Car insurance can be costly, but you may be able to decrease the cost if you're willing to shop around.
We compared three drivers -- different ages, different zip codes -- and all with different driving records.
College student Evanne is still on her family's plan. But insuring her and her brother costs $325 a month.
Retiree Connie and her husband pay just $42 a month.
And single professional Arnold pays $125 a month.
Each of them was given a worksheet and a challenge: call five of the leading car insurance providers and get quotes for coverage, to lower their rates.
"To compare apples, to apples I actually pulled our policy and read off every bit of coverage we had," Connie said.
And that's the first tip if you want to pay less for car insurance.
Jarrett Dunbar of the Ohio Department of Insurance said, "You'd be surprised how much money you can save just by shopping around."
Dunbar said if your rate is still too high, raise your deductible.
So did this test save cash without giving up coverage?
Connie said, "Everyone says call us we'll be sure to match or do better."
But no other company could beat State Farm's rate. Connie's 30-year relationship, and combined discounts, has her staying put.
However, Arnold is not.
"(After) doing the research, I realized it was too high," Arnold said.
His current provider, Geico, fell right in the middle of the pack. His quotes ranged from $99 to $199 a month.
Arnold stated, "My lowest was nationwide."
Switching to nationwide would save him more than $300 a year.
But the youngest driver found the biggest deal.
Evanne said "My most expensive was Nationwide. For one month it was $172."
Geico offered Evanne the same coverage for $104 a month. That will save her father more than $1,000 a year.
"The numbers are really different so it's really beneficial to look around," Evanne explained.
Neither Evanne, nor Arnold had ever shopped around for car insurance before. But a few minutes on the phone saved them hundreds, and it will likely do the same for you.
Some other tips to lower your rate:
Get an alarm system
Take a defensive driving course
If you're a student: improve your grades
