Comparing the Cheapest Spring Valley Auto Insurance

Have you had enough of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other drivers in Illinois.

Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with ads and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to compare rates once or twice a year because prices are constantly changing. If you had the best price last year a different company probably has better rates today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out the fastest and easiest way to find better coverage at a better price.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but less common discounts must be asked for in order for you to get them.

  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Spring Valley can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course in high school.
  • Seat Belts Save - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • More Vehicles More Savings - Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
  • Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce the cost of coverage.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Pay less after the wedding - Having a spouse actually saves money on your policy. It means you're more responsible and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Claim-free discounts can add up - Car insurance companies in Illinois award cheaper rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect higher rates. Your insurance policy is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates - Driving your car without having proper coverage is a misdemeanor and your next policy will cost more because you let your coverage have a gap. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you a revoked license or a big fine.
  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Jobs such as lawyers, business owners and dentists tend to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress levels and long work days. Other occupations such as farmers, historians and the unemployed receive lower rates.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive - Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • The more you drive the more you pay - The more you drive every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder car theft.

How can State Farm, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads on television and other media. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you move to their company. How can each company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who are not a match for the requirements will have to pay more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's why companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More Illinois auto insurance information

Additional information can be found on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance through this link. Illinois consumers can get help finding coverage, download brochures, find a variety of consumer forms, and read industry bulletins.

compare Spring Valley auto insurance rates

Affordable insurance is out there

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Spring Valley agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.