Compare Bridgeview Car Insurance Prices With These Tips

Are you intimidated by the dozens of car insurance companies in Bridgeview? You're not the only one! You have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a lot of work to locate the lowest price.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched some of the more common and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance. If they aren't giving you every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to certain professional organizations could trigger savings when buying car insurance.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Discount for Swiching Early - Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.
  • Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
  • Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance.
  • 55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive reduced rates.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.

  • Liability coverage is cheap - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage if you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
  • Is your vehicle built for speed? - The performance level of the car you are insuring makes a big difference in your rates. Low performance passenger models generally receive the lowest base rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
  • How's your driving record? - Whether or not you get tickets impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Good drivers get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Only having one moving violation can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers with dangerous tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Where you live can impact rates - Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas is a positive aspect when it comes to car insurance. Fewer people means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers in populated Illinois areas have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commute times. More time on the road translates into higher accident risk.
  • Men are more aggressive - Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. Both sexes cause accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations such as reckless driving.

The car insurance bait and switch

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies make the same claim about savings if you change to them.

How do they all make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A customer who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile must pay higher rates which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This illustrates why drivers should quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Learn more about Illinois car insurance

Even more information is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, find disaster information, and learn about specific coverages.

And the best car insurance company is...

Cheaper car insurance is attainable from both online companies and with local Bridgeview insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We just showed you many ideas to reduce car insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies.

When you buy insurance online, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, someone sacrificed collision coverage and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.