Before you jump online however you would be well advised to take a few minutes to construct an automobile insurance policy that is specifically structured to save you as much money as possible right from the beginning - then whatever further savings you realize through online comparisons is icing on the cake!

Fortunately there are a lot of things that most drivers in Florida can do that will keep the cost of their automobile insurance low enough that they can actually afford to put gas in their cars and drive them.

If you're in the market for a new car, for example, you would be well advised to talk to your auto insurance agent before you set your heart on a particular make and model. The reason being that some new cars cost a lot more to insure than others, and knowing which is which ahead of time can save you a lot of financial grief down the road.

One of the biggest determining factors for how much your automobile insurance is going to cost is your own driving record. Even one speeding ticket or other moving violation can cause your insurance rates to start climbing, and a conviction for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or for DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) can send your premiums through the roof.

If you receive a second conviction for DUI or DWI you will be forced to try to find insurance coverage in a special high-risk insurance pool, at prices you simply won't believe.

And don't try to drive without insurance in Florida because the state has a special computer network that is notified within minutes of the time any insurance policy is cancelled for any reason - and if the policy isn't replaced right away the state will cancel your car's registration, making it a crime to drive that vehicle.

If you're under 25 years of age you will automatically be placed in a high-risk insurance category and you'll pay higher rates for your insurance. If you can stay on your parents' policy you may be able to save money and you can also shave at least 5% off your monthly premium by remaining in school and maintaining at least a "B" grade average so you qualify for a Good Student Discount.

If you have other insurance policies with the same company - such as health insurance or homeowner's insurance or life insurance - then you should qualify for a Multi-Policy Discount.

If you can keep your car in a garage at night you can also save on your monthly premium.

If you have had an insurance policy with the same company for the past 5 years you probably qualify for a Long-Term- Policy Discount.

If you drive less than 500 miles each month you should ask your agent about a Low-Mileage Discount.

Make it a habit to simply ask your agent point-blank at least twice each year if there are any unadvertised discounts that you could conceivably qualify for. You would be amazed at the strange discounts that insurance companies come up with and then never mention to anyone.

If you're over 55 you may have noticed your premiums creeping up. You can stop the creep and cut about 10% from your monthly bill if you take - and pass - a special driver's refresher course. Not all insurance companies offer this option so check with your agent.

Do you drive a clunker, a car that has little or possibly no Kelly Blue Book value? If you do you're wasting your money if you're paying for collision or comprehensive insurance on it, since your company will never pay you more than the Blue Book value if it is damaged or totaled.

How big is your deductible? The larger your deductible the lower your monthly premium is going to be, but be careful in setting your deduction as you will have to come up with this money in cash out of your own pocket if you ever have a claim.

O.K., now take the hints you've learned in this article and put as many of them as possible into a dream policy. The next step is to get online and find at least 3 different websites that allow you to quickly compare policies and go ahead and compare the cost of your dream policy at different insurance agencies.

Don't fall into the trap of believing that you only need to make comparisons on just one website. None of the websites compare all of the automobile insurance companies operating in Florida, so take the extra time and compare your dream policy on at least 3 different websites.

Now you're ready to grab the lowest price you've found, knowing that you've done everything possible to compare low cost automobile insurance in Florida and that you have definitely found the best deal you possibly can.

Congratulations!