On a scale of one to ten, how important would you say buying Illinois car insurance is for Illinois drivers? Five? Seven? Believe it or not, groceries and medications aside your car insurance is one of the most important investments that you, as an Illinois driver, will ever make. Car insurance does a lot more than let you off the hook if you're in an accident. It protects your family and your assets from the long term devastation that those accidents leave behind.
Why Do I Need an Illinois Car Insurance Policy?
Imagine this. You're driving down I-90 in the middle of a Chicago winter when you suddenly find yourself sliding off the road-and taking three other cars with you. By the time the rescue teams have come and fished you out five people have to go to the hospital, three get to spend a quality week in the ICU, all three vehicles need repairs and the State of Illinois is complaining they need their guardrail replaced.
Let's do the math. The average ER visit costs approximately $1,000, with visits to the ICU running as high as $5,000 per day. That's $110,000 in medical expenses (give or take). The average repair cost after an accident is $1,200, so there's another $3,600 on your tab, and Illinois wants another $1,000 to rebuild their safety system. That's a minimum of $156,000 you're going to be held personally responsible for unless you've got an Illinois car insurance policy to take care of it.
How Much Insurance Do I Really Need?
How much insurance you as an Illinois driver need is debatable. The state of Illinois says that all drivers are required to carry uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of up to $20,000 per person, or $40,000 per accident, bodily injury liability coverage of $20,000 per person, or $40,000 per accident and $15,000 to pay for any property damage. As you just saw, however, the state minimum may not be enough!
Most experts suggest you carry between $100,000 and $500,000 worth of liability coverage on your Illinois car insurance policy. More is obviously better, but you don't want to have to live on bread and water to pay your monthly premiums! Those same experts also recommend you carry collision and comprehensive insurance coverage to protect your car after an accident, making sure you're covered regardless of who (or what) was responsible for the damages in the first place.
What if I Can't Afford It?
The bottom line is that you can't afford not to have car insurance when you're out on the road. It's a lot harder to come up with $156,000 than it is to scrape together $120 a month for your premiums. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do everything you can to drive down the cost of your car insurance though! Most Illinois car insurance providers offer discounts for your driving record, your car's safety and security features, your job, your age and a hundred other things, so make sure you talk to your insurance agent before signing on the dotted line.
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- Consider the overall cost. You don't want to have to spend more than you can actually afford on your auto insurance, especially when the quality of the policy is not that good. You ought to find cheap policy which will both cover precisely what you need and that is also affordable for you. Otherwise, chances are that you will not be very satisfied with what you ultimately settle on.
- Do comparison shopping. There is no doubt that browsing around for the best quality prices and policies is one of the most important parts of finding the policy most suitable for you. Comparison websites furnish free quote estimates after you enter a little bit of info about yourself and what you are looking for.
- Another one of the best ways is to check out what types of work-related policies are offered by some of the more respectable agents. Before you buy your auto insurance always shop for quotes.
- Go through your renewal notice with a fine tooth comb. Reevaluate the policy and list all cover that can be eliminated. The situation may be different from last year; you were not aware of certain deductions you qualify for. Ask the agent to reduce the premium accordingly and you will end up with reduced annual premiums without much fuss. Consider the amount of cover that you will be provided with.
- Service And Support. Test the agent's customer service and support. Phone their free-phone number and make enquiries related to their plans. Ensure you select one with knowledgeable representatives, who are 'specially trained to answer your questions efficiently and quickly.
- Ensure that you compare a selection of different policies offered through different agents. Chances are that you could end up finding a specific auto insurance policy that you will be especially happy with.
- Increased Flexibility = Elevated Premiums. The more freedom you want in terms of coverage, the more you will have to pay in co-payments or premiums.
- Reputation And Stability. A respectable and financially stable agent will ensure your claim is processed promptly and that your claim is paid on time.
- Cost. The most important factor when purchasing anything is the cost. However, you usually only get what you cough up for. Inexpensive auto insurance packages are obviously not as good as their costly counterparts. Stump up for only what you may need. Be proactive and ask for a minimum of three quotations at least, before making a choice. Consider the overall cost of the insurance. While it's important to find the right amount of coverage, you don't want to find a plan which is much too expensive for you.
- Cheapest policy with the lowest premium? It's unlikely that if your auto insurance is the cheapest, you will get the best quality coverage. Usually, the cheapest insurance offers the most commonly used benefits. Be confident that your policy will cover the basics. But if you want extras, you will have to pay extra!
I hope these few basic tips will help you in getting worthwhile cheap auto insurance.
Both Cliff Berman & Gen Wright are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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