Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you there are a lot of people in Aurora just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy. Popular companies such as State Farm, Allstate, Geico and Progressive promote their brand names with ad campaigns and it can be hard to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
If you have a policy now or are just looking to switch companies, you can use these techniques to reduce the price you pay while maintaining coverages. Finding the best rates in Aurora is not rocket science. Illinois drivers just need to learn how to shop their coverage around online.
Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some discounts apply automatically when you get a quote, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically prior to receiving the credit. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.
- Memberships – Being a member of a qualifying organization may earn a discount on your policy.
- Government Employees – Simply working for the federal government may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than less cautious drivers.
- Own a Home – Simply owning a home may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
- No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
- Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies will give a small break simply for signing over the internet.
- Save over 55 – Mature drivers may qualify for a discount up to 10%.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way. Any amount of discount will bring down the cost of coverage.
Smart Buyers can Save Money
Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in big savings.
- Older drivers save more – Young drivers in Illinois have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Older insureds are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
- Occupation reflects on rates – Careers like real estate brokers, social workers and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates in part from high stress and lengthy work days. Other professions such as pilots, historians and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
- Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are a lot of extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying auto insurance. Insurance for personal injury protection, accidental death and membership fees are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
- Bump up deductibles to save – Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
- Where do you drive? – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rates will be. Most companies price each vehicle’s coverage based on their usage. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
- The type of vehicle makes a difference – The performance of the car you own makes a big difference in how high your rates are. The lowest rates are usually for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
- Where you live is a factor – Choosing to live in a small town can save you money when insuring your vehicles. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate. Drivers in populated Illinois areas regularly have traffic congestion and a longer drive to work. Higher commute times means more change of being in an accident.
- More claims means more premium – Insurance companies in Illinois award discounts to drivers who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.
Much more information about auto insurance in Illinois is available on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance through this link. Consumers can get help finding coverage, file complaints about a company, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
Also read more on this resource for Illinois auto insurance prices and see this list of insurance agents in Aurora.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
Cheaper auto insurance can be sourced online in addition to many Aurora insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.
We just presented a lot of information how to shop for auto insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.