Auto insurance can be costly, and shopping for it requires navigating a maze of decisions that could raise or lower your premium. These sites will ease the process and, we hope, reduce expenses.

Crash test. Start by making sure you buy a car with a good safety rating. That will lower the cost of collision coverage. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provides ratings at this site. The group says its tests are based on "high-speed front and side crash tests, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts." Of the dozens of test "winners" noted here, the category of midsize SUVs comes out on top with 27 models listed. The minicar category lists only one car, the Honda Fit.

http://go.philly.com/autoinsure1

Nine tips. Here are nine tips for lowering your car-insurance rates, taken from the Insurance Information Institute, but published by the federal Citizen Information Center. Shopping around is the biggie suggestion. Other pointers include opting for higher deductibles, keeping a good credit rating, and asking for any discounts that come with being a good driver, putting less mileage on the car, and having safety equipment.

http://go.philly.com/autoinsure2

At the scene. From the Insurance Information Institute's Web site you can watch a video on "five steps to follow when filing an auto-insurance claim." The key is to collect pertinent information at the scene of any accident, keep good records, know how to get a police report, and call the insurance company.

http://www.iii.org

Dare to compare. Visit state insurance department Web sites for lists of auto-insurance companies doing business where you live. States regulate all sorts of insurance, so their sites can help you manage questions about property and health insurance as well.

For Pennsylvania, and a comparison-price listing, go here:

http://go.philly.com/autoinsure3

For New Jersey, go here:

http://go.philly.com/autoinsure4

For other states, go here:

http://go.philly.com/autoinsure5

Contact staff writer Reid Kanaley at 215-854-5114 or rkanaley@phillynews.com.