Cicero, IL Auto Insurance Savings the Insurance Agents Don’t Want You to Know About

Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out.

Many insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every company to discover the definitive best rates possible.

Pay less by taking advantage of discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Some trigger automatically at quote time, but lesser-known reductions have to be inquired about before you get the savings.

• Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Good Students Pay Less – This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
• Save over 55 – Older drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
• Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course in school.
• Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will cut your premiums.

For a list of insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Cicero, click here.

How insurance companies determine rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate rates.

• Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
• A clean driving record saves money – Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Only having one speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers who have dangerous citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.
• Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse is a sure-fire way to trigger a rate increase. Not only will you pay more, but not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.You may then be required to file a SR-22 with the Illinois motor vehicle department.
• Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies in Illinois generally give lower rates to insureds who are claim-free. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Marriage pays dividends – Having a spouse can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. It usually means you are more mature and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
• Liability coverage protects you – Liability insurance provides coverage in the event that you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.

Don’t I need to talk to an agent?

Some consumers just want to buy from a local agent and that is just fine! One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is that you can obtain the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting small agencies is especially important in Cicero.

After completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information gets sent to insurance agents in Cicero who will compete for your business. You don’t have to leave your computer since price quotes are sent to your email. Now that’s easy! You’ll get the best rates AND an agent nearby.

If you prefer to contact a specific insurance agent in Cicero, view this link.

Choosing an provider needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Some important questions to ask are:

• Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
• How long has their agency been open in Cicero?
• Will your rates increase after a single accident?
• Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?

Once you have satisfactory answers for all questions you ask as well as a affordable price, you may have just found an insurance company that will insure your vehicles.

Additional auto insurance information can be read on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, find disaster information, and read consumer alerts.

Final thoughts

As you restructure your insurance plan, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

Discount auto insurance is available from both online companies in addition to many Cicero insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.