Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Hillside Auto Insurance

Shopping for the most affordable Hillside auto insurance online is impossible for consumers not familiar with comparison shopping online. With so many choices of online companies available, how can consumers possibly compare every company to locate the lowest rates?

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

Pay Now and Pay Less - By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
Save over 55 - Mature drivers may receive better auto insurance rates.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
Memberships - Participating in certain professional organizations may earn a discount when shopping for auto insurance.
Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Own a Home - Simply owning a home can save you money because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To see a list of insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Hillside, click here.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Hillside, Illinois

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from local Hillside auto insurance companies. The best method to find the cheapest insurance rates consists of shopping online. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The best way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. One form will get you price quotes from multiple companies. This is perfect if you don't have a lot of time.
A less efficient way to get quotes online requires a visit to the website of each company and request a quote. For instance, we'll pretend you want comparison quotes from , and . To find out each rate you need to go to every website to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Hillside, click here.

Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare the exact same coverage limits with every price quote. If you use differing limits it's not possible to find the best deal in Hillside. Slightly different coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparison shopping, obtaining a wide range of quotes will enable you to find better pricing.

Hillside Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping auto theft.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean men are worse drivers. They both tend to get into accidents at a similar rate, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
Safer cars cost less to insure - Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
Liability coverage protects you - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection when a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
Do you need those extra coverages? - There are quite a few add-on coverages that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money get rid of them and save.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When choosing coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation may require specific advice.

What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Illinois?

If you can't answer these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all have a common claim about savings if you change to their company. How do they all make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who fall outside the "perfect" profile will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully make those claims. This emphasizes why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Drivers leave their current company for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, denial of a claim, delays in responding to claim requests or questionable increases in premium. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is actually quite simple.

While you're price shopping online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Cheap auto insurance is attainable online and also from your neighborhood Hillside agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

More sites with auto insurance information

Even more information can be read at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can view a list of available companies, learn about insurance regulations, and find disaster information.