Although car insurance providers continue to advertise savings, car insurance rates have been on steadily increasing for the last few years. Between 2008 to 2010, the industry raised rates an estimated 10 percent, and it's expected to bump them nd this year, that figure is expected to go up an additional 4 percent, which would amount to about a 31 percent climb since 2000. The average annual policy is now close to $900 nationwide.

But why have rates increased so much?

Insurance providers site two major costs. The first is medical bills for accident-related injuries. Those costs are also on the rise due to the state of the health industry. The second is the large number of uninsured drivers, who account for about 16 percent total drivers on the road.

So what can consumers do to save when they are powerless to solve high medical bills and the prevalence of uninsured drivers?

Many analysts point usage-based insurance policies, such as Progressive’s Snapshot Program. The idea is, a sensor placed in the vehicle monitors usage and then transmits the info back to the provider. According to Progressive, safe drivers can receive up to a 30 percent discount after the first month on the program.