Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Manlius Auto Insurance

Tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You are no different than many other drivers in Illinois. Lots of contend to insure your vehicles, so it's not easy to compare every to discover the definitive lowest price

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. If you had the best deal on your last policy you can probably find a better price now. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

  • Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage insurance, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, or theft. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates - Driving with no insurance is against the law and your next policy will cost more because you let your coverage have a gap. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage will get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Jobs such as doctors, executives and accountants tend to have higher rates than average attributed to high stress levels and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations like farmers, athletes and the unemployed receive lower rates.
  • Liability coverage is cheap - The liability section of your policy will protect you if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Discounts for married couples - Being married actually saves money on your auto insurance policy. It means you're more responsible and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Where you live can impact rates - Being located in a rural area can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers who live in large Illinois cities have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. More time commuting means higher likelihood of an accident.
  • Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving citation history impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Careful drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Only having one moving violation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who have severe citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Choose a safe vehicle and save - Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both the well known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren't giving you every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Manlius may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • More Vehicles More Savings - Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
  • One Accident Forgiven - A few companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Manlius, click this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers in Illinois can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you move to their company.

How do they all claim to save you money?

All companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured might be between 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher premiums which leads to the customer not buying. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's why companies can truthfully advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Even more information is available at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

In the end, you save

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Manlius agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.