Tightwads Tips for Saving on West Peoria Auto Insurance

Nobody I know looks forward to buying auto insurance, in particular when their premiums are through the roof.

Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have a choice, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Automobile Insurance Quotes in West Peoria, IL

There are several ways of comparing price quotes from different West Peoria insurance companies. The recommended way to find the cheapest insurance rates is to get quotes online. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The first (and easiest) way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This form eliminates the need for separate forms to each individual auto insurance company. A single form gets rate comparisons from several companies.

A more difficult way to get quotes online is spending the time to visit the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For sake of this example, let's say you want to compare , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in West Peoria, click here.

The hardest method to get comparison rates is driving to local West Peoria insurance agencies. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you require the professional advice only provided by licensed West Peoria agents. Drivers can compare the best prices online and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just make absolute certain that you use identical information for every quote you compare. If each company quotes higher or lower deductibles it's not possible to determine the best price in West Peoria. Having just a slight variation in limits may result in a large different in cost. And when quoting auto insurance, remember that getting more free quotes helps locate the best price.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

High numbers of claims are not good - Companies in Illinois give lower rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for larger claims.
How credit affects auto insurance rates - Having a bad credit history is a important factor in determining your rates. So if your credit history is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower credit scores.
Where you live - Living in less populated areas can save you money when insuring your vehicles. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents.
Older drivers save more - Teen drivers in Illinois are known to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a youthful driver to your auto insurance policy can be quite pricey. Older drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.

Save big with these discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but there could be available discounts to reduce the price significantly. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for prior to receiving the credit.

Federal Employees - Simply working for the federal government may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
Braking Control Discount - Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Save over 55 - Older drivers may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
Multiple Vehicles - Insuring multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.

For a list of insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click this link.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions might point out if your situation would benefit from professional advice.

Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

More information can be found on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance located here. Illinois consumers can download brochures, find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you prepare to switch companies, it's very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Affordable auto insurance can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood West Peoria agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.