IL AUTO INSURANCE: Coverage, Quote & Shopping Guide

Everyone gets in their car in the morning without thinking about getting into an accident, but every day there are accidents that result in significant injuries. Experiencing a car accident in Illinois can completely upend your life. There are a lot of additional significant issues to handle that add to the stress of the situation, on top of your injuries and your totaled car. It can be difficult to handle everything. If you want to get the best possible settlement from the cheap auto insurance companies in IL, you need to know how the claims process works, the requirements, and the quotes too. Keep reading!

IL Auto Insurance

Having auto insurance is crucial in the Windy City of IL. Did you know that every driver has a one in two chance of being in an accident sometime throughout their career? Thankfully, this data includes little bumps, even while the car is stationary, so the majority of these cause no injuries. However, most of them cause damage to the vehicle, which may be an unexpected expense you aren’t prepared to deal with.

Car insurance is not only required by law but also serves to protect you financially in the event of an accident by covering medical bills and other costs. In the event of an accident for which you are found legally culpable, financial protection against the associated financial burdens is essential; this is where car insurance comes in.

How Does Car Insurance Work?

You can get assistance from car insurance in covering losses resulting from auto theft, collisions, natural catastrophes, and liabilities. When something bad happens, your insurer will step in and help you out if you pay them a premium.

However, deductibles are normally required for all other types of insurance coverage except liability. You will have to pay your deductible before your insurance company begins paying anything. These can be as little as $250 or as much as $2,000. Insuring something with a higher deductible will save you money on your premiums because you’ll be responsible for a larger portion of the repair or replacement costs in the event of an accident.

Types of Auto insurance coverage in Illinois

The following are the types of auto insurance coverage in IL:

#1. Liability insurance

It encompasses culpability for both property damage and physical harm. It only pays for harm you do to other people in an accident when you are at fault.

#2. Coverage for uninsured and underinsured drivers

It covers repairs and medical expenses in the event that you are involved in an accident with a driver who has little or no insurance. It may also pay for the price of repairs necessary after a hit-and-run.

#3. Comprehensive coverage

It covers repair costs if an external source, such as a fire, flood, hailstorm, theft, or vandalism, damages your car.

#4. Collision insurance

It covers car repair expenses in the event that you are at fault in an accident.

#5. Full coverage car insurance

It means you have state-minimum liability coverage plus comprehensive and collision coverage.

#6. Coverage for medical payments

It covers medical costs in the event that an accident causes injuries to you or your passengers.

#7. Personal injury protection (PIP)

Often referred to as no-fault insurance, it pays for funeral expenses, lost income, and medical expenses for you or your passengers in the event of an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

#8. GAP

It covers the shortfall between the amount you owe on your car and the maximum amount your insurance will cover in the event that it is stolen or totaled.

IL Auto Insurance Requirements

You need to learn about the requirements of IL auto insurance so as to know what it entails. Illinois auto insurance policies must include at least the following coverage for drivers:

Liability insurance for bodily injuries

Drivers need to have at least:

Each individual has bodily harm liability coverage of $25,000.
$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage

Liability coverage for property damage

Property damage liability insurance with a minimum of $20,000 is also required of all drivers. This is less than what is required by law in a number of other states.

Illinois Auto Insurance Laws

The following Illinois car insurance laws are ones that all drivers should be aware of:

#1. The state of Illinois is at fault

Illinois is an at-fault state for auto insurance, just like the majority of the nation. This means that in the event of an accident involving two or more vehicles, the at-fault driver will be responsible for covering the expense of everyone’s medical bills and repairs. When serious accidents occur, this can quickly become more costly than the state-mandated coverage.

#2. The Consequences for driving without insurance in Illinois

If a driver does not have Illinois minimum car insurance, they may be subject to the following penalties:

Registration suspension with a $100 reinstatement cost
Penalties up to $1,000

Best Cheap Auto Insurance Companies in Illinois

The following are some of the best cheap auto insurance companies in Illinois:

#1. Travelers

You can get a quote from Travelers in under five minutes, and they won’t even ask for your driver’s license number. You may be able to sign up for a vehicle insurance quote and save up to 10% if you do so while your current insurance provider is still offering you coverage.

Liability, collision, comprehensive, PIP, and medical payments are all available as add-ons to a standard traveler’s policy. It also provides optional coverages such as loan/lease GAP protection, rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness, brand-new vehicle replacement, and emergency roadside assistance. Keep in mind that it only provides Illinois and Colorado with ridesharing coverage for Uber or Lyft drivers. It is one of the best cheap auto insurance companies in Illinois.

#2. GEICO

Every typical kind of insurance, including comprehensive, collision, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical, and bodily injury liability, is provided by GEICO. To assist clients in creating a policy that suits their requirements and budget, the company’s website provides a breakdown of these factors in addition to details on limits, premiums, and deductibles. It is one of the best cheap auto insurance companies in Illinois.

It also provides a plethora of discounts to assist clients in obtaining discounts. They fall into four categories: customer loyalty, driving history and behaviors, vehicle equipment, and driver affiliation.

#3. Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual, like many other insurers, provides PIP, medical payments, uninsured drivers, liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. In addition, it provides passengers with benefits including rental reimbursement, GAP coverage, and roadside assistance. It is one of the best cheap auto insurance companies in Illinois.

Coverage for educators who keep important materials in their vehicles and no limits on discount accumulation are two of the program’s most distinctive characteristics. To help you decide what amount of protection you want, it also offers a coverage calculator directly on its website.

#4. USAA

USAA, like many other companies, provides various discounts, but theirs have some interesting twists. One of these is a car storage discount available to members who keep their cars at military installations. In this instance, clients can save up to 15% on comprehensive coverage and receive up to 60% off their policy when storing their vehicle on a military base or installation. Additionally, it provides a low-mileage discount to members who are stationed domestically as well as overseas.

#5. Nationwide

There is a vast range of both mandatory and elective protections available from Nationwide. Nationwide offers the On Your Side Review, an annual review where clients can ask questions about their policy and see whether the savings and perks are still applicable to them, to assist drivers in selecting the appropriate coverage year after year.

Based on your driving history, you can choose between two discount programs from Nationwide. SmartRide is a telematics program that monitors your driving habits (distance traveled, time at rest, speed, and braking while driving at night) and provides you with suggestions for improvement.

#6. Erie

Erie’s Rate Lock function makes it stand out from the competition. Even after submitting a claim, this special feature allows policyholders’ insurance premiums to remain frozen year after year. There are no additional providers of this feature that we could find.

Erie’s discounts are competitive with those of the other companies on our list. These include decreasing deductibles, first-accident forgiveness, and vehicle storage reductions.

#7. Amica

The Amica Platinum Choice Auto Policy is an all-inclusive plan that provides standard protections as well as special features like identity theft monitoring.

It also provides rental car insurance, deductible-free glass coverage, and an Advantage Points program that allows drivers to accrue points to lower their deductibles or prevent rates from rising following a claim.

#8. Progressive

Progressive’s customization options are what make them unique. Customers choose a budget using the Name Your Price feature, and Progressive designs a policy to fit it. Policyholders can then select the coverage limits and deductibles that best suit their needs. Also, Progressive offers coverage for a few items that other insurance does not. One is ridesharing coverage, which protects you whether you work full-time or as a side gig for any kind of rideshare service (like Uber, Lyft, or even food delivery). Furthermore, Progressive’s collision coverage pays for medical attention for any harm your pet may suffer in an accident.

#9. State Farm

Teen drivers have the most expensive insurance rates, but State Farm is different from other companies because it gives teens big savings that can help pay for their high rates. If their young driver maintains a GPA of 3.0 or above until they age 25, policyholders can receive savings of up to 25% through the Good Student Discount. Taking a driver’s ed course can also result in a discount for drivers under the age of 21. The Drive Safe and Save telematics program, which tracks your speed, braking, and other driving parameters and offers feedback on these, is one of State Farm’s noteworthy discounts. Just by signing up, State Farm offers you a discount. After you use the app, you can receive a discount of up to 30% for practicing safe driving.

