Finding cheaper can be challenging if you have never used quoting online. But relax because we’re going to show you how.
This information will tell you how to get online quotes and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to save some money using these techniques. Illinois consumers just need to understand the best way to compare rates online.
Discounts can really help lower premiums
Companies that sell car insurance do not list every discount very clearly, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden auto insurance savings. If you do not double check each discount you deserve, you could be paying more than you need to.
- Club Memberships – Having an affiliation with a civic or occupational organization in Hoffman Estates can get you a small discount on your bill.
- Safety Restraint Discount – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to buckle up before driving can save up to 15% off the medical payments premium.
- E-sign Discounts</strong – Certain auto insurance companies may give you up to $50 for completing your application on your computer.
- Driver Training Discounts – Taking a course that instructs on driving safety can save you 5% or more and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- College Student – Any of your kids who attend college more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car could qualify for this discount.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Driving less can earn substantially lower rates.
- Senior Citizen Discount – Seniors are able to get reduced rates.
- Home Ownership Discount – Owning your own home or condo may trigger a policy discount on auto insurance because owning a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
Discounts lower rates, but most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, nobody gets a free ride.
A partial list of companies that may include these discounts possibly include:
Before buying, ask all companies you are considering how you can save money. A few discounts might not be offered in your state. To view companies that offer some of these discounts in Illinois, follow this link.
All the larger auto insurance companies allow consumers to get insurance quotes on their websites. Obtaining pricing doesn’t take a lot of time because you just enter the coverage amounts you desire into the form. After the form is submitted, their system automatically retrieves reports for credit and driving violations and generates a price based on many factors.
Online quotes makes it easy to compare insurance prices but having to visit multiple sites and type in the same information can be a bit repetitive. But it is imperative to do this if you want to get better auto insurance pricing.
The easiest way to locate the lowest prices is to use a quote form to return rates from multiple companies. It’s a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes online price comparison much more efficient. After sending your information, it is quoted and you can select any or none of the returned quotes.
If a lower price is quoted, you simply finish the application and purchase coverage. The whole process takes less than 15 minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.
To quickly compare pricing, click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you complete the form with the insurance coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you are getting an apples-to-apples comparison based on similar coverages.
Can’t I compare rates from local Hoffman Estates insurance agents?
Certain consumers would rather get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Good insurance agents can help you choose the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is that drivers can save money and get the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Buying insurance from neighborhood agents is important particularly in Hoffman Estates.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is emailed to companies in Hoffman Estates that give free quotes to get your business. It makes it easy because there is no need to search for an agent due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. If for some reason you want to get a rate quote from a particular provider, feel free to find their quoting web page and give them your coverage information.
When finding a reliable insurance agency, it’s important to understand the different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Auto insurance agents may be either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both can insure your vehicles, but it’s a good idea to understand the differences since it may influence the selection process.
Independent Agents
Independent agencies do not write with just one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and find you the best rates. If you are not satisfied with one company, they can switch companies in-house and you don’t have to do anything. If you need lower rates, you will want to check rates from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison. Many independent agencies also insure through smaller mutual companies which can be an advantage.
Shown below are independent insurance agencies in Hoffman Estates that may be able to give price quote information.
- Brazelton Insurance Inc – 2543 W Golf Rd – Hoffman Estates, IL 60194 – (847) 882-4800
- G and G Insurance – 1575 Jefferson Rd – Hoffman Estates, IL 60195 – (847) 781-1838
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents can only provide pricing for a single company like State Farm, Allstate, or Farmers Insurance. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to use the same agent primarily because of the brand name rather than having the cheapest rates.
Shown below is a short list of captive agencies in Hoffman Estates who can help you get comparison quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 2500 W Higgins Rd # 1142 – Hoffman Estates, IL 60195 – (847) 884-7800
- American Family Insurance – 2155 Stonington Ave # 210 – Hoffman Estates, IL 60195 – (847) 310-1990
To help find insurance agencies in your area, please visit this list of insurance agents in Hoffman Estates.
Choosing the best insurance agency needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Get answers to these questions too.
- Can you get a list of referrals?
- Has the agent ever had any license suspensions?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Do they regularly work with personal auto policies in Hoffman Estates?
- Do they have designations such as AIC, CPCU, or CIC?
Auto insurance coverages and their meanings
Understanding the coverages of your policy aids in choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Comprehensive insurance
This will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as hitting a bird, theft and hail damage. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Due to the fact that many Illinois drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (20/40/15), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Coverage for liability
Liability insurance can cover damage that occurs to people or other property. It protects YOU from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 50/100/50 that means you have a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000. Another option is a combined limit which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers claims like legal defense fees, attorney fees, medical services, bail bonds and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy higher limits if possible. Illinois requires minimum liability limits of 20,000/40,000/15,000 but drivers should carry higher limits.
Collision coverage
This will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage protects against things such as driving through your garage door, scraping a guard rail and colliding with a tree. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage provide coverage for immediate expenses such as doctor visits, EMT expenses, ambulance fees and funeral costs. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover all vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Buy online or local, you save
People change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, policy non-renewal, unfair underwriting practices and even delays in responding to claim requests. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching auto insurance companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.
Discount auto insurance can be purchased both online and from local insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not offer price quotes online and most of the time these regional carriers only sell coverage through independent agencies.
We just presented many ways to shop for auto insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more you , the better your chances of lowering your car insurance rates. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies.
Much more information about auto insurance in Illinois can be found on the located here. Illinois consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and file complaints about a company.