Comparison Shop St Charles Auto Insurance Prices With These Tips

Searching for affordable St Charles auto insurance on the internet is somewhat difficult for consumers new to buying insurance on the web. With so many choices of choices, how can you possibly compare the different rates to find the best available rates?

This article will teach you the best way to quote coverages and some tips to save money. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. Although Illinois consumers do need to know the way companies market on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

St Charles Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Companies in Illinois provide discounts to insureds who are claim-free. Auto insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Drive less and save money - The more you drive in a year's time the higher your rate. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles left parked in the garage receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Multiple policies with one company can save - The majority of companies provide better rates to insureds who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
Special features that cut premiums - Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.

Compare Auto Insurance Today

There are several ways of comparing rates from local St Charles auto insurance companies. One of the best ways to find the cheapest insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

The fastest way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This method eliminates the need for separate quotation requests for every auto insurance company. A single, simple form gets you coverage quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices. This is by far the quickest method.
A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes consists of going to the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, and that's why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in St Charles, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but make sure you use apples-to-apples coverages on every quote you get. If you use different limits and deductibles on each one you will not be able to determine which rate is truly the best in St Charles. Just a small difference in coverages may cause a big price difference. And when comparing auto insurance rates, know that obtaining a wide range of quotes provides better odds of finding lower pricing.

Take advantage of discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but a few must be asked for prior to getting the savings.

Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.
Save with a New Car - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy online.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

To choose insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Illinois, follow this link.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all say the same thing about savings if you move to their company. But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings.

This emphasizes why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

How to know if you need help

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Every insured's situation is different.

These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Additional information is located on the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this online resource for auto insurance quotes in Illinois and this list of insurance agents in St Charles.

Affordable insurance is out there

Consumers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, delays in paying claims, extreme rates for teen drivers or even policy cancellation. No matter why you want to switch, switching auto insurance companies is easier than you think.

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

The cheapest auto insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood St Charles agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.