Tightwads Guide for Saving on Durand Auto Insurance

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much.

Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with fancy advertisements and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to shop coverage around periodically because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best deal a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. So just forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to learn the only way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies don't always list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance.

Braking Control Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver's ed class in high school.
Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.
Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.

It's important to note that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, you're out of luck.

Tips to Get Lower Durand Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the factors used by your company to calculate your rates.

High credit ratings translate to low rates - Your credit rating is a big factor in determining your rates. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible than drivers who have poor credit. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score.
Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs - Insurance companies in Illinois give cheaper rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can look forward to higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for larger claims.
Choose a safe vehicle and save - Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars protect occupants better and lower injury rates means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Your car's features help determine rates - Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can help prevent your vehicle from being stolen.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you move your coverage to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the requirements will be charged higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do. That is why drivers should compare many company's rates. It is impossible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional detailed information is available at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can find out industry alerts, download brochures, find disaster information, and view a list of available companies.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. Regional companies often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like .