Comparing the Cheapest Rock Falls Auto Insurance

Tired of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other Illinois consumers.

Popular companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to shop coverage around before your policy renews because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best deal a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the proper way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Rock Falls is quite easy. Nevertheless, Illinois drivers do need to know the way companies market on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
Use Seat Belts - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Claim Free - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.
Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver's ed class in high school.
Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
E-sign - Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing digitally online.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

Tips to Get Lower Rock Falls Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the factors used by your company to calculate your rates.

High credit ratings translate to low rates - Your credit rating is a big factor in your rate calculation. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than drivers who have poor credit. Therefore, if your credit history can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score.
Don't let your coverage lapse - Driving your car without having proper coverage is a misdemeanor and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, getting caught without coverage will get you a steep fine or even jail time.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations like doctors, architects and dentists have the highest average rates due to job stress and lengthy work days. Other jobs such as farmers, historians and the unemployed get better rates.
Car features impact rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder your car from being stolen.
Better crash test results mean better rates - Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safer cars protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Add-on coverages can add up - There are a lot of extra bells and whistles you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for personal injury protection, better glass coverage and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem good initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Marriage brings a discount - Being married actually saves money when buying auto insurance. Marriage translates into being more mature and responsible and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
Protect your assets with liability insurance - The liability section of your policy will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use ads in print and on television. All the ads say the same thing of big savings if you move your coverage to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A driver who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't measure up to the requirements will be charged higher rates which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That's why insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. That is why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can find out industry alerts, find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and view a list of available companies.

Final considerations

In this article, we presented a lot of information how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

Cost effective auto insurance is definitely available online as well as from independent agents in Rock Falls, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.