Never will the phrase “to share and share alike” ring more true (or loudly) than when it comes to buying auto insurance as a couple. For it is here that his lead foot becomes yours; the accident you caused on your way home after that really, really, really bad day at work is now inextricably his, like it or not. Regardless of the blemishes—or lack of—on your respective driving records, there are ways to save money on your auto insurance, starting with the day you combine households (which is also when you should combine your policies).

The advantages of marriage Insurance companies consider married drivers to be, for the most part, less risky drivers than their unwed peers, and thus the companies may offer them lower policy rates. So even if you aren’t planning on changing anything else about your coverage, you may want to let your auto insurer know that you’ve tied the knot.

The right locale

Also, your rates are affected by where you live—something to consider if the two of you have separate homes but are planning to merge households after the wedding. “Once your residence changes, you’ve got where the car is kept acting as a trigger,” says Jeanne Salvatore, VP of Consumer Affairs for the Insurance Information Institute (iii.org), a non-profit communication organization serving the property and casualty insurance industry.

Whose neighborhood is safer, how much traffic travels through it and how much further it is away from places of work all influence your rates. Your insurance agent should be able to tell you which location is easier on your checkbook than the other.

If who is moving where is non-negotiable, or is simply a moot point, now’s the time to update your renter’s insurance (you do have it, don’t you?) or homeowner’s policy. Salvatore says ordering the combo-deal can save you money, too. ?If you insure both cars, your apartment or house with the same company, you’ll save money,” she says. ?The more policies you have with one company, the bigger the discount.” So take that patchwork quilt of policies the two of you have accumulated and do some consolidation.

Other dollar-savers

Besides multiple-policy discounts and where you’re living, how you insure your car, or cars, may help put the brakes on your premiums. “You may have one car that’s newer and nicer than the other, and use it only occasionally,” Salvatore says, “and commute in the older car.” Dropping the comprehensive and collision coverage on the beater can help lower your rates, she says, as can raising the deductible on one or both vehicles. According to the Insurance Information Institute, you can save 15 percent to 30 percent on the collision and comprehensive portion of your policy by raising your deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket if your car is damaged) from $200 to $500 per year.

Outside of that, if all things are equal (meaning you’re both good drivers, driving similar types of cars), the best way to save on your policy is to shop around (try Web sites like Insweb.com and Quotesmith.com, which let you compare premiums from multiple insurers), or to buy cars that are safer—meaning less risky—than what you currently have. “Risk” is a word the insurance industry doesn’t like to hear; reducing yours

with a safer car—or if you share a history of speeding, accidents, etc., a car less prone to excess—can help trim rates, too. You may also qualify for a discount if your car has an alarm or added safety features like antilock brakes. Salvatore says your agent can help you determine which vehicles are cheaper to insure than the ones you’re driving now; you can also get more information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ( www.hwysafety.org).

About the Author

Mike Knight is a freelance writer whose work has appeared frequently in the Chicago Sun Times Sunday magazine as well as Indianapolis Monthly and Indianapolis At Home magazines.