Easy Tips to Cut Costs on Round Lake Beach Car Insurance

If you are a novice to online car insurance shopping, it's easy to get confused due to the large number of car insurance companies competing for business in Round Lake Beach.

It's important to do rate comparisons periodically due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to the tricks you need to know to find great coverage at a great price.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Round Lake Beach

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

Where you live can impact rates - Living in less populated areas can be a good thing when talking about car insurance. Fewer drivers means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Urban drivers have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. More time commuting translates into higher accident risk.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Good drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Just one moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles each year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles not used for work or commuting receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your car insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
What are your deductibles? - Physical damage insurance, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, vandalism, and burglary. Your deductibles are how much you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. The more you're willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.

Round Lake Beach Car Insurance Comparisons

There are multiple methods to shop for car insurance, and some are less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Round Lake Beach, or you can utilize online quoting to accomplish the same thing much quicker.

Most of the larger companies take part in a program that enables customers to submit their information once, and each participating company then returns a price quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for quotation requests to each individual car insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you are unable to specify which providers you want to price. So if you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare rates, we put together a list of low cost car insurance companies in Illinois. Click to view list.

Which method you use is up to you, but be sure to compare the exact same information on every quote you get. If you use higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Round Lake Beach. Just a small difference in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. Keep in mind that more quotes will enable you to find the best price.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you may find discounts to reduce the price significantly. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be inquired about before you get the savings.

Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
Good Student - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Multiple Vehicles - Having multiple vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
College Student - Children who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will cut your premiums.

To choose companies who offer car insurance discounts in Round Lake Beach, follow this link.

The car insurance bait and switch

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all seem to say the same thing about savings after switching to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has great credit. Any driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you need to get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

What are the best liability limits?
Should I buy only the required Illinois minimum liability coverage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
What are Illinois no-fault laws?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Additional information is located on the Illinois Department of Insurance website through this link. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Shop smart and save

When you buy insurance online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

We just presented a lot of information how to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the best price on car insurance is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising.

Cheaper car insurance can be purchased both online and with local Round Lake Beach insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.