How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Evanston Illinois

Are you overwhelmed by the dozens of auto insurance options in Evanston? Many other drivers are as well. There are so many options available that it can turn into a big hassle to find lower rates.

Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts

Car insurance companies don’t list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both the well known and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Evanston may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
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.
Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Organization Discounts – Participating in a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Auto/Home Discount – When you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
E-sign – A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
Sign Early and Save – A few companies offer discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Evanston, click this link.

Buying auto insurance from a local agent

Some consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent. Professional agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help in the event of a claim. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get lower rates and still have an agent to talk to.

Once you complete this quick form, your insurance coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to drive around since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How cool is that?!

Selecting an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Here are some questions to ask:

Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Illinois?
Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.

Types of auto insurance agents in Evanston

If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Evanston agents are classified as either captive or independent. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the differences since it can impact the type of agent you choose

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies can only place business with one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. They are trained well on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often purchase coverage from captives mainly due to the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength. Evanston IL car insurance

Shown below are captive insurance agencies in Evanston willing to provide price quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 1603 Orrington Ave # 2050 – Evanston, IL 60201 – (847) 424-1065
American Family Insurance – 808 Greenwood St – Evanston, IL 60201 – (847) 905-1905
Allstate Insurance – 2901 Central St # 2 – Evanston, IL 60201 – (847) 475-3900

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, you should always contact several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from. They also have the ability to place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can save you money.

The following is a list of independent agencies in Evanston that are able to give rate quotes.

Chisholm Insurance – 2501 Mcdaniel Ave – Evanston, IL 60201 – (847) 864-4088
Chisholm Insurance Agcy – 708 Church St – Evanston, IL 60201 – (847) 508-5000

To view a complete directory of insurance agents in Evanston, view this link.

Upon getting answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, you may have just found an insurance agency that meets your needs to service your policy.

Buyer beware of auto insurance advertising tricks

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make the same claim of big savings if you move to them.

How can each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a desirable insured might be over the age of 40, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Consumers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will have to pay more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That is how companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you absolutely need to get as many comparisons as possible. Because you never know the company that will have the lowest rates.

For more information

Additional detailed information can be read at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can read industry bulletins, report car insurance fraud, and learn about insurance regulations.

The following information may also be useful.

Online plus local equals savings

Cheaper auto insurance is possible both online and also from your neighborhood Evanston agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies may not provide online quoting and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, unfair underwriting practices, lack of trust in their agent and delays in responding to claim requests. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch choosing a new insurance company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of information how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

How to Know You’re Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Evanston Illinois