Your home and auto insurance can be lowered with some minor changes in the configurations for your home and autos. Have smoke detecting devices, which are mandatory in some cities, installed in key places throughout your home. This along with being fortunate enough to live near a fire station and having a fire hydrant close to your home are what insurance companies will be eager to hear about. Though you should not put out a major fire yourself, fire extinguishers in the home for small incidents are also reasons for discounts. If your wiring in the home is up to date, point this out to your home insurance company.

In order to avoid accidents around your home, it would be in your interest to keep the premises well lighted and free from objects that can cause someone to trip. Some companies might give a discount for not having a dog that will snap at visitors, causing a lawsuit. Sidewalks are prone to crack and become uneven. An individual falling might believe that filing a lawsuit will earn some money. Keep walkways free from these problems and convey the information to your insurance company for a possible discount.

Assuming you have your autos and home insurance policy with the same company, make sure this is recorded as a discount. Having all your insurance needs under the auspices of one company is good only if you think highly of the their service performance. If you are the daring type and have a motorcycle, there should also be a discount for adding the bike to the company's policies. Anti- theft devices on your auto and motorcycle and a security alarm installed in your home will bring you added discounts. Stay away from sports cars and cars prone to be stolen. These actions will lower premiums.

Finally, have large deductibles in categories covering events not likely to happen to your auto and home. If you want to leave the city and live in a quiet rural area upon retirement or for other reasons, insurance in these areas will be much less than crime-ridden cities.