(This is an abridged version of an article that appeared on CarsDirect.com)

These days, people are trying to save money wherever they can, and car insurance discounts can certainly help with that quest. Look into these different auto insurance discounts to see if you qualify - and claim them if you do!

1) Club Membership Discount

Certain clubs and organizations have worked out deals with various insurance companies to provide discounts to their members. In fact, some of these discounts apply not only to your auto insurance, but also to other types of insurance coverage. Check with all the organizations you belong to and find out which discounts they may have arranged and with which companies.

2) Defensive Driver Discount

Taking a defensive driving course is another way to get a discount on your auto insurance rates - as much as 10% off your premium. You may also end up learning important defensive driving techniques that can help you avoid an accident, saving both yourself and your insurance company a lot of money, and keeping you and your loved ones safe.

3) Equipment Discount

Buying a car with safety or security equipment can earn you discounts on your auto insurance. Even having those types of items installed after-market can often save you money. A lot depends on the type of equipment and the insurance company, but it's a discount worth pursuing.

4) Good Driver Discount

This one sounds pretty obvious - a discount for being a good driver - but not all companies offer this. Some of them just figure the numbers into their base quotes; you get the best rate if you have no violations, and each violation raises your rate. Even what qualifies you for a “Good Driver Discount” can vary among insurance providers. Sometimes factors other than your driving record are applied as well. (Where you live, where your car is parked most of the time, etc.) Still, you could save as much as 20% if you qualify.

5) Low Mileage Discount

The idea behind a low-mileage discount is simple: if you don't drive very often or put very few miles on your car, your chances of getting into an accident and costing the insurance company money are reduced. If you've recently changed jobs and your daily commute is shorter than it was before, contact your car insurance agent to see if your lower weekly mileage makes you eligible for a discount. You might be able to save 10 to 15% on your insurance premium.

6) Multiple Car Discount

Insuring more than one car will get you a multiple car discount. The amount can vary depending on a lot of factors (the make, model and year of the vehicles, the number of cars you have, etc.) Interestingly enough, it's possible in some instances to insure two cars for less than the price of insuring one. Of course, that's not the most common situation, but if your insurance company offers this type of discount you will save money with it.

7) Payment Method Discount

A lot of insurance companies offer a discount if you set up some form of automated payment. This can be an automatic debit from a checking account, a scheduled charge to a credit card, or another method. Check with your insurance company about any available discount and what the terms and conditions are.

Remember that most of these discounts are cumulative, so if you qualify for a lot of them you could really save a lot. Even if you're only eligible for one or two, though, claim them so you won't pay more than you need to for your auto insurance coverage.