Having coverage behind the wheel is important, but not everyone is willing to pay an arm and a leg for Illinois auto insurance.  There are certain aspects that cannot be changed like your age, occupation or where you live.  On the other hand, there are some personal changes that can be made to help lower the price you pay each month.

The first option to consider is paying as you drive.  Pay-as-you-drive programs often times offer better rates because they look specifically at how you drive rather than the general spectrum of age, location and so on.  Teenagers often have higher rates because of statistics, but what if you are an excellent driver with no speeding tickets, you don’t drive at night and drive few miles as is?  That’s where pay-as-you-drive plans become beneficial with different configurations.

Not everyone is capable of picking and choosing the car they drive, but it is highly recommended you choose a car with a lower cost of ownership.  There are several components that a True Cost to Own tool looks at including depreciation, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel, maintenance and repairs.  The better your score is in five years the better off you will be today.

Discounts are out there for Illinois auto insurance, it’s just a matter of finding them.  With a little bit of research online and through insurance companies themselves, you can find discounts for low-mileage drivers, seniors and for cars with anti-theft devices.  You will actually be surprised at the number of items you can get a discount for.

While states are doing what they can to eliminate insurance companies looking at credit, it is something you still have to deal with for now.  For this reason, do what you can to get back on track if your credit is mediocre at best.

If you’re really tired of paying high monthly premiums, you can always consider changing your coverage.  Paying a higher deductible can help you save a great deal every month.  Believe it or not, going from a $250 to a $1,000 deductible can help you save anywhere from 25-40 percent on your policy.  Then just set aside a little bit to cover your costs if a claim were to occur.,

The final tip to save on Illinois auto insurance is easier said than done…become a safer driver.  This means no road-rage, slow down, and don’t be so aggressive.  If speeding tickets have been a problem in the past, stop speeding.  If you have accidents on your record from driving aggressive, take a chill pill.  Whatever you need to do to control your emotions on the road, do it!