How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Shawneetown

Tired of being strong-armed each month for car insurance? You are no different than many other Illinois drivers. Numerous battle for your business, so it's not easy to compare every and uncover the absolute lowest rate

It's important to compare prices once or twice a year because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest price last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to how to use online quotes to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Shawneetown is easy if you know what you're doing. Illinois vehicle owners just need to know the most effective way to find the lowest price over the internet.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

  • Women pay lower rates - The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. They both cause accidents in similar numbers, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
  • Save money with special equipment - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Discounts for married couples - Having a wife or husband can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. It means you're more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
  • Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Liability coverage will protect you if ever a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Lower miles equals lower premium - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • High numbers of claims are not good - Car insurance companies in Illinois give better rates to people who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.

Shawneetown auto insurance comparison

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Comparison in Shawneetown

Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can take time and effort if you don't understand the easiest way. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Shawneetown, or you can stay home and use the web to get pricing more quickly.

Most of the larger companies enroll in a system that enables customers to submit one quote, and every company then gives them pricing for coverage. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company.

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

One minor caviat to using this type of form is you are unable to specify which providers to receive prices from. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to compare, we have a page of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Illinois. Click to view list.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just double check that you are using the exact same quote information with each company. If you use mixed coverages it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison in Shawneetown.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren't giving you every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
  • Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
  • Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
  • Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Having multiple vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.
  • One Accident Forgiven - A few companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Organization Discounts - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings on auto insurance.
  • No Accidents - Claim-free drivers pay much less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Shawneetown may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Shawneetown, click this link.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Illinois consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make the same claim that you'll save big after switching to their company.

How do they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be a mature driver, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay more money which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's why companies can advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More detailed Illinois auto insurance information is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can learn about insurance regulations, view a list of available companies, get help finding coverage, and find disaster information.

compare Shawneetown auto insurance rates

And the best car insurance company is...

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Shawneetown agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.