Car Insurance in Altamont - 8 Discounts You Might be Losing Out On

Scraping up a payment for overpriced car insurance can dwindle your bank account and make it hard to pay other bills. Doing a price comparison is free and is an excellent way to tighten up your finances. There is such a variety of to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

It's important to get comparison quotes quite often since rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best rates a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. There is too much inaccurate information about car insurance on the web, but we're going to give you some great ways to find cheap car insurance.

The purpose of this post is to help you learn the most effective way to quote insurance and some money-saving tips. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Illinois vehicle owners just need to know the most efficient way to shop their coverage around online.

More discounts equal less premium

Car insurance is not cheap, but companies offer discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at quote time, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied in order for you to get them. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Braking Control Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Resident Student - Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have a car may be able to be covered for less.
Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
Military Discounts - Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver's ed class in school.
Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles could qualify for better rates on cars that stay parked.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will bring down your premiums.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Everyone's situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you might need an agent's assistance.

Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Illinois?
What are Illinois no-fault laws?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers in Illinois get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from companies such as Allstate and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim that you'll save big if you switch your policy.

How does each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk might be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. Any new insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who do not match these standards will be charged more money which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. This is how companies can make the claims of big savings.

That is why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

More sites with car insurance information

Much more information about car insurance in Illinois can be read on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance located here. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find disaster information.

Best coverage at the best price

As you shop your coverage around, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Discount car insurance can be found both online in addition to many Altamont insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.