Consumers are countering rising gasoline prices and other vehicle operating costs by capitalizing on lower auto insurance rates, according to leading insurers.

Auto policy costs and regulations vary significantly from state to state, but there are a number of areas that consumers are able to control and adjust to optimize prices and quality. Answer Financial (www.answerfinancial.com) has 10 tips for keeping your rates down:

Check Credit Rating. In all states except California and Georgia, an individual