Auto Insurance Prices in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

Where do insurance companies base their rate quotes? I reside here in Peoria, Illinois and has been doing some research on car insurance to help my wife get good car insurance prices.

Mathew

Peoria, IL

Your car insurance rates are based on a number of factors and not all car insurance providers use the same system or process to determine your auto insurance premiums. Some of these factors are controllable and some you will just have to live with if you want to get car insurance coverage. Generally, car insurance rates are based on the following factors: Age, Gender, Driving record, where you live and the kind of car you own.

The younger the driver (teenagers to early 20s) the more inexperienced he/she is considered by the insurance company thereby presenting a higher risk as a driver than a more established drivers. Those above 55 years, however, may also be seen as a high risk driver due to the physical limitations (slower reflexes, poorer eyesight etc.,) imposed by advancing age.

Males are, statistically, more prone to get into car accidents than women. Your location, where you live, work and drive each day, as well as the popularity of your type of vehicle among thieves, also affects your rates since insurance providers will be taking into account the crime and theft rates of vehicles in that area. The factor that you have most control of would be your driving history there in Peoria, Illinois. Prior involvement in car accidents, accumulating traffic violations and getting caught driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) has a very big impact on how much you pay for insurance.

Tags: auto insurance

SR22 Filing For Auto Insurance in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

Recently I started filing my SR22 insurance policy in Arlington Heights, Illinois due to DUI. Is there anything I can do to appear less risky to an insurance company?

Robert

Arlington Heights, IL

You hit the nail on the head for what you have to do with your Arlington Heights, Illinois SR22. Risk is what is making you pay too much for your auto insurance coverage, and nothing else, so the best thing to do for people who do not want to pay more is to ease up on the risk factor. A lot of ways is out there for you to prove your responsibility with little to no effort.

One way to do is for you to sign up for a defensive driving course. You can call your Arlington Heights, Illinois SR22 auto insurance provider first to find out a list of defensive driving classes which count, because not all will and you do not want to waste your time. A defensive driving class is a good way to lower your risk, most especially if you have SR22 insurance policy due to DUI, because not only do you obtain an auto insurance discount, but you also learn a few things which assist you in the future.

Now, you can only use a defensive driving course to save you money if you are not mandated by the state to take it. If taking a defensive driving course is part of your required DUI recovery track from the court, then unfortunately this is not an option for you.

Illinois SR22 Auto Insurance

Reader’s Question:

I have a DUI conviction here in  Illinois and my license has been revoked. I’m getting ready to get my license back and I was advised by a friend that I need to file SR22 auto insurance. Is this some type of insurance policy?

Oscar

Naperville, IL

Since your driver’s license has been revoked because of your DUI conviction in Naperville, Illinois, you need to file an SR22 auto insurance to get your license reinstated. SR22 is not an auto insurance policy, but rather it is a type of rider that is added to an Illinois insurance policy. It is a form from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that shows that a driver has auto insurance. This is a document required as proof of financial responsibility under Illinois state law for persons convicted for DUI. This is simply a form which must be filed by the insurance company stating that auto liability insurance is in effect for a certain individual.

You can check with your insurance company first if they do offer SR22 auto insurance. That way, you can simply add SR22 to your insurance policy. If not, you need to contact an insurance agent to buy liability insurance to get SR22 from another insurance company. Ask the agent for SR22 form once you have committed to purchasing a policy. You need to take the form to the Illinois DMV and this can be done personally.

DUI in Illinois – What Happens If I am Caught?

Reader’s Question:

I am an occasional drinker and when I drink, I usually just drive myself home. I have never been charged with DUI here in Joliet, Illinois, but if I will be caught drunk driving, what do I stand to lose?

Clay

Joliet, IL

If you are a drinker, it’s a good thing that you want to know what you stand to lose by driving drunk. To know why this is such a bad idea is essential to help you plan before you head out to party and drink and drive yourself home.

In the state of Illinois, the legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 percent. If you are caught in Joliet, Illinois with a BAC that is higher than the limit, you could lose your license, head to jail, or be asked to perform community service. Of course, you will have to pay fines for a DUI offense. Education and alcohol treatment may also be a requirement and you will have to pay for these classes and assessments.

If you lose your driving privileges, you would have to do several things before you can get it back. First, you would have to pay a steep fine on top of the fines that you have already paid and you would have to complete an alcohol education course in order to get it back.

If you get your license back, you would have to prove that you are insured but your insurance company may also drop your coverage. You can find another insurance provider to cover you, but it would be expensive. You will be tagged as a ‘high risk’ driver if you have a DUI offense, thus insurance companies may charge high premiums. So with that said, it would be far better to avoid the DUI at all costs than to deal with these expenses.

Teen Driver Car Insurance With DUI in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

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.

DUI SR22 Auto Insurance in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

A friend’s Dad was arrested for drunk driving in Peoria, Illinois. He was asked to file an SR22. What happens if he refuses to do this?

Karen

Peoria, IL

Good Question, Karen.

An SR22 is one of the means in Illinois to monitor the insurance of problem drivers. Through this process, mandatory insurance is enforced in the most efficient way. Illinois citizens are protected from uninsured motorists through the Financial Responsibility Law.

SR22 is required in Illinois by individuals with safety responsibility suspensions, unsatisfied judgment suspensions, revocations, mandatory insurance supervisions and individuals who receive three or more convictions for mandatory insurance violations.

In short, your Dad’s friend cannot refuse to file an SR22. This certificate of insurance is filed by the home office of an insurance company directly to the Secretary of State. This may be obtained by contacting an insurance company that is authorized to write SR-22 policies for Illinois.