Cutting costs on Evanston auto insurance is always a challenge for people who are new to comparing rates online. You have so many options available that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find the best price in Evanston.
It’s smart to compare prices yearly since rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you got the lowest price a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. You’ll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance on the internet, so with this article, you’re going to get some great ways to stop overpaying for insurance.
This information will introduce you to the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these tips. Illinois drivers just need to know the proper methods to buy auto insurance over the internet.
How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Cost in Evanston, IL
Most companies like Allstate, Geico and Progressive quote price estimates online. This process doesn’t take much effort as you simply type in your required coverages into the quote form. Once you submit the form, the company’s rating system automatically retrieves your driving record and credit report and generates a price determined by many factors.
This simplifies rate comparisons, but the process of having to visit several different sites and fill out multiple forms can get tiresome after awhile. Unfortunately, it is important to compare as many rates as possible if you are searching for better auto insurance pricing.
The quickest way to lower your auto insurance bill makes use of a single form to get prices from more than one company. It saves time, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes online shopping a little more enjoyable. After your information is entered, it is quoted and you can select any of the price quotes you receive.
If the quotes result in lower rates, it’s easy to complete the application and purchase the new policy. It only takes a few minutes and you’ll know if lower rates are available.
In order to find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend that you enter coverages and limits as close as possible to your current policy. This ensures you’re receiving rate quotes using the exact same coverages.
Auto insurance ads bend the truth
Consumers in Illinois get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by Allstate, Geico and Progressive. They all make the same claim that you’ll save big if you change to their company.
How do they all claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
All companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. A good example of a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. A driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Drivers who don’t measure up to this ideal profile must pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That’s the way companies can truthfully state the savings.
This illustrates why you need to quote coverage with many companies. It’s not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.
Verify you’re getting all your discounts
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but there could be available discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of quoting, but a few need to be manually applied before being credited. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you are throwing money away.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
- Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
- Paperless Signup – Certain companies will give a small break for buying your policy over the internet.
- Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
- No Claims – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Sign Early and Save – A few companies offer discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
Drivers should understand that some credits don’t apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will cut your premiums.
For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Evanston, follow this link.
What about my local Evanston agents?
Some people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! Good agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you can get better rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local agencies is especially important in Evanston.
To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is transmitted to participating agents in Evanston who will give you bids to get your business. You don’t have to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier!
If you prefer to view a list of agents in Evanston to contact, please view this page.
Picking an provider requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- How are they compensated?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- Who are their largest clients?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
After receiving satisfactory answers to your questions and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an provider that is a good match to insure your vehicles.
When might I need an agent?
When choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.
These are some specific questions may help you determine whether you may require specific advice.
- Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
- How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Illinois?
- Do I need higher deductibles?
- Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Illinois?
- Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Car insurance coverage information
Understanding the coverages of auto insurance helps when choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision can pay for claims like sideswiping another vehicle, backing into a parked car, colliding with a tree, crashing into a ditch and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Comprehensive (Other than Collision)
This will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things such as damage from flooding, hitting a bird, fire damage, theft and rock chips in glass. The highest amount your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers
This coverage gives you protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many Illinois drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (Illinois limits are 20/40/15), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Normally these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Medical expense insurance
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for short-term medical expenses for things like surgery, rehabilitation expenses, prosthetic devices, dental work and EMT expenses. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Liability car insurance
This will cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property by causing an accident. It protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage to your own property or vehicle.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability coverage protects against claims like structural damage, medical services, pain and suffering and bail bonds. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying higher limits if possible. Illinois state law requires minimum liability limits of 20,000/40,000/15,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
Much more information about auto insurance in Illinois can be found on the Illinois Department of Insurance website through this link. Visitors are able to download brochures, learn about specific coverages, find disaster information, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
These articles may also be worth reading.
- Learn to Find the Lowest Auto Insurance Prices From Agencies in Evanston
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Shop smart and save
In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small local company.
Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many Evanston insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.
As you restructure your insurance plan, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.