Lower Online Evanston Car Insurance Prices With These Tips

People who are new to shopping for insurance online will discover buying low-cost Evanston car insurance quite difficult.

It's important to compare prices occasionally because rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you're about to learn the only way to get good coverage at a lower rate.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Rural vs Urban Areas - Living in a rural area can be a good thing when it comes to car insurance. City drivers regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
Poor credit can mean higher rates - Credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. If your credit rating is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with poor credit.
What type of vehicle do you drive? - The type of car you own makes a big difference in determining your rates. The lowest rates are usually for economy passenger vehicles, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Marriage brings a discount - Having a wife or husband can actually save you money when buying car insurance. It means you're more mature and it's proven that married couples file fewer claims.

Evanston Car Insurance Quote Comparison

The are a couple different ways to compare quotes from different Evanston insurance companies. One of the best ways to find competitive insurance rates involves getting comparison quotes online. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

The fastest way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This method prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry for every car insurance company. A single form compares rates direct from many companies. Just one form and you're done.
Another way to shop for car insurance online is going to the website for each individual company to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let's say you want to compare , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Evanston, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different liability limits it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Evanston. Just a small difference in limits may cause a big price difference. And when quoting car insurance, remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes gives you a better chance of getting the best rates.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts very well, so we researched some of the more common as well as the least known car insurance savings.

Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Sign Online - Certain companies will give a small break just for signing your application online.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

It's important to note that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, you're out of luck.

To choose companies offering car insurance discounts in Illinois, follow this link.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you switch to their company. But how can every company make the same claim?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a short commute. A customer who fits that profile receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you need to compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which company will fit your personal profile best.

Insurance agents can help

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone's needs are different.

For example, these questions might point out whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Illinois?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form.

Additional detailed information is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, find out industry alerts, and learn about specific coverages.

Other informative sites include Wikipedia and this Evanston agent directory.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

As you shop your coverage around, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an insured cut liability coverage limits only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

We just showed you a lot of information how to compare car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from a small local company.

Lower-priced car insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Evanston agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.