Posts Tagged ‘Illinois Auto Insurance’

Illinois Car Insurance Minimum Requirements

Saturday, June 11th, 2011

Drivers in Illinois are required to have liability insurance coverage in place. The state follows a tort system to deal with damages following a car accident, which means that a driver will be found legally responsible in an accident. That individual (through his or her insurance company) will have to pay medical bills and expenses incurred by accident victims. The at-fault driver is also responsible for paying for the cost of repairs to property damaged in the accident.

The minimum level of bodily injury liability protection required by law is $20,000 to compensate a single accident victim and $40,000 to pay for injuries and damages sustained by all people injured in the same incident. This part of the insurance policy also pays a funeral benefit if the accident caused a loss of life.

Property damage liability coverage of $15,000 or more must also be purchased. It pays for repairs to the other driver’s vehicle, as well as items like mail boxes, light stands and sign posts.

Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is also required in Illinois. The minimum level of coverage ($20,000/$40,000) is the same as for third party liability insurance. Having this protection in place means that an injured person is covered for medical expenses even if the at-fault driver does not have insurance coverage in place.

Illinois car insurance customers can choose to buy a policy with a higher level of protection if they wish. In the case of a serious accident, the minimum amount of protection required by law may not be high enough to pay for the damages caused.

Increase Your Illinois Car Insurance Deductible to Get Lower Rates

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Illinois car insurance buyers who are looking for ways to get lower rates may want to consider increasing their deductible. This is the amount that a driver agrees to pay out of pocket before the insurance company will pay anything toward a claim. Choosing a higher deductible means that the driver can qualify for lower premium rates.

Before deciding to increase the deductible on a policy, a driver should consider it carefully. Choosing a higher deductible should not create financial hardship for the driver if a claim is made against the policy.

To find out how a higher deductible will influence rates, a buyer can get quotes reflecting different levels. A driver should get pricing information from several providers before making a decision about where to buy a policy.

Going online to get multiple quotes is a quick and easy way to find out how much different providers will charge for coverage. Many of them offer free quotes directly from their web sites. The driver would fill out an online form and answer a few questions about how long he or she has been licensed and the make and model of the vehicle to be insured. The company will also want to know whether the driver has been involved in any accidents or accumulated any moving violations over the past few years before providing a quote.

 

 

Illinois Drivers Save with Free Auto Insurance Quotes

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

For drivers in Illinois, free auto insurance quotes allow them to compare rates from different providers quickly and easily. A proven method to find the best rates for car insurance coverage is to shop around, and a number of companies offer pricing information to customers at no charge.

Ideally, a driver will review his or her coverage at least once a year to determine whether he or she has enough protection in place. The best time to pull out the insurance policy and start reviewing it is a couple of months before the current policy is up for renewal. Rather than simply renewing the policy with the same insurance provider, a better choice is to get quotes from a number of providers for the type and level of coverage needed.

Once the free auto insurance quotes have been received, a driver should take the time to review them carefully before choosing a provider. The quotes should be compared to determine whether all of them are for the same type and level of coverage, and that the deductible is the same for all of them.

Drivers who choose a policy with a higher deductible pay lower rates for their coverage. When an Illinois car insurance buyer agrees to pay more toward the cost of a claim personally, the insurance company can offer him or her better pricing.

 

Factors that Affect Illinois Auto Insurance Rates

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

When Illinois auto insurance companies are setting rates for policyholders, they consider a number of factors. While different providers may consider the same ones, not all of them use the same formula for setting rates. The weight that each factor is given will vary, depending on the company, which means that the rates charged for the same type and level of protection will vary as well.

Even though the specific formula used by auto insurance companies in Illinois is confidential, it’s safe to assume that one of the main factors is an applicant’s driving record. Insurance providers use past events as a way to predict future behavior, and a person who has a driving history which includes accidents or moving violations will be charged higher rates than a person who has a clean driving record. An individual who has been involved in an accident may be able to qualify for lower rates a few years after the incident if he or she can maintain a clean driving record in the interim.

The make and model of the vehicle being insured is another important factor when it comes to setting rates. If a vehicle is particularly expensive to repair following a collision or it is more likely to be targeted by thieves, the owner will be paying higher rates for his or her coverage. Some vehicles, such as sports cars, cost more to insure because their owners are more likely to be involved in collisions.