Tightwads Guide to Saving on Clarendon Hills Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you many Clarendon Hills consumers feel financially strained by their auto insurance policy. With so many choices of insurance companies, it can be hard to find the cheapest company.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates at least once a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online, so I'm going to show you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

Finding the best rates in Clarendon Hills is quite easy. If you have a current auto insurance policy or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices while maximizing coverage. Illinois drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to shop for auto insurance over the internet.

Clarendon Hills Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Men pay higher rates - Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Both sexes are in accidents at a similar rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI. Male drivers age 16 to 19 tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
  • Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy if you aren't careful. Things like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates - Teenage drivers in Illinois are known to be more careless when behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
  • One company can mean more discounts - Many insurance companies will give a discount to people who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. You may still find a better deal by buying auto insurance from a different company.
  • Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as real estate brokers, social workers and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates in part from job stress and long work days. On the other hand, occupations such as actors, students and performers receive lower rates.
  • Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates.
  • Car features impact rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.

Clarendon Hills auto insurance comparison

Comprehensive Clarendon Hills Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

All major auto insurance companies quote coverage prices on their websites. Getting online quotes is pretty painless as you just type in the coverage amounts you desire as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, their system will obtain your driving record and credit report and generates pricing information. This helps simplify price comparisons, but the time it takes to visit several different sites and type in the same information can be a bit repetitive. But it's very important to do this if you are searching for better auto insurance pricing.

There is an easier way!

The preferred way to find better auto insurance pricing requires only one form that gets price quotes from many companies. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes online quotes much more enjoyable and efficient. Immediately after you send the form, it is quoted and you can select any or none of the resulting price quotes. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you simply finish the application and buy the new coverage. It can be completed in less than 10 minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To quickly find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you type in your coverages identical to your current policy. This makes sure you will have comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies that sell car insurance don't always publicize all their discounts very well, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you don't get every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
  • Driver Safety - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
  • College Student - Youth drivers living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
  • Federal Government Employee - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
  • Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
  • Driver's Ed - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click here.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Illinois drivers can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings after switching to their company.

But how can every company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured might be profiled as a mature driver, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Consumers who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay higher rates and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Clarendon Hills.

auto insurance in Clarendon Hills

A tidy conclusion

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.

Cost effective auto insurance can be bought on the web and also from your neighborhood Clarendon Hills agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.