Free Guide to Saving Money on West Salem Auto Insurance Online

Are you sick and tired of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other Illinois consumers. With so many choices, it's difficult to locate the best car insurance company.

It's important to shop coverage around before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

The purpose of this post is to let you in on how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to save some money using these methods. Illinois vehicle owners just need to know the most efficient way to get comparison rates online.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before being credited. If you don't get every credit available, you are throwing money away.

Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags can receive discounts of more than 20%.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
Anti-lock Brake System - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
Theft Prevention System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Defensive Driver - Taking part in a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if you qualify.
Seat Belts Save - Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Driver's Ed - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver's ed class in school.
Lower Rates for Military - Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will help reduce your overall premium however.

Tips to Get Lower West Salem Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get big savings.

Listed below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate your rates.

High credit ratings translate to low rates - Your credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating. People with good credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with poor credit.
High numbers of claims are not good - Insurance companies in Illinois award discounts to people who do not file claims often. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Discounts for multiple policies - Most insurers give discounts to customers who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are many extra bells and whistles you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Things like roadside assistance, better glass coverage and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
Don't let your coverage lapse - Having an insurance coverage lapse is a guaranteed way to pay more for auto insurance. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage might get you a revoked license or a big fine.You may have to file a SR-22 with the Illinois department of motor vehicles.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like doctors, business owners and stock brokers have the highest rates due to stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, professions such as farmers, students and homemakers get better rates.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Even a single speeding ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations such as DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
The type of vehicle makes a difference - The make and model of the car you drive makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates tend to be for small economy passenger cars, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Illinois consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make an identical promise that you'll save big if you switch your coverage to them.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Consumers who fall outside this ideal profile will be charged higher prices and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's why companies can make the claims of big savings.

That is why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Learn more today

Much more information about auto insurance in Illinois is available on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance found here. Illinois consumers can find out industry alerts, download brochures, read consumer alerts, and discover disciplinary actions.

Also read more on NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of West Salem insurance agents.

In the end, you save

You just read many tips how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like .

As you shop your coverage around, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.