Finding the Cheapest Bunker Hill Auto Insurance

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is way too high. Big-name insurance companies like GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with ad campaigns and it can be hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are looking for a new policy, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. Buying car insurance in Bunker Hill is easy if you know what you're doing. Illinois vehicle owners just need to know the proper way to get comparison rates over the internet.

Tips to Get Lower Bunker Hill Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate premiums.

Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are a ton of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Insurance for roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Many insurance companies will award you with lower prices to people who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
Lower deductibles cost more - The deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. The higher the amount you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
A lapse in coverage is a bad thing - Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a sure-fire way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will you pay more, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a license revocation or jail time.

Save big with these discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. Some trigger automatically when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be inquired about before they will apply. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Driver Safety - Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Bunker Hill can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Seat Belt Usage - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared with accident-prone drivers.
Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Auto/Home Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
Accident Forgiveness - A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven't had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

To choose insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Bunker Hill, click here.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Illinois drivers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies have a common claim that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them.

How can each company say the same thing?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, owns a home, and has great credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who fall outside the requirements must pay higher rates and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That is how companies can advertise the savings.

This illustrates why you should get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions might point out if your situation would benefit from an agent's advice.

Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?

If you can't answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

For more Illinois car insurance information

Much more information about auto insurance in Illinois can be found on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance located here. Illinois drivers can discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, report car insurance fraud, and find a variety of consumer forms.

A tidy conclusion

Discount auto insurance can be sourced on the web as well as from independent agents in Bunker Hill, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who don't offer online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.