7 Best Methods to Reduce Car Insurance Costs in Strasburg

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can empty your savings account and put the squeeze on your family's finances. Comparison shopping is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Multiple compete to insure your vehicles, and because of this it can be hard to compare to find the lowest rate

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can learn to find the best rates and still get good coverage. Finding the best rates in Strasburg is not that difficult. Illinois consumers only need to know the proper methods to shop for car insurance on the web.

These seven discounts can lower your rates

Auto insurance companies don't always publicize all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the more common and the more hidden car insurance savings. If they aren't giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • Multiple Cars - Buying coverage for all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
  • 55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying car insurance.
  • Safety Course Discount - Completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Student Driver Training - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education if offered at their school.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no "perfect" insurance plan. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. For instance, these questions may help you determine whether you might need professional guidance.

  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • What are the financial responsibility laws in Illinois?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you change your coverage to them.

How do they all make the same claim?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer could be between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. Any new insured who fits that profile will get very good rates and as a result will probably cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who are not a match for the "perfect" profile must pay a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This illustrates why you should quote coverage with many companies. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Even more information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and discover disciplinary actions.

Strasburg car insurance comparison

And the best car insurance company is...

The cheapest car insurance can be sourced from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Strasburg, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.