With the price of gas creeping steadily toward $4 gallon, even in "oil states," where fuel is traditionally less expensive than in the rest of the country, finding new ways to save money is key to financial survival. If you can't save at the pump, however, you often can reduce your auto-related expenses by saving on insurance. Here are two new ways to do that:

• Low Mileage = Lower Premiums. If the cost of fuel has you car-pooling, relying on public transportation, or breaking out the bicycle instead of the family car for your daily commute, ask your insurance agent about a low-mileage discount. You'll have to limit your driving to essential trips totaling 14,000 miles/year or less (depending on the company) but you can earn significant savings by doing so. In the words of Bob Passmore from the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, "If you've got a car you only drive back and forth to church on Sunday, you want to make sure they know that."
• Shop Early. If you know your policy is up for renewal in a few months and you're planning to shop around for a better deal or different company anyway, do so as early as possible. Not only will this ensure that you have ample time to adequately compare quotes, but some insurers offer a discount of as much as 12% for "early shopping." Sam Belden of Insurance.com explains, that insurance companies look at such consumers, "as being a responsible consumer, as opposed to someone who's in trouble with their current company."

While there's no immediate cure for sticker-shock at the gas pump, finding alternative methods of saving on your automobile - even if it's just the insurance premium - will help lessen the pain.