Easy Techniques to Save Money on Palos Hills Auto Insurance

Shopping for the cheapest Palos Hills auto insurance on the web is intimidating for consumers new to online price comaprisons. Since there are so many companies in the marketplace, how can consumers possibly compare the different rates to find the lowest price?

It's important to check auto insurance prices quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best rates a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies don't always publicize every available discount very well, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

Braking Control Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive reduced rates.
Safety Course Discount - Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Military Rewards - Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are some of the items companies use to determine your rates.

One company can mean more discounts - Some auto insurance companies give discounts to people who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents at a similar rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI.
Little extras can really add up - There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase if you aren't careful. Things like roadside assistance, better glass coverage and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if you don't need them remove them from your policy.
Better crash test results mean better rates - Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies passed on to you as lower rates.
Small claims can cost you - Insurance companies in Illinois give discounts to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is unique.

These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation could use an agent's help.

Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Illinois?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?

If it's difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the same claim about savings if you change to them. But how can every company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will be charged higher premiums which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. That is why drivers should compare many company's rates. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Even more information can be read at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can read consumer alerts, learn about insurance regulations, and discover disciplinary actions.

Also read more on BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this directory of Palos Hills insurance agents.

Shop smart and save

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, drivers have reduced full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap auto insurance is attainable on the web and with local Palos Hills insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including policy cancellation, denial of a claim, questionable increases in premium and even policy non-renewal. No matter why you want to switch, switching auto insurance companies is less work than it seems.