I can’t think of anyone who likes paying for auto insurance, especially when they are paying too much.
Companies like Progressive, State Farm and Geico continually hit you with advertising and it is difficult to avoid their marketing magic and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
You should take the time to check auto insurance prices every six months because insurance rates tend to go up over time. Just because you had the best rates a couple years back you may be paying too much now. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance online but I’m going to show you some solid techniques on how to save money.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but companies offer discounts that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but a few must be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.
- Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
- Early Switch Discount – A few companies offer discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. It’s a savings of about 10%.
- Auto/Life Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance.
- Payment Discounts – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
- Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Good Students Pay Less – This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any qualifying discounts will cut the cost of coverage.
Are insurance agents a thing of the past?
A small number of people prefer to buy from a local agent. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. Supporting local insurance agencies is important especially in Des Plaines.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your insurance data gets sent to participating agents in Des Plaines who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find the lowest rates AND an agent nearby.
Des Plaines insurance agencies come in two flavors
When researching local Des Plaines agents, there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Agents are categorized either captive or independent.
Independent Agents
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent.
When searching for an agent, we recommend you include at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.
Below is a short list of independent agents in Des Plaines who may be able to give you pricing information.
Bruce A Mattey Insurance – 1310 Lee St – Des Plaines, IL 60018 – (847) 699-3355
DMS Insurance – 3158 S River Rd – Des Plaines, IL 60018 – (847) 294-0725
Hahn Agency Inc – 2360 E Devon Ave # 3010 – Des Plaines, IL 60018 – (847) 699-6590
Albert J Diprima Agency – 3158 S River Rd # 19 – Des Plaines, IL 60018 – (847) 298-4849
Captive Agents
Captive agencies can only place business with one company and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.
Below is a list of captive agents in Des Plaines willing to provide comparison quotes.
Allstate Insurance – 932 Mason Ln – Des Plaines, IL 60016 – (847) 375-8651
American Family Insurance – 1401 E Oakton St – Des Plaines, IL 60018 – (847) 699-7520
For a complete listing of captive agencies in Des Plaines, view this link.
Choosing a car insurance agent requires more thought than just the price. These questions are important to ask:
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
Upon receiving acceptable answers to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.
Auto insurance myths debunked
Auto insurance companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads in print and on television. They all seem to make the same claim that you’ll save big after switching to them. But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.
All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a profitable customer might be profiled as a mature driver, has no tickets, and has great credit. A driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Consumers who don’t meet the “perfect” profile will have to pay higher premiums which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save money. That is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.
Because of the profiling, you should compare as many rates as you can. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.
Additional Illinois car insurance resources
Additional auto insurance information is available on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Illinois consumers can file complaints about a company, read state legal mandates and laws, learn about insurance regulations, and learn about specific coverages.
Also read more on this online resource for free quotes in Illinois and this page for help finding agents in Des Plaines, IL.
More comparisons equals lower rates
You just learned quite a bit of information on how to get a better price on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the best price on auto insurance is with an unexpected company. Smaller companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.
While you’re price shopping online, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to regret that it was a big mistake. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.