Deerfield Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Are you overwhelmed by the number of auto insurance companies in Deerfield? Many other drivers are as well. Drivers have so many options available that it can turn into a lot of work to find the best price.

It's important to get comparison quotes at least once a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the proper way to save on auto insurance.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but companies offer discounts that you may not know about. Some trigger automatically at the time of purchase, but some must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.

  • Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
  • Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Multiple Cars - Having all your vehicles on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
  • No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

To see a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Illinois, click here to view.

Illinois auto insurance quotes

Quick Deerfield Auto Insurance Quotes

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance prices but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time driving to insurance companies in Deerfield, or you could save time and use online quotes to get prices fast.

Many insurance companies participate in a marketplace that enables customers to submit one quote, and each company then returns a price quote for coverage. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The only downside to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify which carriers you want to price. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to compare rates, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Illinois. Click here to view list.

It's up to you which method you use, but compare identical quote information for every quote you compare. If you use mixed coverages it's impossible to determine the best price in Deerfield. Quoting even small variations in coverages could mean much higher rates. Just keep in mind that having more price comparisons helps you find a better price.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with big savings.

Shown below are some of the factors that factor into rates.

  • Proper usage rating affects rates - The higher the mileage driven in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
  • Safer cars cost less to insure - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
  • Adjust deductibles and save - Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Jobs such as doctors, business owners and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates because of high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, jobs such as actors, engineers and retirees pay the least.
  • Pay less if you're married - Being married helps lower the price on your policy. It usually means you are more responsible and it's proven that being married results in fewer claims.
  • More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in Illinois award lower rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance coverage is designed for the large, substantial claims.
  • Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Just one speeding ticket may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run ads in print and on television. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you change your policy. How does each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay higher prices and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Affordable insurance is out there

When shopping online for auto insurance, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

Cheap auto insurance can be sourced online in addition to many Deerfield insurance agents, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

People leave their current company for a number of reasons such as delays in paying claims, delays in responding to claim requests, lack of trust in their agent or high rates after DUI convictions. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is actually quite simple.

auto insurance in Deerfield

Find out more about auto insurance

Additional information is available on the Illinois Department of Insurance website located here. Illinois consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find disaster information, and report car insurance fraud.

Additional helpful sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Deerfield insurance agents.