Making ends meet having a kid and trying to get single moms auto insurance is a true art form. They should give out medals for this! Raising a child on your own is challenging enough – you’re also responsible for bringing home the bacon. That doesn’t leave a lot of spare time to be clipping coupons and balancing your budget.

So finding ways on cutting down the biggest bills you’ve got is a quick and easy way of saving a lot of money AND time.

Considering all the driving you do, and the precious cargo you’re carting around, there’s no doubt car insurance is a must for a single mom. But it doesn’t have to be expensive!

Here are 10 Quick Ways to Cut your Car Insurance Bill:

1. Single Moms Auto Insurance:Click & Compare

Car insurance rates can vary big time from company to company – even for the same level of coverage. So you need at least three quotes to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

No, this won’t take forever! Shopping around for car insurance is quick. You don’t need to go around calling one insurance company to another. You don’t even need to visit multiple auto insurance sites!

Just go to insurancerates.com and they’ll send your information to all the best companies you already know and trust – in one shot!

2. One-Stop-Shopping

You avoid having to clip coupons by shopping at the big discount superstore. When it comes to car insurance, keeping your different policies under the same roof could save you too.

Many companies offer discounts if you have different policies with them. For example, getting your car insurance from the same company that covers your homeowners or renter’s insurance.

This doesn’t mean you can skip shopping around though – even with this sort of discount factored in, you may find that going with separate companies is a better deal. Only way to find out is by getting a quote, so get on it!

3. Don’t Double up on Health Insurance

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), insurance that covers medical bills of drivers and passengers is not usually required in states without no-fault laws.

If you’ve got health insurance, you may be doubling up by getting this coverage. So if you and your kids are already covered by health insurance and your auto policy lists medical-payment coverage, make sure it’s required by the state – otherwise you should consider dropping it.

4. Look at all the Little Extras

There’s a lot of little extras you might have on your policy that you haven’t noticed, particularly because they’re not big ticket items. But when you add it up over the course of a year – these can add up!

Does your declarations page list towing as a part of your policy?

If you belong to an auto club or any sort of roadside assistant program – you're also paying for towing on your auto insurance policy. Drop the double charge!

Are you paying for rental car coverage?

A single mom can’t survive without a car – so this may be important. Still, you should compare the cost of renting a car on your own versus what you’re paying for this coverage and figure out if you really need it.

5. Don’t Assume you Need Collision and Comprehensive

Comprehensive and Collision coverage is optional unless you are paying off a loan on the car, in which case the bank will require you carry it.

If your car is paid off and it’s old… you might be paying more for insurance than the car is actually worth!

Here’s how you figure out whether you’re overpaying for collision and comprehensive:

Add what you’re paying for comprehensive and collision, then multiply that number by ten. If your car is worth less than the total you got, then consider dropping it.

6. Shop for Safety

If you finally scraped enough money together to replace the sporty two-door you drove in your “pre-single mom” existence, follow your mommy instincts and go for safety.

Many companies offer discounts for various safety features on your vehicle, including air bags, alarms, factory-installed mechanical seat belts and anti-lock brakes.

While you’re checking the safety ratings, be sure to check out the theft ratings too. You might get the safest car in the market, but if it’s popular with thieves, you might pay more in car insurance rates.

7. Get a Higher Deductible

If you get a new car (or even a pre-owned one that you’ll be paying off), collision and comprehensive will be a MUST. But you can still save by setting high deductibles.

The deductible is the amount you’ll pay out-of-pocket before an insurance company begins to pay a claim. So, the higher it is, the lower you’ll premium will be.

According to the NAIC, going from a $250 to a $1000 deductible can save you up to 40% on your policy.

8. Maintain Good Credit

Paying your bills on time won’t just save you on interest rates and late fees – it’ll also score you a lower car insurance rate.

Insurance companies believe there’s a relationship between your credit history and the way you’ll level of risk out on the road. People who aren’t taking care of their credit are paying the price: According to the NAIC bad credit scores are up to 50% more on car insurance rates.

9. Pay in Full

I know forking over a chunk of cash in one shot is tough for a single mom. But if you can afford to pay for the entire policy up front, it will save you money. Insurance companies charge you a fee for those monthly payments.

10. Discounts!

There are SO many different single moms auto insurance discounts companies offer. You really don’t know what you qualify for until you ask.

• Good Driver Discount: Many companies will reward you with savings if you haven’t had a claim in the past 3 years. These vary from company to company so be sure to check with each as you’re getting your online quote.
• Group Discounts: Members of certain organizations and professions (teachers, veterans, engineers) are often given group discounts. If you belong to any organizations or specific professions, be sure to mention it.
• Drive Less Pay Less: Some companies offer discounts to drivers who have a lower annual mileage than the average. So if you have a short commute, participate in a drive pool or do anything else that translates into less miles – a discount may be in store for you.
• Good Student Discount: If you have a young driver on your policy and they have a “B” average or above, that could get you a nice discount on your policy!