Many people who drive un-insured cite the lack of affordable car insurance as their reason. Regardless of the cost, however, everyone who drives needs to have their car insured. In fact, most states require individuals to carry at least liability insurance to drive legally. Being involved in even a minor accident while un-insured can cost everyone involved. The un-insured driver becomes financially and legally responsible for damages, while the one who followed the law has to watch his premiums rise to compensate for money lost by the insurance company. In 2001 it was estimated that 14% of drivers in the United States drove un-insured.*

Fortunately, there are ways for everyone to find affordable car insurance, so that those who claim they can't afford it are brought aboard the insurance bandwagon. One way to find affordable car insurance is by buying a policy which meets the lowest legal requirements. There are insurance companies that only offer minimum coverage, and they can be found scattered throughout cities and suburbs in every state. While these policies do not usually contain collision coverage, they will cover any damages done to property or vehicle. Some minimum coverage policies won't pay for damages done to the car of one who is un-insured.

One of the simplest ways to realizing affordable car insurance is by paying a higher deductible. Many people accept low insurance deductibles at the start of a policy without knowing it. A lower deductible is easy on the wallet, but raising a $250 deductible to $500 or even $1,000 can significantly lower the overall cost of the policy, leading to lower monthly premiums.

Another path toward more affordable car insurance is to forego the insurance company's roadside assistance. For those who have AAA, towing and car rental is already covered. Some major credit cards also supply accident services to those who carry their cards.

Finally, for those who have never had insurance or have let their policies run out for more than thirty days, affordable car insurance may be next to impossible to find at first glance. By searching different insurance companies instead of settling for the first offer they get, drivers will find a cost that is acceptable to them. And in a few months, when they have paid their premiums on time, their rate will lower, becoming affordable on their own.

Finding affordable car insurance is not an easy task. Though it may seem obvious that low premiums=most affordable, this isn't always the case. It is possible to under-insure a vehicle, and for those who choose the bare minimum coverage as a permanent solution, being overly frugal in trying to save money on car insurance can actually end up costing more, especially if they are involved in an accident that their insurance won't cover. Affordable car insurance isn't so much about finding the cheapest rate. Affordable car insurance is about finding the most coverage for the least amount of money, while getting rid of the un-necessary frills.

Tristan Andrews is a writer for California Car Insurance.