#10. Farmers

Farmers provide collector and classic car insurance for aficionados of vintage automobiles. You can use this coverage to safeguard your collection, whether traveling overseas or at the local auto show. Policyholders who combine this with spare parts coverage may receive up to $750 in free replacement or repair for spare components. Farmers have somewhat higher rates than the industry standard, but their wide variety of options makes them a good choice for people who don’t mind shelling out a little extra for personalized insurance. It is also one of the best cheap auto insurance companies in Illinois.

What to Do in IL When Filing an Auto Insurance Claim

Those who have experienced the chaos and tension that follow a car crash can attest to this. It shouldn’t get worse after filing a claim on your auto insurance. There are a few things you should do to support your insurance claim. The following are things to consider when filing an auto insurance claim in IL:

#1. File a Police Report or an Illinois Crash Report

Calling the police and providing a detailed account of what transpired following the collision is essential. In the event that an officer shows up, they will draft the police report. If not, each driver who was involved in a vehicle accident and who has insurance has ten days to file an Illinois crash report if there was a fatality, serious injury, or more than $1,500 worth of property damage. If there is $500 worth of damage and one of the drivers is uninsured, a crash report needs to be made. Don’t let your insurance claim get refused because you forgot to collect a copy of the police report!

#2. Seek Out Medical Help

You should get treatment at an emergency medical center if you have serious injuries. But even if you don’t believe you were hurt, you should still get checked out by a doctor. Physical injuries frequently take time to manifest. At the outset, you should have records of the medical services rendered and their associated expenses.

#3. Obtain Eyewitness Reports

If there’s a chance there may be disagreements over what happened, you might wish to get an account from any eyewitnesses for the police report. In cases where the accident is obvious, you may be able to skip this step. Nevertheless, having witnesses attest to your assertion might strengthen it.

#4. Make Contact with Your Insurance Provider

Inform the representative of your insurance company right away about the accident and all losses related to it. Make sure you inform them of any physical damage to the car as well as any injuries you may have received.

Tell your insurer the truth. Don’t try to reduce the accident’s severity or hide anything. Eventually, your insurer will probably find out, so lying to them will simply cause them to postpone the processing of your claim and sour things further between you and them.

#5. Understand Your Insurance Policy

Make sure you understand what is and is not covered by reading your insurance carefully. This will enable you to anticipate what your insurer will do for you. You can begin negotiating with your insurer once you get an estimate for repairs. However, you should know that your insurance company probably won’t pay for all of the necessary repairs out of pocket.

#6. Protect Your Vehicle from Further Damage

The insurance provider will pay for any damage that happened during the collision. However, you can be held accountable if further harm results from your negligence. The insurance company won’t pay for rain damage to the interior, for instance, if the window breaks and you don’t cover it.

#7. File Within the Statute of Limitations in Illinois

In the event of any form of personal injury, you have a deadline for filing your claim. You have up to two years under Illinois law to initiate a personal injury claim.

#8. Keep a Record

It’s crucial to document the incident in detail as soon as possible when it happens. Any documents you receive, keep them. Make a record of every conversation you have and every dollar you spend. Record all of the costs associated with the mishap. This covers any additional expenses incurred as a result of the accident, such as medical costs, auto repairs, and rental automobiles. Having this documentation on hand will make it easier to get reimbursement from your insurance company.

Things Not to Do When Making an IL Auto Insurance Claim

Certain behaviors may have a negative impact on your auto insurance claim. The following are some things you should avoid doing while submitting an IL auto insurance claim:

#1. Don’t Put Off Filing a Claim for Too Long

Make sure to file your claim as soon as possible following the accident because most insurance policies include a deadline.

#2. Avoid Making Any Repairs

You should never attempt to fix your car on your own without getting permission from your insurance provider. You need to make sure you have enough money and permission to do the necessary repairs. If not, they might not be able to pay for everything.

