There's no business like show business, and there's no place to kick back and enjoy show business like Chicago! Chicago is a hub of activity for artists, musicians and the average Joe that likes to enjoy all of them. Unfortunately, what makes Chicago such a great place to be also makes it hard to find cheaper Chicago auto insurance.

Think about it for a minute. When you look out on the Chicago streets in the middle of the afternoon, especially around rush hour, what do you see? Those aren't matchbox cars out there! Chicago is full of people. People means cars, and cars means heavy traffic. The heavy traffic day in and day out means more traffic accidents, which in turn translates to higher auto insurance premiums.

(For those of you who just tried to figure out what that just said, look at it like this: People=cars=traffic=accidents=more expensive Chicago auto insurance.)

That doesn't mean that finding cheaper Chicago auto insurance than the guy across the hall who's living on Ramen and bananas to pay his premiums is impossible, it just means you're going to have to look a little harder! Here are some tricks that Chicago drivers (and city drivers in general) can use to lower their auto insurance premiums:

1) Cut the commute. Chicago is filled with opportunities for public transportation, and taking public transport to work will cut down on the time you spend on the roads. Less time spent cruising the highways means less opportunity for an accident. Hop on the "L" and watch your insurance costs tumble. (It's good for the environment too!)

2) Ask for discounts. The real secret to cheaper Chicago auto insurance is in the discounts-and you'll be amazed at what they'll shave 5% or more off your auto insurance premiums for! Your age, your job and your credit score are only a few of the factors they'll consider when calculating your insurance costs. Anti-lock brakes, automated security systems and airbags shave dollars off your premiums too.

Every Chicago auto insurance provider has their own policies when it comes to their discounts, so make sure you touch base with yours as soon as possible to make sure you're not missing out.

3) Follow the rules of the road. The single most important considering factor when it comes to cheaper Chicago auto insurance is your driving record. A more expensive car or a lack of safety features might raise your insurance premiums a little bit, but an accident or a ticket can send them flying through the roof! Insurance companies assume that if you've caused an accident (or ignored street signs blatantly enough to catch the eye of the Chicago PD) once you're more likely to do it again-which means you're more likely to have to file a claim in the future.

Insurance providers really hate that.

Living in the city predisposes you to higher rates on your insurance, but cheaper Chicago auto insurance is out there. All you have to do is a little bit of homework!