Lowest Car Insurance Exclusively for Elgin Residents

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can drain your savings account and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to tighten up your finances. There is such a variety of car insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s a good thing to have multiple companies, so many choices can make it hard to find the best rates.

Finding the best rates in Elgin is not rocket science. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these tips. Illinois consumers just need to understand the proper way to shop their coverage around on the web.

Elgin Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating car insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

The list below includes some of the factors that factor into prices.

Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Did you know your car insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations such as doctors, social workers and accountants tend to have higher rates than average because of high stress levels and long work hours. On the flip side, occupations like scientists, athletes and performers receive lower rates.
Better credit scores mean better rates – Credit rating is a large factor in your rate calculation. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with poor credit. If your credit score can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your by repairing your credit.
Pleasure use saves money – The more you drive in a year the more you will pay for car insurance. Almost all companies rate vehicles based on their usage. Autos used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Double check that your car insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
Big city or small town – Residing in a small town can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate. City drivers regularly have much more traffic to deal with and longer commutes to work. Higher commute times translates into higher accident risk.
Discounts for multiple policies – Some insurers give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Safer occupants lowers premiums – Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
You might want pay the small claims yourself – Insurance companies in Illinois generally give cheaper rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Teen drivers pay high rates – Teen drivers in Illinois have a tendency to get distracted easily when driving so they pay higher car insurance rates. Parents adding a teenage driver onto a policy can really hurt. More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.

Cheap Elgin Car Insurance Comparisons

Finding a better price on car insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. Just spend a little time to compare quotes from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

One of the best ways to get quotes is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for separate forms for each company you want a rate for. One simple form will return quotes instantly.
A harder way to compare prices requires a trip to each company website and request a quote. For examples sake, let’s say you want to compare Allstate, Farmers and GMAC. You would have to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method.
For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Elgin, click here.
The least efficient method to compare rates is to spend your day driving to insurance agents’ offices. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you want the trained guidance only provided by licensed agents. You can, however, find lower rates online but buy from a local insurance agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If you have different limits and deductibles on each one you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Elgin.

Do car insurance companies bend the truth?

Consumers in Illinois get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. They all make an identical promise that you can save if you move your policy.

How does each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a preferred risk might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Consumers who don’t meet these standards will be quoted more money which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies don’t necessarily list every available discount very clearly, so we break down some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to. Elgin insurance prices

Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Life Insurance Discount – Some companies give lower rates if you buy life insurance.
Government Employees – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Senior Citizens – Older drivers may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
Early Signing – Select companies give a discount for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles can earn a substantially lower rate.
Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than their less cautious counterparts.
No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident without raising rates if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

But buying car insurance online seems impersonal

Certain consumers just want to talk to a local agent and that is OK! Licensed agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you can get the best rates and still have an agent to talk to.

By using this short form, your coverage information is sent to local insurance agents in Elgin who will compete for your coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!

Choosing an insurance company should depend on more than just the price. Here are some questions to ask:

Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
Do they make recommendations based only on price?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
Which company do they place the most coverage with?
How long has their agency been in business in Elgin?

Captive agents vs. Independent agents

When looking for an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Elgin are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive. Both insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the differences because it can impact buying decisions.

Captive Agents

Captive agencies have only one company to place business with and some examples include Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are not able to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents.

The following are captive insurance agents in Elgin who may provide you with rate quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 339 W River Rd # 202 – Elgin, IL 60123 – (847) 697-9800
State Farm Insurance – 310 S Mclean Blvd # B – Elgin, IL 60123 – (847) 741-5733
Allstate Insurance – 1130 Dundee Ave – Elgin, IL 60120 – (847) 697-5900
American Family Insurance – 860 Summit St # 233 – Elgin, IL 60120 – (847) 841-1444

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to contact at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Shown below is a list of independent agencies in Elgin who can help you get comparison quotes.

Lundstrom Insurance – 645 Tollgate Rd # 300 – Elgin, IL 60123 – (847) 741-1000
Menner Reinsurance Agency Inc – 1275 Davis Rd – Elgin, IL 60123 – (847) 697-1705
Robert Lindemann Agency – 744 Diane Ave – Elgin, IL 60123 – (847) 742-5351
Hebert Insurance – 1108 Stratford Ct # D – Elgin, IL 60120 – (847) 608-9344
Leo R Cox Agency – 350 Dundee Ave – Elgin, IL 60120 – (847) 742-9713

For a full directory of licensed insurance agents in Elgin, please go to this site.

Upon receiving answers to your satisfaction to these questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that will service your policy.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Every insured’s situation is different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions might point out whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
At what point should I drop full coverage?
Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
Is Illinois a no-fault state?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.

Additional detailed information can be read at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, discover disciplinary actions, view a list of available companies, and report car insurance fraud.

More related Elgin car insurance information:

Little Known Tips to Paying Less for Elgin Illinois Car Insurance

Affordable insurance is out there

Affordable car insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Elgin agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of information how to lower your car insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate or State Farm.