Getting the Best Car Insurance Quotes in Springfield, IL

Finding the right car insurance for your needs and budget can be a frustrating process. With so many options, how do you know which company to choose? If you live in Springfield, IL, I’m here to make it easy.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get the lowest car insurance quotes in Springfield, while still getting sufficient coverage We’ll look at

• Factors that affect your car insurance rates
• Minimum Illinois car insurance requirements
• The top 7 car insurance providers in Springfield
• Expert tips to lower your premium
• How to get and compare free car insurance quotes

What Affects Your Car Insurance Rates

Car insurance rates can vary wildly from person to person, even for identical coverage. Insurance companies take many factors into account when calculating your premium. Here are some of the biggest ones:

• Driving Record Tickets, accidents, and DUIs will dramatically increase your rates Even a single ticket can raise them by 15-30% Multiple incidents will result in even higher premiums.

• Location: Where you live and park your car at night plays a big role. Urban areas generally have higher premiums due to higher accident rates and auto theft.

• Car Make/Model Your specific vehicle affects rates. Sports cars luxury brands and vehicles with high accident rates get charged more. Newer cars cost more to insure as well.

• Age: Teenagers and elderly drivers usually pay the highest premiums due to lack of experience and higher accident rates. Middle-aged drivers get the best rates.

• Credit History: Insurers have found a correlation between poor credit and filing claims. Maintaining a solid credit score can lower your premiums.

• Annual Mileage: Driving fewer miles reduces risk to your insurer. Low mileage discounts are common.

• Marital Status: Married people statistically file fewer claims, so companies offer lower rates for being married.

• Gender: For reasons still debated, women generally receive lower rates than men. However, this factor is restricted in some states.

• Driving Habits: Car insurance companies are offering more and more usage-based or telematic programs that can further customize your rates based on actual driving data.

As you can see, there are many personal factors beyond your control that determine your rates. However, being aware of these variables can help explain pricing differences and point you to savings opportunities.

Illinois Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Illinois was the second state to enact mandatory auto insurance laws back in 1935. Today, the legal minimum liability coverage amounts are:

• $25,000 per injured person
• $50,000 per accident bodily injury
• $20,000 per accident property damage

This covers the other parties’ medical bills and vehicle repairs should you be at fault for an accident. However, it provides zero coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

I strongly advise buying more than just the minimum liability limits for your policy. Comprehensive and collision coverage should be added to handle damage to your own car. Also consider:

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (protects against injury costs when the at-fault driver has no or insufficient insurance)
• Medical payments (covers medical bills for you and passengers regardless of fault)
• Rental reimbursement
• Roadside assistance

The right level of coverage varies based on your car’s value, personal health insurance, and financial situation. But please get more than just basic liability!

Top 7 Car Insurance Companies in Springfield

Now that you know what affects rates and the state minimum requirements, let’s look at the major insurance carriers providing coverage in the Springfield area along with what they offer:

State Farm

The largest auto insurer in the U.S. and Illinois, State Farm enjoys an excellent reputation for customer service and claims satisfaction. They offer a full range of policies plus optional coverages like roadside assistance and rideshare coverage. State Farm rewards safe driving with discounts and telematics plans.

Progressive

Known for innovative options and focusing on high risk drivers, Progressive provides the Name Your Price tool where you state the premium you want to pay and they custom tailor coverage. They also have usage-based Snapshot discounts and accident forgiveness.

Allstate

This national company features accident forgiveness, safe driving bonuses, and new car replacement. Allstate offers rideshare insurance plus new Flock safety devices to track stolen vehicles. Their silver and gold level policies extend liability protection.

American Family Insurance

The largest private passenger auto insurer in Illinois, American Family boasts high marks for customer satisfaction. Policy perks include accident forgiveness, tuition insurance, roadside assistance, rideshare coverage, and vanishing deductibles rewards for claim-free driving.

GEICO

With clever ads and low rates, GEICO is the second largest U.S. auto insurer. They offer mobile app access, accident forgiveness, and extensive discounts for good drivers, students, the military, and more. GEICO has usage-based programs and emergency deployment discounts.

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual features new car replacement, accident forgiveness, rideshare coverage, and shrinking deductible rewards. Custom parts & labor coverage and roadside assistance are available. Discounts apply for safety features like airbags.

Country Financial

A leading insurer in Illinois, Country Financial provides vanishing deductibles for clean driving records plus full roadside assistance and rideshare coverage. Available discounts include anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes, new car, and good student.

As you can see, the major providers in Springfield all offer similar coverages and savings opportunities. But there can still be significant variances in premiums for your specific situation.

Expert Tips to Lower Your Car Insurance Premium

Here are my top 7 pro tips for getting the lowest rates possible on your Springfield auto insurance:

1. Compare quotes from multiple companies – Rates can vary wildly, so shop policies from at least 5 insurers to find the best price.

2. Ask about all available discounts – Don’t leave any savings unchecked. Inquire about every applicable discount like good driver, low mileage, vehicle safety features, good student, etc.

3. Drop unnecessary coverage – If your car is old with low value, consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage to save money.

4. Raise your deductible – Increasing your deductible lowers rates substantially. Just be sure you have adequate savings to cover the larger deductible if needed.

5. Improve your credit score – Good credit means lower premiums. Check reports for errors and work on improving your score.

6. Enroll in telematics programs – Insurers reward safe driving habits monitored by smart devices with significant monthly savings.

7. Maintain a clean driving record – Avoid tickets, accidents, and other violations to keep your record squeaky clean. This is the #1 way to get the lowest possible car insurance rates.

How to Get Free Springfield Car Insurance Quotes

Now that you’re armed with inside tips to get lower rates, it’s time to request quotes. While you can call individual insurers, the easiest way is to visit an online quote comparison site.

These sites let you enter your details just once and receive rate estimates from multiple top insurance companies. It simplifies the process substantially and ensures you don’t miss any big savings opportunities.

I recommend starting your search at TheZebra.com. Their industry-leading quote comparison tool shops hundreds of car insurance companies and coverage options. There are no forms to fill out or sales calls.

In just minutes you can view side-by-side quotes showing critical variables like:

• Company names and financial strength ratings
• Liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage
• Available discounts factored in
• Price estimates for various deductibles
• Minimum state requirements vs recommended amounts

Once you select the policy and options that fit your needs and budget, you can either purchase online or have an agent follow up for any final questions. With this easy process, you can confidently make an informed decision knowing you compared rates from all the top insurers.

So visit TheZebra.com today and start saving on your Springfield, IL car insurance!