Comparing Cheap Metropolis Auto Insurance

Tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Illinois. You have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to be able to choose, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to do rate comparisons before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a couple years back 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 remove unneeded coverages and save money.

This article will let you in on how car insurance quotes work. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using this information. Illinois consumers only need to know how to compare company rates online.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Metropolis

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Listed below are some of the factors companies use to determine your rates.

One company can mean more discounts - Most companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - Insurance companies in Illinois provide lower rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
With age comes lower rates - Teen drivers in Illinois are statistically proven to be less responsible in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Your credit rating is important - Your credit score is a huge factor in your rate calculation. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers with high credit ratings tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have poor credit.
Drive less and save money - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the higher your rates will be. Most companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles left parked in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
Don't skimp on liability - Liability insurance will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. It provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Safer cars cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like doctors, architects and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates in part from high stress levels and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like farmers, engineers and homemakers have the lowest average rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but you may find discounts that many people don't even know exist. Most are applied when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about before being credited. If you're not getting every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for reduced rates.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company qualifies for this discount.
Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Military Rewards - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Illinois, follow this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Illinois consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Allstate and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you switch to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more today

Additional information is available on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Illinois consumers can read consumer alerts, download brochures, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and find out industry alerts.

And the best car insurance company is...

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest auto insurance can be found online and with local Metropolis insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some auto insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.