Proven Techniques to Save on Athens Auto Insurance

Expensive auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your checking account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparison shopping is a great way to tighten up your finances. You have multiple to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Athens

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine prices.

Optional equipment can affect rates - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention devices like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping auto theft.
Proper usage rating affects rates - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the higher your rate. Most companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are quite a few add-on coverages that can waste your money if you aren't careful. Coverages for personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
Your credit rating is important - Having a bad credit score is a important factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with lower credit scores. Therefore, if your credit is low, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse helps lower the price on auto insurance. Having a significant other is viewed as being more responsible and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Compare Auto Insurance Today

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, but one way is more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking to agents in Athens, or you could save time and use the web to get prices fast.

Most of the larger companies take part in a program that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and at least one company provides a quote for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The one downside to getting quotes like this is that you can't choose which providers to get quotes from. If you wish to select specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Illinois. Click here to view list.

However you get your quotes, make sure you use identical coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you use differing limits it's impossible to determine the lowest rate in Athens.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not list every discount very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Pay Now and Pay Less - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
New Vehicle Savings - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Illinois, click here.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Illinois drivers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all have a common claim about savings if you change to them.

How does each company say the same thing?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will be quoted higher prices and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings. This emphasizes why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you could use an agent's help.

Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Even more information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can view a list of available companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, discover disciplinary actions, and find out industry alerts.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Illinois and this list of insurance agents in Athens, IL.

Best coverage at the best price

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Cheap auto insurance is attainable on the web and with local Athens insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.