Easy Tips to Save Money on Oak Park Auto Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the crazy number of auto insurance company choices in Oak Park? You're not alone. Consumers have so many options that it can turn into a ton of work to find the best price.

It's important to shop coverage around at least once a year because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price a year ago you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out the tricks you need to know to find great coverage at a great price.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Oak Park

Most major insurance companies provide coverage price quotes directly from their websites. This process is fairly simple as you just type in the coverage amounts you desire as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the company's rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and provides a quote.

Online quotes streamlines rate comparisons, but the work required to visit each company's website and repetitively fill out multiple forms can be a bit tiresome and repetitive. But it's very important to compare as many rates as possible if you want to find better auto insurance pricing.

Quote rates the easy way

A less time-consuming method to find better auto insurance pricing uses one form that gets price quotes from multiple companies. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes comparison shopping much easier. After your information is entered, it gets priced and you can select your choice of the returned quotes. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. The whole process takes 15 minutes at the most and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you duplicate the limits and deductibles as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you are getting comparison quotes based on similar coverages.

Tips to Get Lower Oak Park Rates

It's important that you understand some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Do men or women drive better? - Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women are in accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment at first, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles that are left in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your auto insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage.
Your car's features help determine rates - Choosing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can thwart your car from being stolen.
Liability coverage is cheap - Liability coverage provides coverage if ever a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
Performance influences rates - The performance level of the vehicle you own makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. Lower performance four cylinder passenger models receive the most favorable rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Older drivers save more - Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets. Teen drivers are known to be more careless when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden auto insurance savings.

Save over 55 - Older drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
Driver Safety - Taking a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
Club Memberships - Participating in a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Oak Park, follow this link.

Even more information can be found at the California Department of Insurance website. California consumers can learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Final considerations

While you're price shopping online, it's not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.

Cheaper auto insurance can be purchased online as well as from independent agents in Oak Park, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies don't offer online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for many reasons like denial of a claim, delays in responding to claim requests, delays in paying claims and extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding the right auto insurance provider is not as hard as you think.