As a new driver here in Illinois, how would I determine the amount of car insurance that I need?

Savion

Cicero, IL

When you are shopping for car insurance for new driver in Illinois, there are a lot of coverage plans that are available for you. Most of them are required by the state and some are just additional types of coverage. Some would also tell you that you have to increase your deductible so that you can save some money. Some may advise you to lessen your liability coverage, but this could be risky. To determine the amount of car insurance for new driver, you have to know what options are available for you.

In Illinois, it is required that you get liability coverage that includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Bodily injury liability would pay for the medical expenses of the other driver and his/her passengers if you cause an accident. Property damage liability would cover the expenses to repair the other driver’s car if you cause an accident. This would also cover expenses for any damages that may incur to other properties such as mailbox, fence, etc.

You also have to take note that in Illinois, you are required to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that will cover in case you get hit by a driver that is not insured or does not have enough insurance. Also, as a new driver, if you have a new car as well, it is highly recommended that you get collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision would pay for the damages to your car if you get hit by another car and comprehensive would pay for the damages caused by natural things such as storm and fire.

What type of car insurance here in Illinois can I get if I do some upgrades or reconstruction on my older car?

Santiago

Berwyn, IL

If you have done some reconstruction or had some upgrades on your older vehicle, you may consider getting a stated-value auto insurance policy. A normal auto insurance policy will begin depreciation at the initial value of the vehicle. The value of the vehicle in a stated-value auto insurance will start depreciating at the value indicated on the policy. This means that after the reconstruction or upgrades on your vehicle, the value now could be more than the initial worth. This could also suggest that you may receive more cash for your car in the end.

Another option that you can have is that you can purchase a rider on your auto insurance policy in Illinois. This rider can very well be for the enhancements on your older vehicle and the reimbursement would come on the back end. The evaluator must consider the improvements on your vehicle and you definitely have to be credited for things that enhance the value of your vehicle. It would always be worthwhile to get in touch with an auto insurance agent or auto insurance company prior to getting involved in an accident just to make certain any enhancements are covered by your auto insurance policy.

My father is going to be officially a senior citizen by next month. Since he has been driving with good record, is there any chance that he will be having a discount for his car insurance here in Illinois next month for he is not only a good driver but also a senior citizen?

Patty

Aurora, IL

Senior Citizens’ population is way getting bigger since the citizens are being blessed with good health and longer life. If a person is now a sixty-five there is a big possibility that he or she will be living after twenty-five years. Senior Citizens’ safety is very important to the state of Illinois especially when a senior citizen is on the road behind the wheel.

Senior Citizens shouldn’t only be a senior citizen but also a safe driver for them to have the necessary benefits. Becoming a senior citizen alone gives you the discount you need for your car insurance. People with gray hair usually drive more carefully than other drivers. But this doesn’t change the statistics that senior citizens have more fatality rate which involves car crashes for senior citizens’ reflexes slow down as well as they can no longer make abrupt decisions when handling multiple tasks, not to mention that their visions and hearing is not as good as before. Since senior citizens take a lot of medication, what if they forgot to take their prescribed drug while driving? We never know what will happen to them if they didn’t take what they are supposed to be taking. Being a Senior Citizen alone can make the car insurance cheaper but they should be safe drivers as well.

I have been driving my own car for twenty five years, but until now it is still a little bit hazy to me that driving a cheaper car means lower car insurance. Is there a friendly car here in Illinois?

Mandy

Chicago, IL

Weighing the cost of your car insurance is just as essential as buying a car here in Illinois. They say that it is not true that when you buy a luxurious car doesn’t affect how much your car insurance will increase. Myth and hearsays are definitely something that you have to detach from reality.

If you have bought a sports car here in Illinois, you have just bought something that thieves will be attracted to not because a sports car has more driving accidents history. You might as well choose a car that has a lower car accident rates. Something that is low rate to insure is the best car you should buy. Insuring something like a high performance will cost you more. Every car that is “thief-attracting” vehicle can make your car insurance go high. Examples of car that can make your car insurance high are Luxury vehicles, technologically advanced vehicles, and large SUV’s. if you are taking to consideration cars with lower insurance rates before you buy one, here are some friendly cars that I can suggest, just like vans and station wagons which are medium in size; and a four-door cars which actually has lower thief rate than a two-door car. But the most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t matter how much your car is as long as you are a careful driver which this will make your car insurance low.

I have health insurance as well as car insurance for my vehicle here in Illinois. In case I get into an accident, how would I know which policy will give the best protection?

Lachlan

Cicero, IL

A lot of people purchase health insurance as well as auto insurance if you own an automobile. In case you get into an accident in Illinois, you have to know which of those policies will give you the kind of coverage you need. First of all, you have to be aware if you have “Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury” in your auto insurance policy and make sure you are familiar with what it does. This coverage would set a limit on the utmost cost of payment for every person, every injury and every accident. In case that the limit is not enough, your health insurance would surely give coverage for the outstanding costs.

