Top Ways to Save on Grayville Auto Insurance

Are you tired of being strong-armed each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than millions of other consumers. There are many to pick from, and although it's nice to have a selection, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest rates a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

The purpose of this post is to instruct you on how to get online quotes and some money-saving tips. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Illinois drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to compare rates online.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If you're not getting every credit available, you're paying more than you need to.

Save over 55 - Mature drivers can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
Drivers Education - Have your child complete a driver education course in high school.
Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
Life Insurance Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a course in driver safety could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Good Students Pay Less - A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
College Student - Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing over the internet.

Consumers should know that some credits don't apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click here.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in Grayville

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices is actually quite simple. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The best way to get quotes is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This type of form eliminates the need for repetitive form entry to each individual auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form gets you coverage quotes direct from many companies.
A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online consists of going to each company's website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, we'll pretend you want rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Grayville, click here.
The most time-consuming way of comparing rate quotes is to waste gas driving to local Grayville insurance agencies. The internet has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the professional guidance only provided by licensed Grayville agents. It is possible to obtain prices from the web but buy from a local insurance agent.

Whichever method you choose, double check that you are using identical coverages on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different limits and deductibles on each one it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Grayville.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

The list below includes a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine rates.

Men fork out a little more - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. They both have accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
High numbers of claims are not good - Car insurance companies in Illinois generally give lower rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can expect higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
More miles equals more premium - The more you drive every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. 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 submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Mature drivers pay less - Teen drivers in Illinois tend to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Having a spouse can save you money - Having a spouse actually saves money on auto insurance. It is viewed as being more mature and responsible and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Safer occupants lowers premiums - Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Illinois consumers can't get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings if you move to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

A tidy conclusion

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

Cost effective auto insurance is definitely available online and with local Grayville insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

More Illinois auto insurance information

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance through this link. Illinois consumers can learn about insurance regulations, download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and file complaints about a company.

Additional helpful sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Grayville.