Evanston Car Insurance
The suburbs of Chicago are not known for cheap car insurance. The city of Evanston which is 12 miles north of downtown Chicago shares a border with the city of Chicago.
Evanston residents enjoy distinctly lower car insurance rates than the city of Chicago and other cities within the Chicagoland area, but Evanston does not offer bargain priced car insurance.
Evanston has always had access to the city of Chicago by train. The railway has also contributed to the continuing availability of other modes of public transportation in Evanston. Quality public transportation reduces dependency on the automobile which helps to reduce insurance cost.
Licensed drivers in Evanston have different options for getting to work or school besides a personal vehicle.
Northwestern University is Evanston’s largest employer which gives the city a higher than average annual income along with some academic flavor.
The abundance of public transportation, income stability, and higher educational levels help to keep Evanston car accident rates lower than many cities. Lower accident rates within a city’s boundaries translate into lower car insurance prices.
Use our FREE quote tool to find the best car insurance rates in Evanston today!
Car Insurance Requirements in Evanston
Drivers are legally required by the state of Illinois to carry minimum liability car insurance coverage which is split into two separate categories which are bodily injury and property damage.
Bodily injury insurance coverage must be at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. These funds can also be used to pay for legal defense and to pay for non-family member passenger injuries.
Minimum liability coverage for property damage must be at least $15,000 per accident. The Illinois Department of Insurance strongly urges all licensed drivers to pay for higher limits because the existing legal minimums typically do not cover property damage costs incurred in car accidents.
Home ownership, savings accounts or other assets of significant value are at risk when liability insurance is inadequate because lawsuits for remaining costs threaten assets.
State law also requires Evanston drivers to carry uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage with a minimum of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.
Uninsured motorist also covers the bodily injury of the insured or the insured’s family members in the event they are hit as pedestrians or cyclists by an uninsured motorist.
Many drivers desire uninsured motorist coverage protection that is greater than the legal minimum. Illinois state law requires the purchase of under-insured motorist coverage before increasing coverage amounts of uninsured motorist coverage.
Underinsured motorist coverage is only legally required in order to purchase higher uninsured limits.
Higher than minimum uninsured and under-insured coverage is strongly recommended by the insurance industry because the likelihood of damages exceeding the minimum required coverage is very strong.
Evanston Insurance Company Obligations
Although coverage amounts are standard in Evanston and throughout the state of Illinois, there are no legal maximums that insurance companies are able to charge.
Once a driver receives an insurance quote, the insurance company is not obligated to provide the insurance at the quoted price unless a completed application requesting insurance is approved.
Evanston drivers should insist upon a non-bound application approval before cancelling any previous policies to protect against premiums that are higher than quoted.
Rate quotes from insurance providers are only estimates until applications are approved. A non-bound application does not cost any money and does not provide actual insurance.
In order to verify insurance compliance, Illinois uses a computer system to randomly select registered vehicles and send out questionnaires.
Selected drivers are required to provide the names of their insurance companies and their policy numbers for verification. If insurance cannot be verified, the driver’s license will be suspended and a fine will be assessed. If there is a second violation, the fine will double.
Optional Insurance
For more thorough coverage, most licensed drivers in Evanston purchase collision insurance and comprehensive coverage. Collision insurance pays personal damages to insured drivers who are at fault. Non-collision damages such as flood or theft are covered by comprehensive.
Insurance for High-Risk Drivers
Licensed drivers in Illinois who are denied insurance coverage because of their driving record can buy higher-cost insurance through the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan. With this plan designed for high-risk drivers, insurance companies share the risk. Any Illinois car insurance agent is able to offer this coverage.
Best-Priced Car Insurance in Evanston
Car insurance quotes are only enforceable upon an approved binding or non-binding application.
A 34-year-old male with living in Evanston with a good driving record can secure a policy that includes collision and comprehensive coverage for his 2012 Toyota Camry SE for $120 per month with State Farm, $170 per month with Progressive and $225 per month through Allstate.
The same 34-year-old male with a good driving record choosing to drive an older vehicle with only legally required minimum liability coverage will pay $65 per month with State Farm, $73 with Progressive and $153 per month with Allstate.
There are six State Farm insurance agencies, one Progressive agency, and three Allstate agencies in Evanston.
Other Car Insurance Details for Evanston Illinois
During the first 60 days, a new Illinois car insurance policy can be legally cancelled by the insurance company for almost any reason. Once the policy is 60 days old, a policy can still be cancelled but the reasons are more specific.
Illinois Department of Insurance's website has a full list of the reasons an insurance company may cancel an insurance policy that is more than 60 days of age.
Illinois law contains a modified comparative negligence position for recovering auto accident damages. A driver may recover damages only if he or she is less than 50 percent at fault for damage or injury. The amount recovered may be reduced in proportion to the degree of fault.
If a driver is found to be 20 percent at fault, he or she can file a claim against the other party, but the third-party insurer may only pay 80 percent of the damages.
Evanston Illinois boasts many car insurance choices for all licensed drivers in the community.