In case you have “Personal Injury Protection” (PIP), this will cover for medical, hospital and funeral costs in any automobile collisions. In general, anyone who is involved in the accident will be covered, including other parties. This type of coverage is particularly intended for those drivers who don’t have health insurance. So if you have this coverage, you won’t need you health insurance in case of any accident. But since you also bought health insurance, you could get rid of the PIP coverage. Another reason to drop that coverage is that PIP is not required in the state of Illinois.

Would it be better to get my teenager his on car insurance here in Chicago, Illinois?

Mathilda

Chicago, IL

It will be a very good idea to add your teenager as soon as he or she gets their learner’s permit or driver’s license there in Chicago. In fact, get them added as soon as they start driving the said vehicle, supervised or otherwise. Admittedly this will cause your auto insurance premiums to become higher, due to teenagers being seen by car insurance providers as having a bigger potential to become involved in car accidents, compared to parents or someone who has more experience on the road.

If you’re thinking of getting your teenagers their own insurance policy it might not be a wise decision since it will cost you or your teenagers much more to get insurance under their own than to have them added as an occasional or named driver under your existing policy. Don’t even consider having no coverage for them at all! (you might be surprised at how many people do) since your taking an awfully big risk losing your assets to pay for damages if they cause an accident. Not to mention that its illegal in the state of Illinois to drive without proper car insurance or any equal form of financial capability.

If it proves to expensive to add them, ask about good student discounts if your teenager is getting good grades and enrolling them in defensive driving lessons can also lead to extra discounts on your insurance bills.

I got into an accident because I was drunk while driving my friend’s vehicle here in Chicago, Illinois. If I have full coverage and he only has liability insurance, will my insurance cover the accident since I was the one driving the car?

Aaron

Chicago, IL

The phrase “full coverage” is being utilized by most of us when we point out to Physical Damage coverage. This means that a person has Liability insurance and Physical Damage, at times besides other insurance combination’s to be fully covered. Physical damage coverage comprises Collision and Comprehensive coverage. Typically, collision insurance covers damage to only your vehicle caused by collision with another object or by upset. On the other hand, comprehensive insurance covers damage to only your vehicle from theft, vandalism, glass breakage or anything other than Collision.

Most mortgage holders, loss payees and rental companies demand Physical Damage coverage if you are financing or leasing your automobile. This coverage doesn’t extend to other automobiles and they won’t cover your friend’s car or become secondary insurance behind another car’s primary insurance. His liability coverage in Chicago, Illinois will be “primary,” and your liability coverage would be “excess or secondary” to the liability coverage.

We are afraid but we are doing everything for my sister so that she won’t get convicted on her DUI case here in Elgin, Illinois. What could she be facing if she will be convicted?

Jake

Elgin, IL

There are a lot of consequences that could flow from your sister’s DUI case in Elgin, Illinois if she gets convicted. Loss of her driver’s license is the one on top of the list. She may also pay heavy fines, court costs and extensive administrative fees. She may also be on probation, serve time in jail state prison; her vehicle could be impounded or forfeited. She may also install an ignition interlock device on her car. She has to remember that DUI laws are strict, the prosecutors and the courts often act without mercy or discretion and the penalties are harsh.

Aside from the obvious legal consequences of dealing with the law enforcement, the courts, and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), there are also practical consequences that often flow from a DUI arrest or conviction. DUI is a crime and a DUI conviction will give your sister a permanent “criminal” record. She can lose her job or be prevented certain future employment, especially if it is state job, law enforcement-associated or involves driving. A DUI conviction can also cause her insurance rates to skyrocket and insurance companies sometimes will cancel her coverage altogether. If that happens, your sister can definitely get an online rate quote for her car insurance from this website.

Tags: car insurance, drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI lawyer, DUI penalties

My 20-year old teenager son just received a DUI in Illinois for the first time. How will this affect my insurance rate and his since his insurance is also under my policy with him as driver?

Pam

Chicago, IL

Too bad for you, but DUI is a serious offense in Illinois and is classified as a violent crime. Unfortunately, this offense will permanently remain on his driving record. He may lose his driving privileges and can either be imprisoned or fined.

This offense is also taken very seriously by any insurance company since the driver becomes a risk to them compared to a person with a clean driving record. This would likely increase his rate which can affect the whole policy, including your premium rates.

A DUI can subject yours to high-risk auto insurance rates for three years according to the Illinois Secretary of State. The IL SOS DUI Fact Book states that high risk insurance for a driver convicted of DUI averages an additional $1500 per year!

However, since insurance companies rating systems are not the same, it is better that you find out more from your insurance agent as to how much the increase will be and for how long.