How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Beardstown

Have you had enough of being strong-armed each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Illinois. You have multiple to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to be able to choose, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to do rate comparisons before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the fastest and easiest way to find better coverage at a better price.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Beardstown is quite easy. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Illinois drivers only need an understanding of how to find the lowest price online.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Beardstown

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

Men fork out a little more - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. They both cause accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI.
Never allow your policy to lapse - Not having insurance can get your license suspended and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but not being able to provide proof of insurance might get you a revoked license or a big fine.Then you may be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Illinois motor vehicle department.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Jobs such as judges, business owners and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates attributed to job stress and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, jobs such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
High numbers of claims are not good - Car insurance companies in Illinois award lower rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
The more you drive the more you pay - The more you drive every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder car theft.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - The liability section of your policy will protect you if ever a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies don't always list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the best known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you're not getting every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
Seat Belts Save - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in high school.
Drive Less and Save - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates on auto insurance.

It's important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn't quite work that way.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click here to view.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Illinois drivers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make an identical promise of big savings if you move to them.

How does each company say the same thing?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay more money and ends up with business not being written. The ads state "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Learn more today

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can learn about insurance regulations, find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and download brochures.

And the best car insurance company is...

As you shop your coverage around, it's very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

Low-cost auto insurance is definitely available on the web and with local Beardstown insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.