Fairview Heights Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Comparison shopping for Fairview Heights auto insurance is challenging for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. You have so many choices that it can quickly become a lot of work to compare prices in Fairview Heights.

It's important to compare rates once or twice a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Men pay higher rates - The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents at a similar rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI. Young males are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
  • Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates - Teenage drivers in Illinois are known to be more careless in a vehicle so auto insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
  • How credit affects auto insurance rates - Credit history is a big factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower credit scores.
  • Where do you drive? - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based on their usage. Autos left parked in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive - Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, or theft. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Traffic citations inflate rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.

Fairview Heights auto insurance comparison

Fast and Easy Fairview Heights Auto Insurance Quotes

The are a couple different ways of comparing rate quotes and find the best price. One of the best ways to find competitive insurance rates is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

  1. The fastest way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This form eliminates the need for separate quotes for every auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you rate comparisons instantly. Just one form and you're done.
  2. A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires you to visit each company's website and request a quote. For sake of this example, let's say you want rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to spend time on each company's site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Fairview Heights, click here.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverage information with every price quote. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits then you won't be able to find the best deal in Fairview Heights. Having just a slight variation in limits may result in a large different in cost. It's important to know that getting more free quotes gives you a better chance of getting the best offered rates.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there could be available discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

  • Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
  • Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
  • Passive Restraints - Factory air bags can receive discounts up to 30%.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click this link.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make the same claim that you can save after switching to their company. But how can every company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to business not being written. The ad wording is "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More information can be read on the Illinois Department of Insurance website found here. Illinois drivers can learn about insurance regulations, view a list of available companies, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other informative sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Fairview Heights.

compare Fairview Heights auto insurance rates

Shop smart and save

When shopping online for auto insurance, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price.

Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including denial of a claim, unfair underwriting practices, not issuing a premium refund or even poor customer service. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new auto insurance company is easier than you think.

In this article, we covered many ideas to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies.