Illinois Car Insurance FAQ

An Illinois Car Insurance FAQ list can provide you with all the necessary auto insurance buying information you need quickly and effectively. Whenever people are looking to buy car insurance, questions always seem to come up. Since finding quotes and getting insurance online has become so easy, it only makes sense to look there for information about insurance too. For drivers in Illinois, a Car Insurance FAQ will allow you to skim quickly through the topics covered until you find your question. Sometimes you will even discover that the Illinois Car Insurance FAQ has provided you with information you didn’t even know you were looking for.

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #1 – Is There Minimum Required Coverage In Illinois?

In Illinois, the government has indeed set state minimums for car insurance, however they are very low and you should seriously consider carrying higher limits.  The minimum required coverage is:

1. Property Damage Liability of $15,000 per accident
2. Bodily Injury Liability of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
3. Uninsured Motorist Coverage of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #2 – Why Do I Need Collision And Comprehensive Coverage?

1. Collision Coverage will pay for the repairs or replacement of your vehicle if it is involved in an at-fault accident or some other type of impact. 
2. Comprehensive Coverage will pay the cost of repair or replacement of your vehicle in case of fire, theft, vandalism, hail, animal collision and some other named perils.

If your car has a loan on it, your lien holder will probably require you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage to protect their investment. If your vehicle is relatively new or has a high value, you would also be wise to carry these two types of coverage. As the vehicle ages and value drops however, you can save some insurance dollars by dropping these coverages.

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #3 – I Am Having Problems Finding Car Insurance. What Can A High-Risk Driver Do?

In the state of Illinois, there is an assigned risk pool that is comprised of all insurers. It provides insurance for high-risk drivers, provided you meet the criteria:

1. Having been denied auto insurance
2. Have a driver’s license or be eligible to get one
3. Have a vehicle which is safe enough to drive
4. Have no outstanding bills for insurance coverage that you held in the past 3 years

The Illinois Auto Plan, as the pool is called, has very high rates, which are the same, no matter which insurer you use. So be sure to look at other companies who specialize in high-risk drivers also known as nonstandard insurers, before turning to this last recourse.

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #4 What Information Should I Have On Hand When Getting A Quote?

You will need:

1. your name, zip code, email address and phone number
2. annual mileage you put on your car
3. distance to and from work
4. your driving history
5. names, ages and driving history of other drivers in your home
6. the coverage and limits you want on your policy
7. make, model and year of your car

With all the different companies on the market in the state of Illinois, getting quotes can takes an awful lot of time, even after you’ve narrowed it down to the companies you want to call. However, our free online quote tools have made getting quotes by phone unnecessary. Just fill in your information and in no time you will have received multiple quotes from different Illinois insurers.

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #5 – How Often Should I Get IL Auto Insurance Quotes?

Every time your car insurance comes up for renewal, you should at least get some online quotes to compare prices with your current insurer. You want to be sure that they are still giving you a good rate. Buying a new car and getting a new driver in your household are both good times to look at getting quotes on your car insurance. Considering how easy and fast it has become, there is no reason why you shouldn’t review the prices out there whenever you are dealing with insurance.

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #6 – What Is The Best Way To Get Cheap Illinois Car Insurance?

Shop around. There are literally hundreds of auto insurers in the state of Illinois. Each one charges differently. To get the best price, get numerous quotes and be sure to ask for discounts.

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #7 – What Kind Of Discounts Can I Get On Auto Insurance?

Every insurance company formulates their rates slightly differently and offers different discounts for better premiums. Some common ones are:

1. Good Driver
2. Mature Driver
3. Multiple Vehicles
4. Multiple Lines of Insurance with the same company
5. Good Student
6. Safety Devices in the car like air bags, anti-lock brakes and automatic seatbelts
7. Alarm System
8. Low annual mileage
9. Driver having taken defensive driving course
10. College Students who do not live at home
11. Vehicles used for car pooling
12. Senior Citizen

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #8 – I Got A Great Rate From A Company I’ve Never Heard Of. Should I Use Them?

Check into any company you are planning to use for car insurance. You can check with the Better Business Bureau in your area or with the Illinois Department of Insurance to see if there are any complaints about how they do business. You may also want to look into their financial stability by checking their ratings with one of the independent insurance ratings companies like Standard and Poor’s, A.M. Best ,or Moody’s.

It’s important to feel comfortable that they will be around for the long term. Check to make sure the company has a license to operate in the state. The Illinois Division of Insurance puts out a yearly report based on customer complaints; you may want to check it before making an insurance company choice also.

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #9 – What Are These Additional Coverages That Some Companies Are Offering Me?

Many companies try to distinguish themselves in the marketplace by adding additional coverage through riders and endorsements on your policy. Sometimes they are free of charge and sometimes there is a cost. Common additional coverages include:

1. Replacement Value on Cars between 1 and 3 years old, depending on the insurer, and for cars that are leased.
2. Rental Car Reimbursement in case of needing a rental in connection with a claim.
3. Roadside Assistance, which will cover a reasonable amount of towing or labor cost to get your car going again.
4. A no-charge deductible reduction for every year you are insured with a company without claims.
5. Accident Forgiveness, which means that your premiums will not increase because of a first accident.

Illinois Car Insurance FAQ #10 – Is There Any Advantage To Paying The Premium In Full?

It depends on the insurance company in question and its terms of payment. Some companies will offer you a discount if you pay in full. Others will allow you to do interest-free payments if they are automatically transferred from your bank account. Others allow payments but charge interest and handling fees.

Compare Illinois Car Insurance Quotes Now!

After reading through these Illinois Car Insurance FAQ, you are thoroughly prepared to deal with your car insurance needs; use our free tool above and get great quotes to compare – get started finding Illinois auto insurance now!