Auto Insurance in Bloomington – 9 Discounts to Lower Rates
Have you had enough of not being able to afford to insure your vehicles every month? You’re in the same situation as many other Illinois drivers. There are many auto insurance companies to insure vehicles with, and even though it’s nice to have a choice, so many choices can make it hard to locate the cheapest rates.
Buying car insurance in Bloomington is quite easy. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these tips. Illinois drivers only need an understanding of the best way to find the lowest price online.
How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in Bloomington
All major auto insurance companies such as Allstate and Progressive quote pricing directly from their websites. This process doesn’t take much effort as you simply type in your coverage preferences into the quote form. When the form is submitted, the company’s rating system pulls your driving and credit reports and generates a price. This simplifies rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit several different sites and type in the same information is monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is important to have as many quotes as possible in order to find better auto insurance pricing.
The smarter way to find better auto insurance pricing makes use of a single form that gets prices from several different companies. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes online price comparison a little more enjoyable. Once the form is submitted, it is rated and you are able to buy any of the pricing results. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can simply submit the application and buy the policy. It only takes a few minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.
In order to find out how much you can save on auto insurance, simply click here to open in new window and submit your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you copy just like they are on your policy. This guarantees you will have a price comparison using the same coverage and limits.
These nine discounts can slash auto insurance rates
Companies that sell car insurance don’t always publicize all available discounts very well, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Save over 55 – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
- One Accident Forgiven – A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.
- Defensive Driving Course – Taking a course in driver safety could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.
To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Bloomington, follow this link.
When might I need the advice of an agent?
When it comes to choosing coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions can help discover whether your personal situation could use an agent’s help.
- Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
- Do I need rental car coverage?
- Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
- Should I buy more coverage than the required Illinois minimum liability coverage?
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
- Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.
Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?
Consumers in Illinois constantly see and hear ads that promise big savings by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim that you’ll save big if you move to them.
How can each company claim to save you money?
Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could be between 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a short commute. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.
Potential customers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will be charged higher premiums which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully make those claims. That is why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It’s not possible to predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.
Learn about auto insurance coverages
Having a good grasp of your policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. Auto insurance terms can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find typical coverage types offered by auto insurance companies.
Comprehensive auto insurance – Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like hail damage, falling objects, hitting a deer and a broken windshield. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.
Collision – Collision insurance pays for damage to your vehicle from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision insurance covers claims such as hitting a mailbox, damaging your car on a curb and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are older. You can also increase the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other drivers when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Since many Illinois drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (20/40/15), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.
Liability – This coverage can cover damages or injuries you inflict on a person or their property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see values of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage protects against things such as repair costs for stationary objects, loss of income, bail bonds, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Illinois state minimum liability requirements are 20,000/40,000/15,000 but drivers should carry more liability than the minimum.
Coverage for medical expenses – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for bills for things like X-ray expenses, doctor visits, surgery and chiropractic care. They are often 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 as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Summing up your auto insurance search
While you’re price shopping online, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an accident victim reduced collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
We covered many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a smaller regional carrier. These companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate or State Farm.
Budget-conscious auto insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Bloomington, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.
Informative consumer insurance sites
Additional detailed information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, download brochures, learn about insurance regulations, and view a list of available companies.
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