Rockford, IL Car Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know

Have you fallen victim to an overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you you’re not alone. Companies like GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to ignore the promise of big savings and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

You should take the time to get comparison quotes yearly because rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re about to find out the easiest way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

If you have insurance now or are looking for a new policy, you can follow these tips to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Rockford is not that difficult. Illinois drivers only need to know the best way to shop their coverage around online.

Tips to Get Lower Rockford Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that go into determining the price you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

• Extra coverages can waste money – There are many extra coverages that you can buy when buying car insurance. Coverages like personal injury protection, towing coverage and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if you don’t need them get rid of them and save.
• Your location affects your rates – Residing in less populated areas is a positive aspect when it comes to car insurance. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. City drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commute times. More time on the road means more change of being in an accident.
• Performance level impacts rates – The performance of the car you are buying insurance for makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. Economy passenger vehicles usually have the lowest rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
• Sex matters – The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. They both tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage. Men also get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.
• Occupation reflects on rates – Jobs such as judges, executives and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates attributed to job stress and long work hours. On the other hand, jobs such as scientists, students and the unemployed pay the least.
• More claims means more premium – Car insurance companies in Illinois generally give discounts to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Your insurance policy is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.

Fast and Easy Rockford Car Insurance Quotes

Most major insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm provide prices for coverage on their websites. Getting online quotes doesn’t take much effort as you just enter the amount of coverage you want as detailed in the form. When the form is submitted, the company’s rating system requests your driving and credit reports and returns a price determined by many factors. This makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the process of having to visit multiple sites and fill out multiple forms gets old quite quickly. But it is imperative to compare as many rates as possible if you are searching for the best price on car insurance.

A less time-consuming method to find cheaper rates is to use a quote form to obtain quotes from a bunch of companies at once. It’s a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes online shopping much more enjoyable and efficient. Immediately after you send the form, it is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any of the quotes returned. If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. The whole process can be completed in a matter of minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now, simply click here to open in new window and input your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you input the coverages as shown on your current policy. This guarantees you will have a price comparison using the same coverage and limits.

Pay less by taking advantage of discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both the well known and the more hidden car insurance savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
• Early Signing – Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
• Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of certain professional organizations could trigger savings on your policy.
• Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Good Student – Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up to age 25.
• Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better car insurance rates.
• New Car Discount – Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck.

For a list of insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Illinois, follow this link.

Your coverage should be tailored to you

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

• Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
• Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
• Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
• Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
• Do I need rental car coverage?
• Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
• What is the minimum liability in Illinois?
• Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
• What are the financial responsibility laws in Illinois?

If you don’t know the answers to 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, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.

More tips and info about car insurance is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, read state legal mandates and laws, and find disaster information.

Other informative sites include this online resource for free quotes in Illinois and this page of insurance agents in Rockford.

Keep this in mind

When shopping online for car insurance, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced full coverage and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Affordable car insurance is possible both online and also from your neighborhood Rockford insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.