Auto Insurance in Aurora, IL – 9 Discounts Drivers are Missing

Are you overwhelmed by the crazy number of auto insurance company choices in Aurora? You’re not alone. People have so many options available that it can turn into a real hassle to find the best price.

You should take the time to get comparison quotes periodically because prices trend upward over time. Just because you found the best rates on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to how to quote online to find better coverage at a better price.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you can use these techniques to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. This information will instruct you on how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. Illinois drivers only need an understanding of the tricks to buy auto insurance online.

Auto Insurance Prices in Aurora

Reducing your insurance rates can be surprisingly simple. Just take a couple of minutes comparing rate quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

• The most efficient way to find the lowest comparison rates would be an industry-wide quote request form click to view form in new window. This type of form prevents you from having to do a different quote to each individual auto insurance company. One simple form will return quotes . Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
• A less efficient way to get comparison quotes consists of going to the website for every company you want to comare to request a price quote. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want to compare rates from Farmers, State Farm and American Family. You would have to visit each site and enter your information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

  For a handy list of car insurance company links in Aurora, click here.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you enter unequal deductibles or liability limits you can’t possibly determine which rate is truly the best in Aurora.

Discounts can save BIG

Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the more common and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you are paying more than you should be.

• Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
• Own a Home – Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
• Club Memberships – Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on your policy.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
• Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
• Employee of Federal Government – Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
• Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accident claims.
• Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.

Keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Aurora, click here.

Will just any policy work for me?

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different.

These are some specific questions could help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

• Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
• Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
• When would I need additional glass coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

Don’t listen to company ads

Illinois consumers constantly see and hear ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all make an identical promise that you can save if you switch your policy.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential customers who fall outside this ideal profile will be quoted higher rates which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. This emphasizes why you should compare as many rates as you can. It’s just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Car insurance coverages

Having a good grasp of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Liability coverages – This coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which means a limit of $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 for the entire accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability insurance covers things such as pain and suffering, emergency aid, funeral expenses and legal defense fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Illinois requires drivers to carry at least 20,000/40,000/15,000 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.

Collision – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision insurance covers claims like colliding with another moving vehicle, colliding with a tree, hitting a mailbox, driving through your garage door and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Illinois drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 20/40/15), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for bills like prosthetic devices, dental work, chiropractic care and hospital visits. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive insurance – This coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims like vandalism, fire damage, damage from getting keyed, damage from flooding and a broken windshield. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Keep this in mind

Affordable auto insurance is available online in addition to many Aurora insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not provide online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

People change insurance companies for many reasons like unfair underwriting practices, delays in paying claims, questionable increases in premium and policy non-renewal. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company is not as hard as you think.

We covered some good ideas how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a small local company.

More consumer information in Illinois

Even more information is available at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can get help finding coverage, read state legal mandates and laws, and view a list of available companies.