Elgin Car Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know

Searching for the lowest cost Elgin car insurance on the web can seem to be rather challenging for beginners to shopping for insurance online. With so many companies competing online, how can anyone effectively compare every company to locate the lowest rates?

If you have a policy now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to get lower rates and still get good coverage. Finding more affordable protection in Elgin is quite easy. Illinois drivers just need to learn the best way to shop for car insurance over the internet.

Lower rates by qualifying for discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always advertise every available discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched some of the more common and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you are paying more than you should be.

• Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
• No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less when compared with bad drivers.
• Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
• Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
• No Charge for an Accident – A few companies will allow you to have one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
• Club Memberships – Participating in a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for car insurance.
• Defensive Driver – Completing a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
• Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy life insurance.

It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

For a list of companies offering car insurance discounts in Illinois, click here.

Comprehensive Car Insurance Comparison in Elgin

Lowering your car insurance rates doesn’t have to be difficult. All that’s required is to take a couple of minutes comparing price quotes online from several insurance companies. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-113.jpg" alt="Elgin Illinois car insurance prices”/>

The most efficient way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method eliminates the need for repetitive form entry for each company you want a rate for. A single form will get you rate comparisons from many national carriers. It’s definitely the quickest method.

A harder way to analyze rates consists of visiting each company’s website to complete a price quote. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you want comparison quotes from Farmers, 21st Century and American Family. To find out each rate you need to go to every website and enter your policy data, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Elgin, click here.

The most time-consuming method to compare rates is driving to different Elgin agent offices. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the personal advice that only a license agent can provide. It is possible to compare online quotes and still use a local agent. We’ll cover that shortly.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make sure you use the exact same information for each price quote. If you are comparing different values for each quote you can’t possibly truly determine the lowest rate in Elgin.

Is my situation unique?

When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different.

For instance, these questions can help discover if your situation could use an agent’s help.

• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Illinois?
• Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
• Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
• Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
• Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
• Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
• Am I getting all the discounts available?
• What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Illinois?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Best coverage at the best price

In this article, we covered some good ideas how to save on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with an unexpected company.

When shopping online for car insurance, do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.

People leave their current company for any number of reasons including policy cancellation, unfair underwriting practices, policy non-renewal or not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason, switching companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.