10 Top Ways to Lower Auto Insurance Costs in Chicago Illinois

Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of auto insurance companies in Chicago? You have a lot of company. Drivers have so many choices that it can be a big hassle to find lower rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Chicago is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Illinois drivers just need to learn the most efficient way to compare price quotes on the web.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Chicago, Illinois

Finding lower Chicago auto insurance rates is actually quite simple. Consumers just need to invest a few minutes comparing price quotes online from several insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

1. The easiest and least time consuming way to get quotes for comparison is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This type of form saves time by eliminating boring form submissions for each company you want a rate for. Taking the time to complete one form gets you coverage quotes instantly. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
2. Another way to compare prices consists of visiting the website for every company you want to comare and complete a new quote form. For example, we’ll assume you want comparison quotes from Liberty Mutual, Esurance and Travelers. To get each rate you have to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker.

   For a list of links to insurance companies in Chicago, click here.

It’s up to you which method you use, but be sure to compare identical coverage information on every quote you get. If each company quotes differing limits it’s impossible to find the best deal in Chicago.

Discounts are basically free money

Companies that sell car insurance don’t list every discount very well, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

• Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
• Accident Waiver – Certain companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
• Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of certain professional organizations could trigger savings on auto insurance.
• Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
• Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
• Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck.

To choose providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Chicago, click this link.

Auto insurance coverages 101

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.

Medical expense insurance – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for expenses like prosthetic devices, surgery and chiropractic care. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. They cover both the driver and occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. This coverage pays for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Illinois drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 20/40/15), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from a collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage protects against things like sideswiping another vehicle, driving through your garage door, hitting a parking meter and colliding with another moving vehicle. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Liability car insurance – This coverage provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have values of 100/300/100 that means you have a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and $100,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability insurance covers claims such as legal defense fees, structural damage, funeral expenses, emergency aid and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Illinois requires minimum liability limits of 20,000/40,000/15,000 but you should consider buying more liability than the minimum.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – This covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like a broken windshield, falling objects and damage from getting keyed. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Additional detailed information can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Illinois drivers can get help finding coverage, view a list of available companies, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Illinois and this link where you can get more info about Chicago auto insurance.

One last thing about your coverage

Insureds who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, lack of trust in their agent or even policy non-renewal. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new company can be easier than you think.

Lower-priced auto insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Chicago agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies may not provide online quoting and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

You just read quite a bit of information on how to save on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the best price on auto insurance is with a small local company.