Auto insurance companies have a list of factors longer than your arm that they use to decide how much to charge you for your car insurance. Fortunately for you, some of those items result in car insurance discounts they offer to people who meet certain criteria.

The best way to get these car insurance discounts is to shop around. Compare rates from several auto insurance companies to see which discounts they offer that might apply to you. Getting multiple quotes will almost always save you hundreds of dollars and get you cheaper auto insurance.

Here are six car insurance discounts that can help you find cheaper auto insurance rates.

The Senior Discount

Drivers over 50 but under 70 qualify for the best insurance rates because they are generally safe drivers. In most states, you can get an additional 8-15% discount by taking a Driver Safety Course, such as the ones offered by AAA, AARP, some senior centers and community colleges.

Good Driver Car Insurance Discounts

The better driver you are, the more insurance companies love you. And they'll show you their love with lower rates. Most companies give good discounts to drivers who have a clean record for 3-5 years. Shop around for which companies offer the best good driver discounts.

The Safe Vehicle Discount

Safer cars save insurance companies big dollars. If one of those safe cars is yours, they'll pass some of those savings on to you in safe vehicle discounts. Features they especially like include airbags, anti-lock brakes, factory installed automatic seat belts, car alarms and other anti-theft devices. Let your insurance company know if you have these features on your vehicle.

The Multi-Vehicle Discount

The more business you do with a particular insurance company, the better they like it. If you have more than one car in your household, you should definitely insure them with the same company. The company's multi-vehicle discount can save you a bundle of money.

The Multi-Policy Discount

Again, insurance companies want to write as many policies as possible. If they can write more than one for you, they'll give you a better insurance rate. So if you need homeowners insurance, renters insurance, RV insurance, etc. bundling them up with the same company will save you money.

The Good Student Discount

If you've got a student in your household, you know that young drivers can cause your insurance rates to skyrocket. But insurance companies know that good students make more conscientious drivers, so many of them offer good student discounts to kids that keep their grades up. Compare rates for the best student discounts to get significant savings.

The secret to finding all these car insurance discounts is to shop around. Good insurance shoppers get the best deals, so get quotes from several companies to save money.