact is you simply don't care how much that car costs to insure compared to another - because you have to have it. Well there's no sense in overpaying for the coverage you're going to get. Consider the following tips to keep your premiums as low as can be after you've bought your new car:

 

Make sure all your cars are on the same policy

Most insurance companies offer a "Multi-vehicle discount" for customers who insure more than one car on the same policy.

 

Insure both your car and home with the same company

Again, this may qualify you for a discount called the "Multi-line discount". Most companies offer this savings as an incentive to get your home insurance business too.

 

Have an anti-theft device installed in your car

If you take measures to ensure your car less likely to be stolen, then some insurance companies will offer an "Anti-theft discount" if certain anti-theft devices are installed.

 

Ask about other discounts you might be able to get

Additional common discounts include the age, low mileage, occupational and auto club discounts all of which could save you money, if you qualify.

 

Increase your deductibles

The higher your deductibles, the lower your insurance premium so raise them as much as you can. Keep it affordable though, because this is how much you'll have to cover if you need to submit a claim.

 

Drive carefully

Drivers with no accidents, tickets or insurance claims almost always pay less for their auto insurance coverage. With a less than perfect driving record, you can find yourself paying much higher insurance premiums over the years.

 

Don't believe the myths about auto insurance premiums.
Auto insurance premiums across insurers are not the same. In fact, each insurer's car insurance rates are so unique to them that it's safe to say that no two are alike.Compare apples-to-apples while shopping
When comparing rates, include the same deductibles, coverages, and limitations so you're comparing like rates. At comparison sites where you can actually compare competing rates side-by-side, they'll do this for you.Shop around
Get quotes instantly online. Kanetix.ca, for example, is an online quote comparison service that provides shoppers with quotes from competing insurers.