Nobody I know looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially when the price is too high. You have multiple insurance companies to pick from, and even though it’s nice to have a choice, having more car insurance companies makes it harder to compare company pricing.
How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in Rockford, IL
Getting a cheaper price on insurance is surprisingly easy. All you need to do is spend a few minutes on the computer to compare quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.
- The fastest way to find low rates is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry for each company you want a rate for. One quote request compares rates from several companies.
- A more time consuming way to shop for auto insurance online requires a trip to each company’s website and request a quote. For examples sake, we’ll assume you want to compare Geico, Farmers and State Farm. To find out each rate you need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method.
To view a list of companies in Rockford, click here.
- The hardest way to compare rates is driving to and from local Rockford insurance agencies. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the professional advice of a licensed agent. It is possible to obtain prices from the web and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll touch on that later.
Which method you use is up to you, but compare identical coverages and limits on every quote you get. If you have differing limits it will be next to impossible to make an equal comparison in Rockford.
Don’t miss out on these seven money-saving discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list every discount very well, so we break down some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.
- Club Memberships – Being a member of certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
- Sign Early and Save – Select companies give a discount for buying a policy before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
- Driver Safety – Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
- Driver’s Ed – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education in school.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Military Rewards – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
- Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims prior to the accident.
It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.
To see a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Illinois, click here.
Insurance agents can help
When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
- Do I qualify for additional discounts?
- When should I not file a claim?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
- Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
- Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.
Car insurance coverages
Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy can help you determine the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on most auto insurance policies.
Comprehensive coverages<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px" src="https://www.carinsurancediy.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-58.jpg" alt="Rockford car insurance” />
This coverage covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as hail damage, vandalism and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Coverage for medical payments
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills for things like EMT expenses, rehabilitation expenses, prosthetic devices, doctor visits and dental work. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Collision coverage protection
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision can pay for claims like scraping a guard rail, rolling your car and sustaining damage from a pot hole. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to save money on collision insurance.
Liability
Liability insurance protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 100/300/100 which means $100,000 bodily injury coverage, $300,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000.
Liability can pay for things such as pain and suffering, bail bonds, court costs, repair costs for stationary objects and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as much as you can afford. Illinois requires drivers to carry at least 20,000/40,000/15,000 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many Illinois drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (20/40/15), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Additional detailed information is available at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, download brochures, and find a variety of consumer forms.