Car Insurance in Aurora, IL – 9 Discounts Drivers are Unaware of

Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you there are many people just like you.

Popular companies such as Progressive, State Farm and GEICO constantly bombard you with ad campaigns and it is difficult to ignore the promise of big savings and find the best price available.

If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to save some money using these tips. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Aurora is not that difficult. But Illinois drivers need to have an understanding of how big insurance companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.

How to Get Aurora Car Insurance Comparison Quotes

When shopping for car insurance there are multiple ways of comparing rate quotes from local in Aurora, Illinoiscar insurance companies. The simplest method to find the lowest rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done using a couple different methods.

• Probably the best way consumers can analyze rates would be an industry-wide quote request form like this one (opens in new window). This form keeps you from doing separate quote forms for every car insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form will return quotes instantly.
• Another way to compare rate quotes is to take the time to go to the website of each company to complete a price quote. For example, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from Progressive, 21st Century and GMAC. You would have to visit each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Aurora, click here.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare identical coverage information for each comparison quote. If you enter different limits and deductibles on each one you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Aurora. Just a small difference in coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that obtaining a wide range of quotes will enable you to find a better price.

Discounts are basically free money

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but some may not be applied and must be specially asked for before being credited.

• Accident Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared to bad drivers.
• Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on car insurance.
• Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.
• No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies allow you one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks on the same car insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
• Multiple Policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
• Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will cut your premiums.

Which insurance is the “right” coverage?

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

• Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
• Do no-fault laws apply in Illinois?
• When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
• Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
• Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
• What discounts do I qualify for?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Much more information about car insurance in Illinois can be found on the website for the Illinois Department of Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, read industry bulletins, and learn about specific coverages.

Also read more on this site for Illinois car insurance information and this page for help finding agents in Aurora, IL.

Auto insurance coverage information

Understanding the coverages of car insurance aids in choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Listed below are the normal coverages offered by car insurance companies.

Liability coverages – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. It protects you against other people’s claims. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see policy limits of 100/300/100 that translate to $100,000 bodily injury coverage, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one limit called combined single limit (CSL) which limits claims to one amount and claims can be made without the split limit restrictions.

Liability coverage protects against things such as emergency aid, medical expenses, structural damage, repair costs for stationary objects and attorney fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Illinois state minimum liability requirements are 20,000/40,000/15,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.

Insurance for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses like dental work, nursing services and EMT expenses. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like falling objects, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, hitting a bird and theft. The maximum amount your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider dropping full coverage.

Collision coverage – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for claims like sustaining damage from a pot hole, damaging your car on a curb, hitting a mailbox, rolling your car and colliding with a tree. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – This protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Illinois drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (20/40/15 in Illinois), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is very important. Frequently the UM/UIM limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Keep this in mind

We covered many tips how you can shop for car insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies. They may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.

Budget-conscious car insurance can be purchased from both online companies and with local Aurora insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best selection. Some car insurance companies do not offer online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.