Easy Methods to Spend Less on Peoria Auto Insurance

Comparison shopping for Peoria auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. Drivers have so many choices that it can turn into a lot of work to find lower rates in Peoria.

It's important to do rate comparisons once or twice a year because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to the proper way to get good coverage at a lower rate.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. This information will instruct you on how to effectively get price quotes and some tips to save money. Although Illinois drivers do need to know the way insurance companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Peoria

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine rates.

Are you male or female? - The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Both sexes have accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage. They also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving citation history impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Just one moving violation can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Don't skimp on liability - Liability insurance will protect you if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. It provides for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Low deductibles can be expensive - Physical damage insurance, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims could be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Most companies will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Claim-free discounts can add up - Car insurance companies in Illinois provide better rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in Peoria

The are a couple different ways of comparing price quotes and find the best price. One of the best ways to find competitive insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

The fastest way to get the best comparison quotes is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This method eliminates the need for separate forms for each company you want a rate for. Taking the time to complete one form will return quotes from several companies. This is perfect if you don't have a lot of time.
A more difficult way to shop for auto insurance online is to take the time to go to each company's website and request a quote. For examples sake, let's assume you want rates from , and . To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Peoria, click here.
The least efficient way to compare rates is driving to local insurance agencies. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. You can, however, find lower rates online but buy from a local insurance agent. We'll cover that shortly.

Whichever way you use, double check that you are using the exact same coverages and limits with every price quote. If the quotes have different deductibles it will be impossible to find the best deal in Peoria. Just a small difference in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. It's important to know that more quotes will enable you to find a lower rate.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies that sell car insurance do not list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for reduced rates.
Military Rewards - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
Good Students Pay Less - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.
Organization Discounts - Participating in certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Peoria, follow this link.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you switch to them. How do they all make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be a mature driver, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why companies can truthfully advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Even more information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can learn about insurance regulations, find disaster information, and file complaints about a company.

Shop smart and save

As you prepare to switch companies, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.

Consumers switch companies for a number of reasons such as denial of a claim, unfair underwriting practices, poor customer service or even questionable increases in premium. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

You just read many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with a small local company.