Tightwads Tips for Saving on Maroa Auto Insurance

Nobody looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is way too high.

There are many to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine prices.

Car features impact rates - Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent auto theft.
Better credit means lower rates - Having a bad credit history is a big factor in determining your rates. If your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with lower credit scores.
Rural vs Urban Areas - Living in a small town can save you money when buying auto insurance. Urban drivers regularly have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Fewer people means fewer accidents.
Do men or women drive better? - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Men and women have accidents in similar percentages, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI. Young males are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise every discount very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Life Insurance Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get reduced rates.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with a few auto insurance companies.

It's important to note that some credits don't apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all have a common claim that you can save after switching to them. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as a mature driver, owns a home, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will be quoted higher rates and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That is how insurance companies can make those claims. This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions might point out whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Additional detailed information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can view a list of available companies, find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, and learn about insurance regulations.

Do the work, save more money

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of ways to save on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the best price on auto insurance is with some of the smallest insurance companies. Some small companies often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like .