Easy Ways to Spend Less on Savanna Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the wide range of auto insurance companies in Savanna? You're not alone. You have so many options available that it can turn into a real challenge to find lower rates.

It's important to compare prices every six months since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best rates a few years ago you may be paying too much now. You'll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Locating the cheapest coverage in Savanna can be fairly easy. But Illinois vehicle owners do need to know how big insurance companies price online insurance.

Compare Quotes for Savanna Auto Insurance

Comparing auto insurance rates can be a lot of work if you don't know the most efficient way. You could spend your day talking about coverages with local insurance agents in Savanna, or you could use online quotes to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

All the larger companies enroll in a system that enables customers to send in one quote, and at least one company can provide price quotes based on the submitted data. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The one disadvantage to using this type of system is that consumers can't choose which companies you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose from a list of companies to request quotes from, we have a page of companies who write auto insurance in Illinois. Click here for list of insurance companies in Illinois.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If each company quotes different liability limits then you won't be able to make a fair comparison in Savanna. Slightly different insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. Just remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes will improve the odds of getting the best rates.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand the factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Traffic citations inflate rates - Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
Do you know your deductibles? - Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, damage from fire, and burglary. The deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Most insurance companies give discounts to people who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to 10 percent or more. Even though this discount sounds good, it's still a good idea to shop around to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by buying insurance from more than one company.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations like real estate brokers, social workers and dentists tend to have the highest average rates due to stressful work requirements and long work days. Other jobs such as actors, historians and homemakers receive lower rates.
Car features impact rates - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
Having a spouse can save you money - Getting married can actually save you money on auto insurance. Marriage means you're more mature than a single person and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that many people don't even know exist. A few discounts will automatically apply when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied before they will apply.

Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last until age 25.
Multi-car Discount - Having more than one vehicle on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
Multi-policy Discount - When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less compared to frequent claim filers.
Payment Discounts - By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
E-sign - A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
No Charge for an Accident - A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a set time period.
Early Signing - Some companies give discounts for signing up before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.

Consumers should know that some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will reduce your premiums.

For a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Savanna, click here.

Much more information about auto insurance in Illinois can be read on the Illinois Department of Insurance website found here. Illinois drivers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and read consumer alerts.

Final considerations

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the best prices are with some of the smallest insurance companies.

Discount auto insurance can be found on the web and also from your neighborhood Savanna agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, it's a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.