Comparing Cheaper Freeport Car Insurance

Are you tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You are no different than many other Illinois consumers.

Lots of contend for your hard-earned dollar, so it's not easy to compare every to get the lowest rate

If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to save some money using this information. Finding affordable coverage in Freeport is easy if you know what you're doing. But Illinois car owners do need to know how insurance companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies don't list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Memberships - Belonging to certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance.
Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Defensive Driver - Completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags can get savings of more than 20%.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Driving fewer miles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on the same car insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
One Accident Forgiven - A few companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums so long as you haven't had any claims prior to the accident.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of insurers offering car insurance discounts in Freeport, click here to view.

Cheap Freeport Car Insurance Comparisons

The are a couple different ways to compare quotes and find the best price. The best method to find the lowest rates is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The best way to find low rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for separate quotes for every car insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form compares rates instantly.
Another way to shop for car insurance online is going to each individual company website and request a quote. For instance, let's assume you want rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Freeport, click here.
The least recommended way to compare rates is to drive around to different agent offices. Shopping for car insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the personal advice of a local agent. However, consumers can obtain prices from the web but buy from a local insurance agent and we'll talk about that later.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you're using the exact same coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If you use different liability limits then you won't be able to find the best deal in Freeport. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages may result in large price differences. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more company's prices will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Tips to Get Lower Freeport Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that go into determining your car insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

Liability coverage is peace of mind - Liability insurance will protect you if you are found to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
An active claims history can cost you - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance companies in Illinois award better rates to people who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Most insurers will award you with lower prices to policyholders who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even though this discount sounds good, it's still a good idea to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
Do you need those extra coverages? - There are many extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.
How's your driving record? - Whether or not you get tickets impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than bad drivers. Even one ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers with serious tickets such as DUI or reckless driving are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
Safer cars cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
Equipment add-ons that lower car insurance rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder car theft.
Battle of the sexes - The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men have accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to receive more costly citations such as reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the companies make an identical promise that you'll save big if you switch your coverage to them. How do they all make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer that is profitable for them. An example of a profitable customer could be over the age of 50, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That's why companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why drivers must quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Affordable insurance is out there

Discount car insurance can be found from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Freeport, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. Some car insurance companies don't offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When shopping online for car insurance, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

More detailed Illinois car insurance information is available at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, download brochures, read consumer alerts, and discover disciplinary actions.