Tightwads Tips for Saving on Belleville Auto Insurance

I can't think of a single person who likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when the cost is way too high.

There are many to pick from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices occasionally because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price a few years ago you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate how to use online quotes to find great coverage at a great price.

Automobile Insurance Quotes in Belleville, IL

Most major insurance companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive allow you to get prices for coverage online. Getting online rates is fairly straightforward as you just type in your coverage preferences as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the company's rating system will obtain credit information and your driving record and returns pricing information based on many factors. This makes comparing rates easy, but the time it takes to visit each company's website and repetitively enter the same data into a form can be a bit repetitive. But it's very important to get many rate quotes in order to find better auto insurance pricing.

A less time-consuming method to get multiple rate quotes uses one simple form that obtains quotes from several different companies. The form is fast, eliminates form submissions, and makes online quotes much more efficient. After sending the form, it is rated and you can select any one of the returned quotes. If the quotes result in lower rates, you simply finish the application and purchase coverage. The entire process takes 15 minutes at the most and could lower your rates considerably.

To save time and find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and input your coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you enter your coverages exactly as shown on your declarations page. This way, you will have comparison quotes based on similar coverages.

Illinois auto insurance quotes

What determines how much you pay?

It's important that you understand the factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine rates.

  • Rural vs Urban Areas - Living in a rural area can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents.
  • Discounts for multiple policies - Many insurance companies will give a discount to customers who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse can get you a discount on auto insurance. It is viewed as being more mature and it's statistically proven that married couples file fewer claims.
  • More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.

These discounts can lower your rates

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

  • Bundle and Save - When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies permit an accident without raising rates as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Life Insurance Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • Driver Safety - Completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.

It's important to note that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like it's possible to get free car insurance, you're out of luck.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click here.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions might point out whether you would benefit from professional advice.

  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • 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?
  • Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Additional detailed information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, get help finding coverage, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other useful links include Wikipedia and this Belleville agent directory.

Belleville auto insurance quote

Do the work, save more money

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced online and with local Belleville insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the best price on auto insurance is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets than the large multi-state companies such as .