How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Addieville

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your bank account and put a big crunch on your finances. Doing a price comparison is a great way to slash your bill and have more diposable income. Consumers have many to pick from, and although it's nice to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates quite often because insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Addieville is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have a current auto insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, you can learn to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Illinois vehicle owners just need to know the proper methods to find the lowest price over the internet.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts very clearly, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Sign Online - A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
College Student - Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance.
Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
Seat Belt Usage - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
Driver Safety - Successfully completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Multiple Vehicles - Having multiple vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
Early Switch Discount - Select companies give a discount for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. It's a savings of about 10%.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse can get you a discount on auto insurance. It means you're more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Older drivers pay less - Teen drivers in Illinois are known to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a youthful driver to your auto insurance policy can be very expensive. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Drive less and save money - Driving more miles in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
Your location affects your rates - Residing in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers tend to have much more traffic and longer commute times. Lower population translates into fewer accidents.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Both sexes cause accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and therefore are the most expensive to insure.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Every insured's situation is different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you might need professional guidance.

Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Addieville?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and may give you better protection.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Illinois consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim that you'll save big after switching to their company.

How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay higher rates and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

More sites with auto insurance information

More detailed Illinois auto insurance information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can get help finding coverage, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and view agent and company licensing information.

Also read more on this site for Illinois auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Addieville.

A tidy conclusion

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be bought online and also from your neighborhood Addieville agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price.