Easy Techniques to Pay Less on Rockford Illinois Auto Insurance

Finding lower premiums on Rockford auto insurance can be difficult for people who are new to shopping for insurance online. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become more work than you anticipated to find lower rates in Rockford.

Smart Buyers can Save Money

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Pleasure use saves money – The more you drive each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies price each vehicle’s coverage based on their usage. Autos used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.
Lower deductibles cost more – Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and burglary. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
Poor credit can mean higher rates – Having a bad credit history is a huge factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit history is not that good, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.
Battle of the sexes – Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn’t mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
Your spouse saves you money – Getting married helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. Marriage is viewed as being more mature and it’s statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Rockford, IL

Most major insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm quote prices for coverage on their websites. The process is quite easy as you simply enter the coverage amounts you desire into the quote form. After you submit the form the system automatically retrieves credit information and your driving record and quotes a price based on these factors.

Online quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the time required to go to several different sites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is important to do this in order to get a lower rate.

The better way to compare rates

A more efficient way to lower your rates makes use of a single form that analyzes rates from multiple companies. It’s a real time-saver, requires much less work on your part, and makes online shopping much simpler. After sending the form, it gets priced and you are able to buy any or none of the quote results. If a lower price is quoted, it’s easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. It can be completed in a matter of minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

If you want to get comparison pricing now, click here and submit the form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you enter deductibles and limits exactly as shown on your declarations page. This way, you will get an apples-to-apples comparison using the exact same coverages.

How can Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?

Companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. All the ads make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you switch your policy. How does each company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.

Consumers who don’t measure up to this ideal profile will be charged higher rates and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That is how companies can truthfully make those claims. That is why you should get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance.

Military Rewards – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Paperless Signup – Certain companies will give a small break for buying your policy on their website.
Distant Student – Youth drivers living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Life Insurance Discount – Larger companies have a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Driver’s Ed – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.

It’s important to note that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. Even though it may seem like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-1.jpg" alt="Rockford Illinois car insurance” />

To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Rockford, follow this link.

Buying auto insurance from a local agent

Certain consumers prefer to talk to a local agent and that is OK! The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain the best rates but still work with a licensed agent.

Upon completion of this quick form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to companies in Rockford who will battle to get your business. You never need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.

Picking a company should depend on more than just a cheap price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
Do they assist clients in filing claims?
Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Illinois?
Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?

The type of insurance agency you choose is important

When searching for a good Rockford insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies to choose from. Rockford agents can either be captive or independent.

Captive Agents

Captive agencies work for only one company and some examples include American Family, State Farm and Allstate. Captives cannot shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. They receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques which can be an advantage. Consumers sometimes buy insurance from these agents primarily because of loyalty to the company and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Below is a short list of captive agencies in Rockford that are able to give price quotes.

Liberty Mutual – 3729 N Trainer Rd – Rockford, IL 61114 – (815) 877-8332
State Farm Insurance – 5411 E State St # 200 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 397-3377
American Family Insurance – 4040 Charles St # 207 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 397-1614
Allstate Insurance – 2835 Mcfarland Rd # D – Rockford, IL 61107 – (815) 654-9500
Farmers Insurance Group – 129 Phelps Ave # 215 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 398-9791

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When shopping rates, we recommend you include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.

The following are independent agents in Rockford that are able to give rate quotes.

Ellis Agency – 4855 E State St # 19 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 226-0202
Chuck Harkness Agency – 5301 E State St # 103 – Rockford, IL 61108 – (815) 395-1942
F D West Insurance Inc – 1801 11th St – Rockford, IL 61104 – (815) 398-6316
Mutual Of Omaha Insurance Co – 319 7th St – Rockford, IL 61104 – (815) 963-7777
Insurance Agency Inross Inc – 615 N Longwood St – Rockford, IL 61107 – (815) 490-0092

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Rockford, go to this page.

Once you have received positive responses and a good coverage price, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that can provide auto insurance coverage.

But I don’t know anything about car insurance

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For instance, these questions might help in determining if you might need professional guidance.

What can I do if my company denied a claim?
Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?

If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

More detailed Illinois auto insurance information can be read at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can read consumer alerts, learn about specific coverages, read industry bulletins, and find a variety of consumer forms.

And the best car insurance company is…

Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including policy cancellation, not issuing a premium refund, unfair underwriting practices and delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason, switching companies can be easier than you think.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be bought on the web and with local Rockford insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

While you’re price shopping online, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.