Car Insurance For First Time Driver in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

Ever since my son began driving our family car here in Illinois, my car insurance costs have skyrocketed! Is there any way that I can save money?

Marion

Chicago, IL

I’m sure that many parents out there would agree that having a driving teenager under your car insurance policy would equal years worth of high auto insurance premiums. But who says you have to stick to expensive insurance premiums there in Illinois? Even if you have a teenage driver there are still ways to shave off much needed dollars on your auto policy. Here are a few suggestion on how you can make your auto insurance more affordable:

Learn To Drive More Safely
By far the best way to do this would be to enroll everyone who drives and is insured under your policy on defensive driving lessons, make sure that you contact your provider to see if they can recommend any accredited driving schools in your area. Those who can prove that they have the skills making them safe drivers are rewarded with discounts on their auto insurance.

Secure Your Vehicle
It may be costly initially but having additional safety and security measures added to your vehicle can also qualify you for additional discounts towards your auto insurance, especially benefiting you in the long-run.

Consider An Older Vehicle
If your teenager has any plans of getting a car in the future (most kids would want to) convince your son to drive an older vehicle. Older vehicles costs much less to insure than brand new, top of the line models.

Study Well
Did you know that you can qualify for a good student discount if your son is still in school, and is doing well academically?

Illinois Collision Insurance Coverage

Reader’s Question:

Am I required to carry Illinois collision insurance coverage? What are the benefits of getting it?

Anna

Chicago IL

 

In the state of Illinois, you are not required to get a collision insurance coverage. The minimum liability insurance limits in Illinois are:

• $20,000/$40,000 for Bodily Injury Liability
• $15,000 Property Damage Liability limits
• Uninsured Motorist coverage

If you are leasing your vehicle, you may be required by the leasing company to carry this Illinois collision insurance coverage along with comprehensive coverage. If you own the vehicle without a lien holder on it then whether you want to obtain Collision insurance coverage is up to you.

Collision insurance coverage pays for damage to your car when it collides with another car or object. You have to pay for part of the loss, called a insurance deductible.

If you have Collision insurance coverage in your policy you will have insurance protection on your car which would pay for damages in case of a crash with another vehicle or fixed object (such as a fence). Your Collision insurance coverage would pay out regardless of who’s at fault.

What Are Available Auto Insurance Discounts in Illinois?

Reader’s Question:

I think getting auto insurance discounts can help me in cutting the costs of my auto insurance here in Illinois. What types of discounts can I get and how else can I lessen my premiums?

David

Rockford, IL

There are a lot of things that you can do to lessen the costs of your auto insurance in Illinois and you are right, getting discounts is one of them. You can get an auto insurance discount if you install safety devices in your car such as steering lock, alarm system and anti-lock brakes. Likewise, you need to make sure that your car is safe and stored in a locked garage at night and parked in a safe place.

Another type of discount that you can get on your auto insurance is for being a good driver. If you keep a clean driving record and have no claims for a certain amount of time (usually for three years), you will be rewarded for this. You will also get a reward or what is called low mileage discount if you meet a certain number of mileage per year. Then, you have to enroll and complete a defensive driving course as you can also get a discount on your auto insurance for this. This will prove that you can be a safer driver, thus lowering the rates offered to you by auto insurance companies.

Aside from getting auto insurance discounts, you can also lessen your premiums by getting higher deductible on your auto insurance policy. Insurance deductible is the money you are willing to pay in case of an at-fault accident before the policy comes in and pays the rest up to your set limits. Also, auto insurance comparison is a proven way to lessen your premiums. If you collect and compare quotes from several auto insurance companies, you are guaranteed to get the best quote that is most suitable for you.