Your annual driving mileage is one of the factors used in calculating your auto insurance rates. It follows, therefore, that you can reduce your rates by lowering your annual mileage. Here are some of the tips and tricks that can help you do just that:

Bundle Your Errands

You may also save some miles by bundling your errands and having fewer of them. It doesn't make sense to go to the pet store for cat food today, go grocery shopping tomorrow, and shop for your DIY renovation supplies the next day. Some people find it helps to budget for their errands just as they budget for their money. That may enable you to, say, reduce your errands to a weekly trip instead of several times a week.

Cycle or Walk for Short Distances

The first thing is to stop thinking of your car as your only means of transportation. Those quick trips to the corner bar or grocery store quickly add up to considerable miles when you make them several times a week. Instead, get a bicycle or walk for those short trips; you will also be getting some physical exercise that way.

Take Advantage of Public Transportation

Public transportation can save you considerable miles every year, especially if you use it for commuting to and from work. Of course, this is only possible for those who live in areas with great public transportation services. It might even be worth it to move if you live in a city with a great public transportation system but your route doesn't have a good service.

Try Ride Sharing

Ridesharing allows you to share a vehicle with other passengers taking the same route as you.  There are traditional forms of ridesharing such as carpooling with neighbors as well as the contemporary methods that make use of mobile applications (think Lyft). That way you don't have to use your car every time you leave the house.

Plan Your Routes Beforehand

Lastly, you can also reduce your mileage by planning your routes before leaving the house. This will help you avoid wasting time (and increasing your mileage) by getting lost or following a longer route when there are shorter ones. This tip can save you considerable miles if you are going to an unfamiliar destination.

Once you have managed to reduce your annual mileage, talk to your insurance agent to see how it can help you qualify for low insurance rates. For example, the agent can help you analyze whether you can benefit from usage-based insurance, where you only pay for the miles you drive. To learn more, contact a company like Horgan Insurance Agency.