Living in Richmond might cheaper than living in, say, Alexandria or Annandale, but it definitely comes with its own set of expenses-including climbing rates on your Virginia car insurance! City traffic puts you at a higher risk of having an accident each month, and your insurance company is going to take that extra risk out of your paycheck in terms of dollars, cents and occasionally ridiculous car insurance rates! The good news is, this isn't Mission Impossible (I, II, OR III!). There are still some tried and true strategies out there you can use to save 10% or more on your insurance rates.

First and foremost, Richmond has awesome public transportation. Have you considered taking advantage of the Greater Richmond Transit Company? The GRTC goes all around the city of Richmond, and you can pick up monthly fare cards to make your commute easy. The best part? You're going to pay just as much in gas as you will for a fare card (more or less), which means with the savings on your Virginia car insurance you're going to more than break even. Are you a student at VCU or MCV? Just present your student ID and you'll ride free!

If GRTC hours and locations aren't conducive to your schedule, or you're the type who likes to keep control of your transportation options, take a look at what kind of car you're driving. There are two things you need to keep in mind when it comes to your Virginia car insurance rates:

1) The more expensive your car is, the more it's going to cost to insure. There's a reason your parents bought you a clunker when you first got your license! If you're struggling to pay your car payments and your insurance premiums every month, look into picking up something a little less flashy. Your checkbook will thank you for it in the long run.

2) How risky is your car? The Highway Data Loss Institute publishes a list every year of the cars that are stolen, vandalized and involved in accidents the most each year. This is the car insurance agent's Bible! They publish the list annually on their website. Take the time to check it out and see where your car falls.

What kind of safety features does your car have? Cars that are less likely to be involved in an accident each year are going to cost considerably less to insure, which means features like power steering, anti-lock brakes and GPS tracking systems can save you 10% or more on your Virginia car insurance (and make you feel a lot better when you're dodging rush hour traffic down Broad Street!). Take some time to check out your owner's manual to see what you car has, what it doesn't have and what you can add. The discounts you'll suddenly be eligible for can do amazing things to your monthly premiums.

Driving in Richmond can be hard on your Virginia car insurance rates, but it doesn't have to be. Give these easy tips a try and see what they'll do for you!