Little Known Tips to Paying Less for Elgin Illinois Car Insurance

Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say many Elgin consumers feel financially strained by their car insurance policy.

Multiple insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every insurance company to discover the definitive lowest rate possible.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always publicize all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

• Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
• Discount for Good Grades – This discount can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
• Early Switch Discount – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Military Rewards – Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
• Save over 55 – Mature drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
• Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than less cautious drivers.
• Sign Online – Certain companies will give a small break simply for signing over the internet.
• Payment Discounts – If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
• Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.

It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in Elgin, click this link.

There’s no such thing as the perfect policy

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.

• Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• When would I need rental car insurance?
• Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
• Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
• Should I buy additional glass protection?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can report car insurance fraud, view a list of available companies, and find disaster information.

Quote often and quote early

When shopping online for car insurance, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Cost effective car insurance is possible both online and with local Elgin insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

You just read a lot of techniques to get a better price on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. They may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like Allstate and Progressive.