There's something your auto insurance company or agent isn't telling you that might save you money. And it could be one of these 8 things:

1. Older car? Drop collision: Have a car that's 7 or 8 years old or worth less than $2,500? Time to think about taking the risk and dropping comprehensive and collision from your auto insurance quote. Chances are your deductible is closing in on the value of your car and a major collision will send you to the dealership, anyway.

2. Buy home and auto with different companies: With everything being bundled today - from cell phones to Internet and cable TV - you'd think that having your home and auto insurance with the same company would save money. But, do your research and you may discover that having separate policies will be cheaper.

3. Minimum liability? Not enough: You may think you can only afford the minimum coverage required by law. But, there's a good chance those minimums won't come close to covering the costs of a serious accident - which means you could be paying WAY more than you bargained for if you're at fault.

4. Shop around for lower rates: A State Farm agent only quotes State Farm(R). Same for Allstate(R). So what are the chances their agent will tell you to shop around for the best deal? Even independent agents only represent a few auto insurers. Shopping online allows you to fine-tune the deductibles and coverage you want and then compare auto insurance rates side-by-side.

5. Go green and keep some green: Look for auto insurance quotes from companies that offer "green" discounts for driving a hybrid, choosing paperless statements or electronic payment plans. Even signing your policy with an e-signature will help.

6. Consider paying that claim yourself: If you've backed into the garage, think twice about asking your company to repair it. Besides the possibility that your rates will go up at renewal, that small claim might affect rates next time you shop. An accident can only affect your rates for three years, but many companies will look back five or seven years when deciding if they want to offer you a quote.

7. Don't buy that turbo convertible.: All vehicles are not created equal. Small or large, old or new, the type of car you drive will affect your auto insurance rate, often based on algorithms auto insurance companies use to determine how expensive it might be to pay a claim.

8. Teenager turned 16? Don't add them to your policy - yet.: If your teen is 16 but not a licensed driver, you're not required to add them to your insurance policy. You're only required to insure them once they become licensed to drive. But check. Some policies may require it.