7 Discounts West Chicago Consumers Forget when Shopping for Car Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced car insurance can dwindle your checking account and force you to make sacrifices. Doing a price comparison is a great way to cut your insurance bill.

Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

Finding the best rates in West Chicago is easy if you know what you're doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to cut costs considerably using this strategy. But Illinois car owners do need to know the methods companies use to determine prices because it can help you find the best coverage.

These seven discounts can lower your rates

Companies offering auto insurance don't list every discount very clearly, so we researched some of the more common and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
New Car Discount - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Distant Student - Youth drivers who are attending college without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Own a Home - Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions can help discover whether you could use an agent's help.

Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
What are Illinois no-fault laws?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on television and other media. They all have a common claim that you'll save big if you move to their company. How does each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer could be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards will be quoted more money and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. This is how companies can state the savings. This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about car insurance in Illinois

More detailed Illinois car insurance information is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Affordable insurance is out there

When buying insurance coverage, it's very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Budget-conscious car insurance is possible from both online companies and also from your neighborhood West Chicago agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.