Every Illinois driver needs car insurance, and you have several choices when it comes to your coverage. As an independent agent, Frank Isadore can help you shop around and compare rates and coverages from multiple reputable insurance companies until you find a policy that meets your needs and budget.
Illinois Car Insurance Coverage Requirements
Like other states, Illinois has minimum coverage requirements. Drivers must comply with these requirements or else face fines and penalties. Currently, drivers are required to have coverage that includes $25,000 for individual bodily injury and $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, as well as $20,000 for property damage liability.
It is important to note that while purchasing coverage to meet these minimums will keep drivers legally compliant, low-limit coverage does little to protect against financial responsibility in a major accident. That is why drivers should consult with an independent agent when determining how much coverage is necessary to protect individual income and assets against a potential lawsuit.
Types of Illinois Car Insurance Coverage
If you purchase car insurance in Illinois, your policy will likely contain several different types of coverage – not just those required by state law. Many are optional, although some, such as collision and comprehensive coverage, may be required under the terms of lease and finance agreements. Even if you have no obligation to purchase these additional coverages, however, doing so could reduce your risk exposure and protect your vehicle and finances against potential loss.
Although the specific types and details of available coverage can vary slightly from insurer to insurer, most companies offer similar types of protection. Examples include:
Liability
Liability is a mandatory part of your car insurance policy. It pays for victim injuries and property damages when you are at-fault for an accident. Victims can sue you for medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and other related expenses after a collision. If you have enough liability coverage, you may not have to pay for legal bills and judgments out-of-pocket. If you only have the minimum coverage, however, you may have to empty savings accounts, liquidate investments, or face wage garnishments to help cover the damages.
Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist
When drivers have no insurance, they are not only breaking the law, but they are also creating leaving you vulnerable to financial loss when they cause an accident. If you are injured by an uninsured driver, your uninsured motorist protection can help cover costs not covered by another insurance policy. Similarly, underinsured motorist protection can help fill in the gaps that remain when an at-fault driver’s liability limits are too low to meet your needs.
Medical Payments
Medical payments coverage is designed to protect you and your passengers. It is not contingent upon fault; rather, medical payments coverage pays for things like emergency room expenses and health insurance deductibles if you are hurt in a wreck. You can choose your medical payment limit in an amount suitable to your needs. For many drivers, that means purchasing at least enough coverage to pay for a health insurance deductible if necessary.
Collision
Collision insurance is not required by law, but it lien-holders may require it until you pay off your loan or finish out your lease. This important coverage can help you get back on the road quickly in the event your vehicle is damaged in a car accident. It can also reimburse you for a complete loss if your car is totaled in an accident.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive insurance is designed to compensate you for damages to your vehicle when they are caused by incidents other than collision. For example, you may file a comprehensive claim if you hit a deer with your car or if an icy tree branch comes crashing down on your vehicle.
Claims against this collision and comprehensive coverage are subject to a deductible, which is the amount you will pay out of pocket toward each covered loss. You can choose your deductible when you purchase your policy and adjust it if your needs change over time. Generally, a high deductible can lower policy premiums, but a low deductible can reduce your personal costs for a claim.
Roadside Assistance and Towing
If you have a flat tire or lock your keys in your vehicle, roadside assistance coverage can help pay for professional services that will have you rolling again as quickly as possible. You can also purchase coverage for towing, which helps cover the cost of towing your vehicle to a repair facility following an accident or breakdown.
Temporary Transportation
Whether you need a way to work or need reliable transportation to get the kids to school and back, your insurance can help cover the cost of a rental car or other temporary transportation if your vehicle is damaged due to a covered event. Coverage is typically limited by the amount and by the number of days it is available per incident.
Using an Independent Agent for Car Insurance
Independent agents work for drivers – not insurers. While it costs you nothing to use the services of an agent, it could save you a tremendous amount of time and money. Not only can an independent agent shop and compare rates from multiple Illinois insurance companies on your behalf, but we can also help you assess your actual coverage needs so you are better protected against loss.
You May Qualify for Car Insurance Discounts
They’re your discounts, so don’t let them slip away. If you are not using an independent agent to shop for car insurance, you could be missing out on earned discounts without even realizing it. At our office, we help the driver secure big savings when they qualify for:
- Good student discounts
- Low mileage discounts
- Safe vehicle discounts
- Safe driving discounts
- Multiple-policy discounts
- Multiple-vehicle discounts
- And more
We serve drivers throughout northwest Chicago and the surrounding areas, including but not limited to:
- Rolling Meadows
- Schaumburg
- Palatine
- Mt. Prospect
- Arlington Heights
- Hoffman Estates
- Bloomingdale
- Inverness
- Roselle
If you are in the market for Illinois car insurance, turn to Frank Isadore for competitive rates on the coverage you need. Contact us today to request a personalized coverage review and a free auto insurance quote. We look forward to serving you soon.
