Easy Techniques to Pay Less on Bolingbrook, IL Car Insurance

Have you had enough of robbing Peter to pay Paul to insure your vehicles every month? You’re in the same situation as most other car owners in Illinois.

Having so many options when it comes to car insurance, it’s difficult to pick the cheapest company.

Lower rates by qualifying for discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied at quote time, but some may not be applied and must be asked about before being credited.

  • Early Signing – Select companies give a discount for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
  • Discount for Good Grades – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
  • Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • No Accidents – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less compared to frequent claim filers.
  • Military Rewards – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
  • Driver’s Ed – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
  • One Accident Forgiven – Some insurance companies permit an accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • Driver Safety – Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill depending on where you live.
  • Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your premiums.

To see a list of insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Illinois, click here to view.

Compare the Market for Car Insurance in Bolingbrook, IL

To find the best car insurance prices, there are several ways to compare quotes from different in Bolingbrook, ILinsurance companies. The quickest method to compare insurance prices is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The recommended way to compare a lot of rates at once would be an industry-wide quote request form (click to open form in new window). This form keeps you from doing separate quote forms for each company you want a rate for. One simple form compares rates from many national carriers.

A harder way to analyze rates requires you to visit each company website and request a quote. For examples sake, let’s say you want to compare rates from USAA, GEICO and American Family. You would have to go to every website and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Bolingbrook, click here.

Whichever way you use, be sure to compare apples-to-apples coverages for every company. If each company quotes differing limits then you won’t be able to make an equal comparison in Bolingbrook. Quoting even small variations in limits may result in large price differences. And when comparison shopping, comparing a large number of companies will increase your chances of finding a lower rate.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Bolingbrook

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine car insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower car insurance prices.

The following are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.

  • Lower rates come with age – Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets. Teenage drivers are known to be more careless in a vehicle therefore car insurance rates are much higher.
  • Careful drivers pay lower rates – Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Even one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers with flagrant tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
  • Claim-free discounts can add up – Auto insurance companies in Illinois award discounts to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Car insurance is designed for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Type of vehicle determines base rates – The type of vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in your rates. The most favorable rates are for economy passenger models, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
  • Better credit scores mean better rates – Credit score is a huge factor in your rate calculation. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than drivers who have lower ratings. If your credit rating is low, you could pay less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit.

Car insurance is unique, just like you

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might help in determining whether you may require specific advice.

  • Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • What are Illinois no-fault laws?
  • What are the financial responsibility laws in Illinois?
  • Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
  • What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Illinois?
  • How can I get high-risk coverage after a DUI?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

The car insurance bait and switch

Car insurance providers like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all have a common claim that you’ll save big if you move to them. How do they all say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured could be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when switching.

Consumers who fall outside the “perfect” profile must pay higher prices and ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.

This illustrates why drivers should quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know which company will fit your personal profile best.

Buy online or local, you save

As you restructure your insurance plan, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Low-cost car insurance is available from both online companies and with local Bolingbrook insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Learn more about car insurance in Illinois

Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance through this link. Illinois consumers can discover disciplinary actions, find disaster information, and find out industry alerts.

Also read more on this link for Illinois coverage information and this list of insurance agents in Bolingbrook, IL.