Easy Tips to Pay Less on Colchester Auto Insurance

Finding lower premiums on Colchester auto insurance is hard for consumers not familiar with comparing rates online. Consumers have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become a lot of work to find lower rates in Colchester.

It's important to do rate comparisons before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest rates two years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Colchester

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Your credit rating is important - Your credit rating is a large factor in your rate calculation. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have lower credit scores. So if your credit score can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Don't let your coverage lapse - Not having insurance is against the law and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. Not only will you pay more, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance will get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.You may have to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Illinois DMV.
Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies in Illinois give lower rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. Auto insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
More miles equals more premium - The more you drive every year the higher your rates will be. Most companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Autos left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
Men fork out a little more - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. Women and men tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving.
Multi-policy discounts can save money - The majority of auto insurance companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. Consumers may find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Youthful drivers in Illinois tend to be less responsible in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Only having one speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers who get severe violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.

Compare Colchester Auto Insurance Costs

Reducing your insurance rates is a fairly straight forward process. Just take a few minutes to compare rate quotes from different insurance companies. This can be done in several different ways.

The fastest way to get the best comparison quotes is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms for every auto insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form gets you coverage quotes from multiple low-cost companies. It's definitely the quickest method.
A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes consists of going to each company website to request a price quote. For example, we'll pretend you want rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method. To view a list of companies in Colchester, click here.
The hardest way of comparing rate quotes is to drive around to insurance agents' offices. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you prefer the professional advice of a local Colchester agent. Drivers can find lower rates online and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just ensure you're using identical coverages for each price quote. If you compare different limits and deductibles on each one it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Colchester.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before you will receive the discount. If you're not getting every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Air Bag Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
One Accident Forgiven - Certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free prior to the accident.

It's important to note that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click this link.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers in Illinois can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you move to them.

How does each company claim to save you money?

All companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk might be over the age of 50, is a homeowner, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Drivers who don't qualify for these standards will be charged higher premiums which leads to the customer not buying. The ads say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's why insurance companies can state the savings.

That is why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More information can be found on the Illinois Department of Insurance website through this link. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, find a variety of consumer forms, and download brochures.

Other informative sites include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of Colchester insurance agents.

A tidy conclusion

We covered some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising.

Insureds who switch companies do it for many reasons like poor customer service, being labeled a high risk driver, high rates after DUI convictions or even delays in paying claims. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right auto insurance provider is easier than you think.

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.