Tightwads Guide to Saving on Batavia Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your bank account and force you to make sacrifices. Doing a price comparison is free and is an excellent way to cut your insurance bill. Because you have many insurance companies to choose from, it is very difficult to choose the lowest price car insurance company.

It's important to compare prices yearly because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price on your last policy you may be paying too much now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to learn one of the easiest ways to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

Shopping for affordable auto insurance coverage in Batavia is easy if you know what you're doing. If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you can use these techniques to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Illinois vehicle owners just need to know the tricks to compare prices online.

Where Can I Get Cheap Batavia Auto Insurance?

Shopping for lower auto insurance rates can take time and effort if you don't know the easiest way. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with local insurance agents in Batavia, or you could use online quoting to get the quickest rates.

All the larger companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to enter their policy data once, and each participating company can provide price quotes based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests for each company you want a rate for.

To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

One minor caviat to doing it this way is you don't know exactly which companies you will receive quotes from. If you wish to select from a list of companies to receive pricing from, we have a page of companies who write auto insurance in Illinois. View list of Illinois insurance companies.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just make sure you use apples-to-apples deductibles and coverage limits for each price quote. If each company quotes different values for each quote you can't possibly truly determine the lowest rate in Batavia.

Illinois auto insurance

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Even a single citation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Please use or commuting - The more you drive in a year's time the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Theft deterrents lower rates - Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
  • More than one policy can earn a discount - The majority of auto insurance companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it's still a good idea to shop around to ensure the best deal.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind - The liability section of your policy is the protection in the event that a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.

How much can you save with discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be inquired about before you will receive the discount. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • Good Student Discount - Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
  • Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Service Members Pay Less - Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • More Vehicles More Savings - Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Accident Waiver - Some insurance companies allow you one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a set time period.
  • Auto/Life Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy life insurance.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Successfully completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
  • Sign Early and Save - Some companies give discounts for switching policies before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click this link.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

  • Should I buy only the required Illinois minimum liability coverage?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
  • Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It's fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Much more information about auto insurance in Illinois is located on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance found here. Illinois consumers can file complaints about a company, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, and read consumer alerts.

Other useful links include III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Batavia Illinois.

Illinois auto insurance quotes

And the best car insurance company is...

You just read some good ideas how to lower your auto insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the biggest savings come from a small mutual company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates compared to the large companies like .

When you buy insurance online, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.