#3. Don’t Sign Anything Up Front

You will eventually sign a settlement agreement, but you should first have extensive discussions and a clear knowledge of your legal rights before doing so. Make sure you are aware of the full amount of both your injuries and the damage to your car.

There is virtually no way for you to tell what your damages will be just after an accident. Your car may appear to have minimal damage. However, when you get it checked out, you might discover that there’s a lot more damage than you thought. Furthermore, health problems could not show up on day one. Some people’s car accident symptoms take time to manifest.

Please read all documents carefully before signing them. This applies to any paperwork that your insurance requires you to sign. Before you sign anything, make sure you understand what you’re signing.

#4. Avoid Accepting the First Repair Estimate You Receive

You shouldn’t just go with the lowest price you’re quoted unless you know and trust the mechanic giving it to you. You can request multiple estimates until you locate one that meets your needs.

#5. Don’t Settle on the Loss Amount if You Disagree

You have the right to request an appraisal if you disagree with the amount offered as compensation for the damages by the insurance company. You should expect your insurer to underpay you at first, so be ready to bargain for a reasonable settlement. It’s okay to turn down the offer and look for another one if you’re not content with it. Also, the opposing party will receive an evaluation. The cost of each party’s own appraisal is due. If the appraisers can’t agree on a figure, an umpire will assist in determining which is correct.

How to Obtain Affordable Auto Insurance in IL

In order to find the best deal on auto insurance in IL, drivers should take the following actions:

#1. Get estimates from various insurance providers

Every insurance provider gives a driver’s application a somewhat varied weight. It is only through obtaining vehicle insurance quotes that you can determine which provider gives you the best value, as some may penalize drivers more than others for accidents or bad credit.

#2. Take advantage of all possible discounts

For individuals who meet the requirements, insurers automatically apply some driver discounts. However, there are some that drivers have to choose from, such as installing monitoring equipment in their cars. Whether this is worth it is a personal decision, but it might enable safe drivers to further cut their expenses.

#3. Assemble information

Collect personal and car information. Your driver’s license, the registration of the car, and, if the car is already insured, a copy of the declaration page of your current insurance are typical materials you’ll require.

#4. Examine the options you have

Make sure to consider the limitations and type of coverage while comparing premiums. Comparing apples to apples is crucial.

#5. View customer testimonials

When choosing between several insurers, you can benefit from the opinions of both present and past customers.

#6. Go with a higher deductible

Drivers must pay deductibles out of pocket when they submit a claim. Selecting a more

How to lower your Auto Insurance in IL

Here are some things to do to lower the rates of your auto insurance in IL:

Bundle insurance policies
Reduce coverage
Shop for rates
Increase your deductible
Consider usage-based insurance
Review your policy regularly
Apply for discounts

Why is Auto Insurance so Expensive in IL?

Extreme storms, harsh winter conditions, and prolonged droughts are all on the rise in the state of Illinois. Due to the increased frequency and severity of claims brought on by extreme weather, insurers spend more money than usual. They must therefore increase charges in order to keep up.

What Is Comprehensive Car Insurance?

Car insurance with comprehensive coverage pays for harm to your vehicle that doesn’t come from collisions. This can involve vandalism, theft, or damage resulting from a natural calamity.

Does your Car Insurance Policy Need to go Down Every Year?

When you get older, drive carefully for three to five years after an accident or ticket, or move to a less expensive company, your auto insurance usually decreases. Between the ages of 18 and 19, car insurance rates drop off the most for both men and women.

Are You Able to Bargain With Allstate?

Remember that Allstate’s initial offer will likely be incredibly low when you file your claim. Strong, tenacious negotiation is frequently necessary to reach a just settlement.

Final Thoughts

All drivers in IL are required to carry auto insurance, but it may be very expensive. You also need to check around and study some of the quotes given to you by the auto insurance companies you checked out in IL. The average driver will pay rates that exceed $2,000 a year, but by selecting the best auto insurance company in IL, you can significantly reduce the cost.