How to Get Cheap Highland Park Car Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of car insurance options in Highland Park? You have a lot of company. People have so many choices that it can turn into a real hassle to find the best price.

Locating the lowest cost coverage in Highland Park can be fairly easy. If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates and still get good coverage. Illinois consumers only need to know the best way to compare prices online.

How much can you save with discounts?

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but companies offer discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time you complete a quote, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for prior to getting the savings. If you're not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class in school.
  • Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
  • Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last until age 25.
  • Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
  • Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
  • No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies allow you one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for car insurance.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

compare Highland Park car insurance rates

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Equipment add-ons that lower car insurance rates - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your car from being stolen.
  • Policy add-ons can waste money - There are many extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and membership fees are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment initially, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
  • Tickets mean higher rates - A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers with clean records get better rates than bad drivers. Just one moving violation may increase your cost forty percent or more. If you have serious violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • Where you reside plays a part - Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas can save you money when it comes to car insurance. City drivers tend to have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Fewer people means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money - Most companies provide better rates to policyholders who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Companies in Illinois provide lower rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.
  • Marriage pays dividends - Getting married can actually save you money when buying car insurance. Having a significant other usually means you are more responsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing about savings if you switch your policy.

How does each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured who fits that profile will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't meet these standards will be quoted a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can truthfully state the savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Find out more about car insurance

Additional information can be read on the Illinois Department of Insurance website found here. Consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about a company.

Also read more on this site for car insurance rates in Illinois and this list of insurance agents in Highland Park, IL.

car insurance in Highland Park

In the end, you save

Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, questionable increases in premium, high prices and even policy non-renewal. It doesn't matter what your reason, finding a new car insurance company is less work than it seems.

The cheapest car insurance is available from both online companies in addition to many Highland Park insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

You just learned many ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies.