Quote Lockport Auto Insurance Prices With These Methods

Saving money on Lockport auto insurance is hard for beginners to comparing rates online. There are so many options available that it can turn into a big hassle to find the best price in Lockport.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. The purpose of this post is to let you in on how to effectively get price quotes and some money-saving tips. But Illinois consumers do need to know how companies price insurance differently and apply this information to your search.

Save big with these discounts

Companies don't necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both the well known and the more hidden auto insurance savings.

  • Memberships - Being a member of certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying auto insurance.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Fewer annual miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Paperless Signup - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
  • Student in College - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Good Students Pay Less - A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
  • Claim Free - Claim-free drivers can save substantially when compared with bad drivers.

Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To see a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Lockport, follow this link.

Compare Lockport Auto Insurance Costs

There are several ways of comparing rates and find the best price. The best method to find the lowest rates is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

  • The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This method saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry to each individual auto insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form gets rate comparisons direct from many companies. It's the fastest way to compare.
  • A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online is spending the time to visit each individual company website to complete a price quote. For examples sake, we'll assume you want rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method.

    To view a list of companies in Lockport, click here.
  • The least efficient way to get comparison rates is driving around to insurance agents' offices. Shopping for auto insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the personal advice only provided by licensed Lockport agents. You can, however, obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

Whichever way you use, ensure you're using the exact same information for every company. If the quotes have higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to decipher which rate is best in Lockport. Just a small difference in insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing a large number of companies will increase your chances of finding the best price.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate premiums.

  • Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Liability coverage will protect you if you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • High numbers of claims are not good - If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Auto insurance companies in Illinois provide better rates to people who do not file claims often. Insurance coverage is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage.
  • Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying when buying auto insurance. Coverages like roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea at first, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.
  • Marriage pays dividends - Having a spouse can get you a discount when buying auto insurance. Having a spouse translates into being more mature than a single person and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Occupations such as lawyers, architects and accountants have higher rates than average attributed to stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, professions such as farmers, athletes and performers get better rates.
  • Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder your car from being stolen.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the companies say the same thing that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a profitable customer might be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who fall outside the "perfect" profile must pay more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's why companies can make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why drivers must compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Shop smart and save

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be purchased both online as well as from independent agents in Lockport, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers don't offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for many reasons like questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions, delays in paying claims or delays in responding to claim requests. Whatever your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider is actually quite simple.

As you shop your coverage around, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

Learn more today

More detailed Illinois auto insurance information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find out which companies have the most complaints, download brochures, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.