Easy Ways to Save Money on River Forest Auto Insurance

Shopping for the cheapest River Forest auto insurance on the internet is challenging for consumers new to shopping for insurance online. With dozens of insurance companies available, how can consumers possibly compare the different rates to find the cheapest rates?

It's important to check auto insurance prices yearly since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest price a few years ago you may be paying too much now. You can find a lot of wrong information about auto insurance on the internet, so I'm going to show you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

Where Can I Get Cheap River Forest Auto Insurance?

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from local River Forest auto insurance companies. The recommended way to find competitive insurance rates consists of shopping online. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry for each company. A single, simple form will get you price quotes direct from many companies. It's the fastest way to compare.

A harder way to compare rate quotes requires a visit to each company's website to request a price quote. For example, let's say you want comparison quotes from , and . You would have to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in River Forest, click here.

Whichever way you use, make sure you use the exact same coverage limits for each price quote. If you compare differing limits then you won't be able to truly determine the lowest rate in River Forest. Just a small difference in coverages can make a big difference in price. And when comparing auto insurance rates, know that quoting more will increase your chances of finding better pricing.

What determines how much you pay?

It's important that you understand some of the elements that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

Older drivers save more - More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Teenage drivers have a tendency to be more careless when driving therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
Where do you drive? - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles that are left in the garage receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
High crash test scores lower rates - Safer cars are cheaper to insure. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
Small claims can cost you - Car insurance companies in Illinois provide better rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee 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.
Type of vehicle determines base rates - The performance of the car you own makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. Lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles generally receive the lowest base rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies don't always list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched some of the best known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

College Student - Children who are attending college and don't have a car may qualify for this discount.
Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Military Rewards - Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Government Employees - Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
Passive Restraints - Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in River Forest, follow this link.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Even more information is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find disaster information.

Shop smart and save

As you shop your coverage around, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price.

Cheap auto insurance is attainable on the web and with local River Forest insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

Consumers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, delays in paying claims, delays in responding to claim requests and extreme rates for teen drivers. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new auto insurance company is not as hard as you think.