Best 9 Ways You Can Buy Car Insurance for Less in Hometown

Expensive car insurance can take a big chunk out of your personal savings and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparison shopping is a great way to help make ends meet. Numerous battle for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare and uncover the absolute lowest rate

It's important to take a look at other company's rates yearly since rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price last year you will most likely find a better rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to how to use online quotes to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies don't always list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren't giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

College Student - Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance.
Sign Online - A few companies will give a small break for buying your policy on their website.
Driver Safety - Successfully completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Anti-lock Brakes - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better car insurance rates.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no "perfect" insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions can help discover whether you might need an agent's assistance.

Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Illinois?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Illinois?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Hometown?
Should I buy additional glass protection?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

How can Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching to their company.

How do they all make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has great credit. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who are not a match for the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher prices and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about car insurance in Illinois

Even more information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, get help finding coverage, and discover disciplinary actions.

A tidy conclusion

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.

Cheap car insurance can be sourced from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Hometown agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.