How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Sherman

No one looks forward to paying for auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much.

Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with catchy ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to compare rates periodically because prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a year ago you can probably find a better price now. You'll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

Where you live can impact rates - Living in less populated areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. Urban drivers regularly have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. Higher commute times means higher likelihood of an accident.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Just one ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. They both have accidents at a similar rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as real estate brokers, social workers and dentists tend to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations like scientists, historians and performers receive lower rates.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
Good Student - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents pay less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Sherman, click here.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching to their company. How can each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don't meet the requirements will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully make those claims. Because of the profiling, you should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

How much car insurance do I need?

When buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone's needs are different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

What are the best liability limits?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Illinois?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Illinois?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Additional Illinois consumer information

Even more information can be read at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, and read industry bulletins.

Final considerations

While you're price shopping online, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, someone dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

You just read a lot of ways to save on auto insurance. 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. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with an unexpected company. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .