How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Eddyville

Nobody I know looks forward to paying for auto insurance, in particular when the cost is way too high.

Big companies like GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with advertising and it is difficult to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to compare rates periodically because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price six months ago you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out the only way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Finding affordable coverage in Eddyville is not that difficult. Although Illinois drivers do need to know the way insurance companies price online insurance and apply this information to your search.

How to Get Eddyville Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

There are several ways to shop for auto insurance, and some are less time-consuming than others. You could spend your day talking to insurance agencies in Eddyville, or you could save time and use the internet to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

All the larger companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and every company can give them a price. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms for each company you want a rate for. To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The one downside to using this type of form is you are unable to specify which companies you want to price. So if you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare rates, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Illinois. Click here for list of insurance companies in Illinois.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles with each company. If you are comparing different liability limits it's not possible to make an equal comparison in Eddyville. Having just a slight variation in coverages may result in a large different in cost. Keep in mind that getting more free quotes will improve the odds of getting the best rates.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get big savings.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Even a single moving violation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - Most auto insurance companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to shop around to ensure the best deal.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like lawyers, executives and dentists tend to have the highest average rates because of high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations like scientists, historians and homemakers receive lower rates.

How much can you save with discounts?

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts that many people don't even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of quoting, but a few need to be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.

Braking Control Discount - Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
Multi-policy Discount - When you have multiple policies with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially compared to frequent claim filers.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
Homeowners Savings - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

For a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Eddyville, click this link.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Illinois?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Additional information can be found on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance located here. Illinois consumers can find out industry alerts, file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, and read industry bulletins.

Final considerations

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, someone dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

You just read many ideas to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more quotes you get, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the best price on auto insurance is with the least-expected company. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .