Learn How to Buy Bloomington Auto Insurance Like a Professional

No one in their right mind likes paying for auto insurance, in particular when the cost is way too high. Companies like Allstate, Liberty Mutual and State Farm continually bombard you with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to not get sucked in by the cute commercials and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance in Bloomington

Reducing your insurance rates is actually quite simple. Consumers just need to spend a little time comparing rates from different insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

Probably the best way to get quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison click to view form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do boring form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. A single, simple form gets you coverage quotes from several companies.
A slightly less efficient method to obtain and compare quotes online consists of going to each individual company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let’s say you want to compare Progressive, Farmers and Travelers. To get rate quotes you would need to spend time on each company’s site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Bloomington, click here.
The most time-consuming way of comparing rate quotes is driving around to local Bloomington insurance agencies. Shopping for auto insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the professional guidance that only a license agent can provide. Drivers can compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and we’ll touch on that later.

Whichever way you use, ensure you’re using apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles for every quote you compare. If you use different liability limits it will be impossible to determine the best price in Bloomington.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Car insurance is not cheap, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied at quote time, but a few need to be specially asked for before you will receive the discount. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you’re just leaving money on the table.

Life Insurance Discount – Some companies give better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
Good Student – Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
Passive Restraint Discount – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts up to 30%.
Braking Control Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Driver’s Ed – Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in high school.
Discount for New Cars – Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Club Memberships – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount when shopping for auto insurance.
Early Switch Discount – A few companies offer discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. It’s a savings of about 10%.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Bloomington, follow this link.

But don’t I need an insurance agent?

Some people would prefer to buy from a licensed agent. Educated insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help in the event of a claim. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting local businesses is important particularly in Bloomington. car insurance image

To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to companies in Bloomington who will battle for your insurance coverage. There is no need to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy!

If you want to select a specific agent in Bloomington, visit this link.

Picking an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions:

Who are their largest clients?
Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Illinois?
If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?

After getting acceptable answers to any questions you have and a good coverage price, you have narrowed it down to an insurance company that will insure your vehicles.

When might I need help?

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions might point out if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.

Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
What discounts do I qualify for?
At what point should I drop full coverage?
Do I need higher deductibles?
Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Bloomington?
Does my vehicle need full coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Younger drivers pay higher rates – Teenage drivers in Illinois have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so auto insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Increase deductibles and save – Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more money you’re willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
Don’t let your coverage lapse – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a sure-fire way to bump up your auto insurance costs. Not only will you pay more, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a license revocation or jail time.You may need to file a SR-22 with the Illinois motor vehicle department.
Occupation reflects on rates – Careers like judges, architects and accountants tend to have higher rates than average in part from high stress and long work days. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and the unemployed receive lower rates.
More people means more accidents – Being located in small towns and rural areas has it’s advantages when buying auto insurance. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate. Drivers who live in large Illinois cities tend to have congested traffic and longer commute times. Longer commute distances can result in more accidents.
Optional equipment can affect rates – Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your car from being stolen.
Discounts for married couples – Having a spouse actually saves money on your policy. Having a spouse means you’re more mature than a single person and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.

We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the least-expected company. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

Much more information about auto insurance in Illinois can be found on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance. Click here for link. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, find disaster information, and get help finding coverage.

Additional helpful sites include FindNewCarInsurance.com and this page of insurance agents in Bloomington.