Easy Ways to Spend Less on Prophetstown Auto Insurance

Searching for low-cost Prophetstown auto insurance on the web can seem to be impossible for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. With so many choices of companies in the marketplace, how can consumers possibly compare every company to locate the best pricing?

It's important to compare prices on a regular basis because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest rates last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to find lower rates on auto insurance.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Finding the lowest cost auto insurance coverage in Prophetstown is not that difficult. Nevertheless, Illinois drivers do need to know how the larger insurance companies market on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies don't always advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance.

Auto/Life Discount - Larger companies have lower rates if you buy life insurance.
Own a Home - Owning a house in Prophetstown may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially as compared to bad drivers.
Drive Less and Save - Keeping the miles down can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
More Vehicles More Savings - Insuring multiple cars or trucks on the same auto insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
Sign Online - A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing on their website.
Defensive Driving Course - Successfully completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Prophetstown, click this link.

Auto Insurance Prices in Prophetstown, Illinois

There are several ways of comparing price quotes from local Prophetstown auto insurance companies. The best method to find competitive insurance rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This form eliminates the need for separate forms for each company you want a rate for. One form submission gets you coverage quotes from several companies. It's the fastest way to compare.
A more difficult way to compare rate quotes consists of going to the website for each individual company and request a quote. For examples sake, let's say you want comparison quotes from , and . To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in Prophetstown, click here.
The hardest way of comparing rate quotes is to spend your day driving to local Prophetstown insurance agencies. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the professional guidance that only a license agent can provide. Drivers can obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just ensure you are comparing the exact same coverages with every price quote. If you use different limits and deductibles on each one you can't possibly find the best deal in Prophetstown. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits may cause a big price difference. Just remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes will increase your chances of finding lower pricing.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Please use or commuting - The more you drive in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Double check that your auto insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
High deductibles save money - Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be collision with another vehicle, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Jobs such as lawyers, executives and accountants tend to have higher rates than average due to job stress and long work days. On the flip side, professions such as pilots, athletes and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - The liability section of your policy is the protection if ever a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Discounts for married couples - Having a spouse actually saves money on your auto insurance policy. It means you're more mature and responsible and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you move to their company. How do they all make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Do the work, save more money

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price.

Low-cost auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Prophetstown agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Insureds who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, high rates after DUI convictions or delays in responding to claim requests. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new auto insurance company is actually quite simple.

For more Illinois auto insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, report car insurance fraud, and read industry bulletins.