Getting Cheap Park Ridge Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us, you're not the only one. There is such a variety of to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the items that factor into premiums.

Do you have enough liability coverage? - Liability insurance provides coverage if a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability provides you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are many extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accidental death and membership fees may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good initially, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Most insurers will award you with lower prices to people who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it's still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
Adjust deductibles and save - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
Never let your coverage lapse - Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse is a fast way to trigger a rate increase. And not only will your rates increase, failure to provide proof of insurance may earn you a revoked license or a big fine.You may then be required to file a SR-22 with the Illinois motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Auto insurance companies in Illinois award lower rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
A clean driving record saves money - Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Only having one ticket may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers with clean records get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers with serious tickets such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions are required to submit a SR-22 form with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies don't always list all available discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you're not getting every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.
Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Homeowners Discount - Owning a home in Park Ridge can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Seat Belts Save - Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click here to view.

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

Illinois drivers can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings from companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise that you can save if you switch your policy.

How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that makes them money. A good example of a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 40, has no tickets, and has great credit. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save when switching.

Consumers who are not a match for these standards must pay higher rates and ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the savings. This illustrates why you should compare many company's rates. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Find out more about auto insurance

Additional detailed information can be read at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can find out which companies have the most complaints, discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, and report car insurance fraud.

In the end, you save

Affordable auto insurance can be found on the web in addition to many Park Ridge insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who do not provide online price quotes and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an insured dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.