Top Ways to Save on Oneida Car Insurance

No one likes having to buy car insurance, particularly when the price is too high. Because you have many companies and agents to choose from, it's nearly impossible to locate the lowest price insurance company.

It's important to compare prices periodically due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best deal last year a different company probably has better rates today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the proper way to find lower rates on car insurance.

This information will familiarize you with how car insurance quotes work and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these techniques. Illinois consumers only need to know the most efficient way to shop their coverage around on the web.

More discounts equal less premium

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but some must be asked for before you get the savings. If you don't get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Save with a New Car - Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Air Bag Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
College Student - Children who live away from home and don't have a car may be able to be covered for less.
Accident Forgiveness - Some insurance companies permit an accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a set time period.
Good Student - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce your premiums.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the factors car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Illinois have a tendency to be more careless behind the wheel so car insurance rates are higher. If you've ever had to add a young driver to your car insurance policy can be very expensive. Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Careful drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
Extra coverages can waste money - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can buy when buying car insurance. Things like personal injury protection, towing coverage and term life insurance are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment at first, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Some companies will give a discount to insureds who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you might need an agent's assistance.

Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Illinois?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Oneida?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers in Illinois get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you change to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. Any driver who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Drivers who do not match this ideal profile will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. You cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Additional Illinois consumer information

Additional information is available on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, discover disciplinary actions, and read consumer alerts.

Also read more on Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Oneida insurance agents.

In the end, you save

As you prepare to switch companies, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

We just presented a lot of tips how to reduce car insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the lowest rates come from an unexpected company. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as .

The cheapest car insurance is attainable both online and also from your neighborhood Oneida agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.