Tightwads Guide for Saving on Oconee Car Insurance

Are you sick and tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other Illinois consumers. Popular companies such as GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

If you have insurance now or need a new policy, you can learn to find the best rates and still get good coverage. Finding the best rates in Oconee is quite easy. Illinois drivers only need an understanding of the proper methods to buy car insurance online.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies do not advertise every discount in a way that's easy to find, so we break down some of the more common and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you are throwing money away.

Claim Free - Claim-free drivers can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Lower Rates for Military - Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save 10% to 20% off each policy.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with a few car insurance companies.
Air Bag Discount - Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
Defensive Driver - Taking a driver safety course could save 5% or more if you qualify.
55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for car insurance.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don't profit that way.

Tips to Get Lower Oconee Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your job can affect your rates? Careers like lawyers, business owners and dentists have the highest average rates attributed to job stress and long work hours. Other occupations such as farmers, historians and homemakers get better rates.
Save money with special equipment - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder car theft.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Most insurers provide better rates to policyholders who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find better rates by buying car insurance from a different company.
You might want pay the small claims yourself - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies in Illinois award cheaper rates to policyholders who do not file claims often. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
How's your driving record? - A bad driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Drivers who don't get tickets receive lower rates than bad drivers. Even one citation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. If you have serious violations like DUI or reckless driving may find they need to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
Little extras can really add up - There are many extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your policy. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem good at first, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Battle of the sexes - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women are in accidents in similar percentages, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.

How can Progressive, Allstate and GEICO save drivers who switch?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all make an identical promise of big savings if you switch your coverage to them.

How can each company make the same claim?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who are not a match for the requirements will be quoted more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. This emphasizes why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can read industry bulletins, view a list of available companies, read consumer alerts, and download brochures.

A tidy conclusion

As you prepare to switch companies, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

We just showed you many tips how you can reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the best prices are with an unexpected company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as .