Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on Blandinsville Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your bank account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing price quotes is a great way to make sure you're not throwing money away.

Consumers have many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

The purpose of this post is to help you learn how to effectively get price quotes and some money-saving tips. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Nevertheless, Illinois drivers do need to know the way companies market insurance on the web and apply this information to your search.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in big savings.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Increase deductibles and save - The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and burglary. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean men are worse drivers. They both have accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem good at first, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
The more you drive the more you pay - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle.
Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse helps lower the price on auto insurance. Having a spouse means you're more mature and responsible and it's statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.

How to Buy Blandinsville Auto Insurance Online

There are several ways to compare auto insurance quotes, but some are less time-consuming than others. You can spend your afternoon talking to insurance companies in Blandinsville, or you can utilize online quoting to get prices fast.

Most of the larger companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to only type in their quote data once, and every company returns a rated price based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms for each company you want a rate for.

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

The one downside to using this type of form is you can't choose which providers you want pricing from. So if you want to choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have a listing of low cost auto insurance companies in Illinois. Click here to view list.

However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare identical coverage limits with each company. If you have differing limits it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Blandinsville. Slightly different coverage limits may result in a large different in cost. And when comparison shopping, getting more free quotes helps you find better pricing.

How much can you save with discounts?

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there could be available discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but a few need to be inquired about before you will receive the discount.

Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
Life Insurance Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Low mileage vehicles can earn a substantially lower rate.
Organization Discounts - Participating in a qualifying organization may earn a discount when buying auto insurance.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Student in College - Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don't have a car can receive lower rates.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

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

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the companies have a common claim of big savings if you change to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't meet these standards must pay more money and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

This illustrates why you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

How much car insurance do I need?

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone's needs are different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs might need an agent's assistance.

Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance through this link. Illinois consumers can report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other informative sites include this link for Illinois auto insurance quotes and this page for help finding agents in Blandinsville, IL.

Do the work, save more money

Cost effective auto insurance is attainable online and also from your neighborhood Blandinsville agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.