How to Get the Cheapest Elizabethtown Auto Insurance

Finding lower rates for Elizabethtown auto insurance is nearly impossible for beginners to comparing rates online. Drivers have so many options that it can turn into a big hassle to compare prices in Elizabethtown.

It's important to compare rates once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out one of the easiest ways to find better coverage at a better price.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so we researched both well-publicized and the more hidden auto insurance savings.

Air Bag Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
Drivers Ed for Students - Have your child take driver's ed class in high school.
No Accidents - Claim-free drivers pay much less compared to bad drivers.
Discount for New Cars - Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn't work that way.

To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Elizabethtown, follow this link.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Comparison in Elizabethtown

There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance and some are more efficient than others. You can waste a lot of time discussing policy coverages with insurance companies in Elizabethtown, or you can utilize the web to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

Many insurance companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and at least one company can provide price quotes based on that information. This eliminates the need for quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of system is you can't choose which carriers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select from a list of companies to compare prices, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Illinois. View list of Illinois insurance companies.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits on every quote. If the quotes have different values for each quote it will be impossible to make a fair comparison in Elizabethtown. Just a small difference in limits may result in a large different in cost. It's important to know that getting more free quotes will improve the odds of getting better pricing.

You have some control over your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit rating is a large factor in your rate calculation. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with lower ratings. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score.
Claim-free discounts can add up - Insurance companies in Illinois provide cheaper rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your insurance policy is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Occupations like judges, architects and dentists tend to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress and long work days. Other occupations like farmers, historians and the unemployed receive lower rates.
The more you drive the more you pay - The more you drive every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on their usage. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Bundling policies can get discounts - The majority of companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare rates to ensure the best deal. Consumers may find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Low deductibles can be expensive - Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, or theft. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.

Is there truth in advertising?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the ads say the same thing that you can save if you move to their company. How can each company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't measure up to the requirements will be charged higher rates which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can advertise the savings. That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Shop smart and save

In this article, we presented a lot of tips how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from an unexpected company.

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like poor customer service, extreme rates for teen drivers, high rates after DUI convictions or delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider is actually quite simple.

Affordable auto insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood Elizabethtown agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

More Illinois auto insurance information

Additional detailed information is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois consumers can find out industry alerts, download brochures, and read industry bulletins.