9 Ways You Can Buy Car Insurance for Less in Itasca

Expensive car insurance can dwindle your bank account and put a big crunch on your finances. Shopping your coverage around is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to help make ends meet.

There is such a variety of to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

It's important to get comparison quotes yearly since rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest price last year a different company probably has better rates today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we're going to demonstrate how to use online quotes to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Don't pay full price with these nine discounts

Car insurance companies don't necessarily list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the more common as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

Accident Waiver - Certain companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
Life Insurance - Some companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Sign Online - Certain companies will give a small break just for signing your application over the internet.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Own a Home - Owning a house in Itasca can help you save on car insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
College Student - Kids in college who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a discount up to 10%.

It's important to note that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, you're out of luck.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Illinois?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?

If you're not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

The car insurance bait and switch

Car insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all seem to make an identical promise that you can save after switching your policy. How does each company make the same claim?

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured could be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can claim big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Additional detailed information is located at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, learn about insurance regulations, and read industry bulletins.

Final considerations

Lower-priced car insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many Itasca insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.