Follow These Tested Tips for Paying Less for Champaign Illinois Car Insurance

Are you intimidated by the dozens of car insurance options in Champaign? You have a lot of company. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can be a challenge to locate the lowest price.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to save some money using these methods. This information will familiarize you with how to get online quotes and some money-saving tips. Although Illinois vehicle owners need to learn how the larger insurance companies sell insurance online and use this information to your advantage.

How to Compare Car Insurance in Champaign, IL

All major car insurance companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive provide coverage prices on the web. The process doesn’t take much effort as you just enter your coverage information into a form. Upon sending the form, their rating system requests your driving record and credit report and returns a price quote.

Being able to quote online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time required to go to multiple sites and fill out multiple forms is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it’s very important to do this in order to get the best price on car insurance.

A quicker way to locate the lowest prices requires only one form that analyzes rates from multiple companies. It’s a real time-saver, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes online price comparison a little more enjoyable. Immediately after you send the form, your coverage is rated and you can select your choice of the resulting price quotes.

If the quotes result in lower rates, it’s easy to complete the application and buy the policy. The entire process only takes a few minutes and you’ll know if lower rates are available.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now, click here and enter your information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you type in identical to your current policy. Doing this guarantees you’re receiving a rate comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

These discounts can slash car insurance rates

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there are discounts available that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of purchase, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically before you get the savings.

• Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
• Federal Employees – Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.
• Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child complete a driver education course in high school.
• Save over 55 – Older drivers may be able to get a discount up to 10%.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will cut your overall premium however.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” car insurance companies consider when setting prices.

• Liability coverage protects you – Liability insurance will protect you when you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
• No coverage gaps is important – Not having insurance is illegal and car insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage will get you a license revocation or jail time.You may have to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Illinois department of motor vehicles.
• Low deductibles can be expensive – Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the less your car insurance will be.
• Older drivers pay less – Teenage drivers in Illinois have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so they pay higher car insurance rates. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
• More than one policy can earn a discount – Most car insurance companies provide better rates to insureds who carry more than one policy. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s still a good idea to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.

Online quotes with a local Champaign insurance agent

A small number of people just want to sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. And supporting local insurance agencies is especially important in Champaign.

For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is sent to participating agents in Champaign who will battle for your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates AND an agent nearby.

Pick the best car insurance agent in Champaign for you

When researching local Champaign agents, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Champaign agents can either be captive or independent.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparison shopping, we recommend you contact at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller companies who may have lower rates.

Shown below are Champaign independent agencies who can help you get pricing information.

• Country Insurance and Financial – 3123 Village Office Pl – Champaign, IL 61822 – (217) 359-9335
• Bud Myers Agency – 211 W Springfield Ave – Champaign, IL 61820 – (217) 356-6268
• Ellars Insurance – 2104 S Neil St – Champaign, IL 61820 – (217) 355-8057
• Champaign General Agency – 44 E Main St # 210 – Champaign, IL 61820 – (217) 356-4832

Captive Agents

Captive agents work for only one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captives receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes purchase coverage from captives primarily because of high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.

The following is a short list of captive agencies in Champaign that can give you price quote information.

• Allstate Insurance – 2202 Fox Dr # A – Champaign, IL 61820 – (217) 366-3000
• American Family Insurance – 1821 S Neil St – Champaign, IL 61820 – (217) 356-5952
• Farmers Insurance Group – 702 Bloomington Rd # 208 – Champaign, IL 61820 – (217) 403-1920

For a complete listing of Champaign captive insurance agents, click here to link.

Picking an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Who are their largest clients?
• How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
• Are they full-time agents?

Once you have answers to your satisfaction in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to properly service your car insurance policy.

Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you may require specific advice.

• Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
• What discounts do I qualify for?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
• Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
• Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
• How high should my medical payments coverage be?
• Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
• Is Illinois a no-fault state?
• What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Additional car insurance information can be read on the Illinois Department of Insurance website located here. Illinois drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you change to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured who fits that profile receives the best rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don’t meet these standards will be quoted higher premiums which leads to the customer not buying. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why it is so important to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Best coverage at the best price

Consumers leave their current company for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, lack of trust in their agent, being labeled a high risk driver or delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new car insurance company can be easier than you think.

When you buy insurance online, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

Lower-priced car insurance is attainable on the web in addition to many Champaign insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not provide online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.