Easy Ways to Spend Less on Centralia Auto Insurance

Saving money on Centralia auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers new to comparison shopping online. People have so many options that it can turn into a challenge to find the best price in Centralia.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to save some money using these methods. Buying affordable auto insurance in Centralia is simple if you know the tricks. But Illinois drivers do need to know how insurance companies sell online and take advantage of how the system works.

Save big with these discounts

Companies don't always publicize every discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class if offered at their school.
Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for auto insurance.
Claim Free - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if you qualify.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few auto insurance companies.
Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with the same company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
Seat Belts Save - Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Homeowners Pay Less - Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.

Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

Tips to Get Lower Centralia Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Keep rates low by being claim-free - Companies in Illinois award cheaper rates to people who do not file claims often. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Your insurance policy is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Car features impact rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder car theft.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Your policy's liability coverage will protect you when a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Careers like doctors, business owners and dentists have the highest average rates due to stressful work requirements and long work days. Other professions such as farmers, historians and retirees get better rates.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
How many coverages with the same company - Some insurers provide better rates to customers who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even though this discount sounds good, it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all make an identical promise that you'll save big if you change your coverage to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who fall outside the requirements will be quoted higher rates and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's why companies can make those claims. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. It is impossible to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

More Illinois auto insurance information

More detailed Illinois auto insurance information is available at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can download brochures, view a list of available companies, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Do the work, save more money

People leave their current company for a variety of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, questionable increases in premium, delays in responding to claim requests and even poor customer service. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Centralia, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

In this article, we presented many tips how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a small mutual company.