Top Ways to Save on Edwardsville Auto Insurance

Sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as millions of other consumers. Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with catchy ads and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to check auto insurance prices once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out the fastest and easiest way to find better coverage at a better price.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The more you drive the more you pay - The more you drive every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars that are left in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Verify your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
Small claims can cost you - Car insurance companies in Illinois generally give cheaper rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Don't cancel a policy without a new one in place - Driving your car without having proper coverage is a misdemeanor 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 can result in a license revocation or jail time.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Jobs such as lawyers, social workers and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates attributed to high stress and long work hours. Other professions such as farmers, historians and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for roadside assistance, towing coverage and motor club memberships are some examples. These coverages may sound good at first, but if you don't need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Just one moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have severe citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Having a spouse can save you money - Having a spouse actually saves money on auto insurance. It is viewed as being more mature and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.

Save big with these discounts

Companies don't always advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you are paying more than you should be.

Discount for New Cars - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in high school.
Seat Belt Usage - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Accident Free - Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Defensive Driving Course - Taking a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.

It's important to note that some credits don't apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Edwardsville, click here.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Illinois consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you move to them.

How can each company make almost identical claims?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who fall outside the requirements will have to pay a more expensive rate and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "people who switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's why insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Additional detailed information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, find a variety of consumer forms, and read industry bulletins.

And the best car insurance company is...

As you shop your coverage around, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

Lower-priced auto insurance is definitely available online and with local Edwardsville insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.