Free Guide to Saving Money on Peoria Car Insurance Online

Buying the most affordable Peoria car insurance over the internet may be somewhat difficult for people who are new to buying insurance online. With so many online companies, how can consumers effectively compare every one to find the cheapest available price?

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

The following are a few of the “ingredients” that factor into your rates.

• Males pay more for insurance – Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. They both cause accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.
• Optional equipment can affect rates – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
• More than one policy can earn a discount – Many insurers provide better rates to customers who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be five, ten or even twenty percent. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still find a better deal by buying car insurance from a different company.
• Higher deductibles cost less – Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
• More miles equals more premium – Driving more miles every year the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your car insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
• More performance means more cost – The make and model of the car you are buying insurance for makes a substantial difference in your rates. The most favorable rates tend to be for small economy passenger cars, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
• Your age impacts your rates – Older drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Youthful drivers are known to be less responsible behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.

Cut your premium with discounts

Companies don’t always advertise every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you aren’t receiving every discount available, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Club Memberships – Participating in a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for car insurance.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premiums.
• E-sign – A few companies will give a small break just for signing your application over the internet.
• Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
• Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Bundle and Save – When you have multiple policies with the same company you will save at least 10% off all policies.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.

To see a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in Illinois, click this link.

Can’t I compare rates from local Peoria agents?

Some people would rather sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. Professional agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you someone to call. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is that you can obtain lower rates and still have an agent to talk to.

For easy comparison, once you complete this simple form, your insurance data is sent to insurance agents in Peoria who will battle for your coverage. You won’t need to drive around since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier!

Picking an insurer needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
• Do they assist clients in filing claims?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• What insurance companies do they work with?
• How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?

Pick the best car insurance agent in Peoria for you

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are a couple of different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agencies in Peoria can either be independent or captive. Both write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning how they are different because it can influence the selection process.

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents have only one company to place business with and examples are Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. Captives cannot give you multiple price quotes so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers frequently buy from captive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Below is a short list of captive insurance agents in Peoria who can help you get price quote information.

• American Family Insurance – 2020 W War Memorial Dr # 102 – Peoria, IL 61614 – (309) 685-5522
• State Farm Insurance – 713 W Lake Ave # 1 – Peoria, IL 61614 – (309) 688-7070
• Allstate Insurance – 8416 N Knoxville Ave – Peoria, IL 61615 – (309) 692-1290
• Farmers Insurance Group – 2600 N Knoxville Ave – Peoria, IL 61604 – (309) 682-9660

Independent Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include at least one independent agent to get the best comparison. Most have the option of insuring with lesser-known insurance companies who may have lower rates.

Below are Peoria independent insurance agents willing to provide comparison quotes.

• Meyer J Jacobs Insurance – 3101 W Harmon Hwy – Peoria, IL 61604 – (309) 674-6834
• Hecht-Stout Agency Inc – 4700 N University St # 65 – Peoria, IL 61614 – (309) 693-3388
• Dooley Agency – 2405 N University St – Peoria, IL 61604 – (309) 685-7575
• American Interstate Insurance – 6707 N Sheridan Rd – Peoria, IL 61614 – (309) 691-5763
• Burnham and Flower Agency – 2000 W Pioneer Pkwy # 25 – Peoria, IL 61615 – (309) 692-9522

To view a full list of insurance agents in Peoria, please click here.

After getting reasonable responses to any questions you have and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that meets your needs to service your policy.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings from the likes of Allstate and Progressive. They all make an identical promise about savings if you move your coverage to them.

But how can every company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don’t meet the requirements will be charged more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can claim big savings. That is why drivers must quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More Illinois car insurance resources

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read consumer alerts, and learn about specific coverages.

Other useful links include NAIC.org’s Understanding your Policy and this page for help finding agents in Peoria, IL.

Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal

You just read some good ideas how you can shop for car insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more price quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the lowest rates come from an unexpected company.

People leave their current company for any number of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, being labeled a high risk driver, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or even delays in paying claims. Whatever your reason, choosing a new company is easier than you think.

When buying insurance coverage, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.