Home Insurance and Car Insurance in Illinois

Homeowners Insurance Coverage Options in

Before you sit down to purchase homeowners insurance for your Illinois home, make sure to lay out exactly what kind of coverage you need. Most homeowners insurance policies fall under two different categories: actual cash value and total replacement cost.

• Actual cash value insurance policies cover the current cash value of the dwelling or property that’s part of the claim. Depreciation is often factored into these claims. Depending on the type of claim, you may not be able to fully replace or repair the loss if the current value is significantly less than the cost of a new item.

• Total replacement cost ignores depreciation when it comes to home insurance claims. In most cases, this allows you to fully replace the loss without worrying about depreciation. In the case of outdated appliances or building materials, it could even pay for an upgrade.

  Most home insurance policies offer a basic level of protection with specific types of home insurance coverage. Common items you’ll find in a home insurance policy include:

• Dwelling coverage protects the structure of your home, including the roof, walls and windows.
• Personal property coverage covers the “stuff” inside your home: furniture, appliances, clothing, etc. In many cases, this protection extends to damage or theft outside of your home.
• Liability protection coverage exists to defend or protect you if someone sues you after an injury occurs on your property. It also covers you if you damage their property.
• Guest medical protection can pay for medical expenses for someone who is injured on your property.
• Living expenses insurance covers the increase in expenses if your home is rendered uninhabitable after a loss.
• Other structures coverage can help pay for repairs or replacement for structural damage on your property that isn’t attached to your home, such as a detached garage or shed.

Common Causes of Loss in

According to the Insurance Information Institute, Illinois insurance companies paid out $2.8 million in claims in 2019.¹ Common losses in Illinois include wind, hail, flooding, burglary and theft. Because Illinois sits so close to areas of the country frequently affected by strong summer storms, it sees high instances of wind damage reports.

Hail damage is often a worry due to severe weather. Thunderstorms can bring flash floods, which leads to many Illinois counties being at risk of flood damage.

Finally, some areas of the state—particularly Chicago—may see a higher incidence of break-ins and theft. The risk of burglary can be mitigated by a home security system which comes with the added benefit of insurance discounts.

Additional Coverage Options Recommended for Homeowners

Some Illinois homeowners opt to purchase additional home insurance products beyond the scope of their original policy. Depending on where you live, your mortgage lender may require you to purchase flood insurance. Flood insurance is not typically included on many home insurance policies and must be purchased separately. You may also want to purchase additional coverage to help rebuild after storms; Illinois’s close proximity to areas with above-average tornado activity make it a prime spot for storm damage.

Illinois also has a history of mining, which can cause mine subsidence. This is the gradual movement of the land due to the man-made mines underneath, and this movement can destabilize the foundation of your home. Almost 330,000 homes in the state could be at risk of collapse due to mine subsidence.² It may be worth pursuing this type of coverage if you think your property is built over or near a mine.

Our Home Insurance Partners in

SelectQuote works with trusted, highly-rated** insurance companies to find home and auto insurance policies that meet your needs. When you purchase your insurance coverage through us, we connect you with home and auto insurance companies that deliver the best balance of value, protection and customer service.

What is the average home insurance cost in ?

Home insurance rates in Illinois are competitive, especially for SelectQuote customers. Among policies sold, our customers see an average monthly premium of $105.91.*** Of course, your average home insurance cost may vary depending on different factors, including the age of your home, your ZIP code, your credit history and even the number of claims you’ve filed—even with other insurance companies.

Homeowners Insurance Discounts in

Homeowners insurance discounts are available for Illinois residents. Discounts vary by insurance company, but commonly issued discounts include:

• Customer loyalty discounts
• Discounts for low number of claims
• Discounts for buying insurance policies with a higher deductible
• Bundled insurance policy discounts (such as home and auto coverage)

Auto Insurance Laws and Requirements

Illinois requires all licensed drivers to carry auto insurance. Minimum legal coverage in the state of Illinois includes liability coverage that pays for bodily injury to another person or property damage due to negligent operation of your vehicle. According to the Illinois Department of Insurance, the minimum legal liability insurance requirements are as follows³:

• Bodily injury coverage that pays for costs due to injury or death to another driver, pedestrian(s) or person(s) in another car. This coverage can also pay for injury to passengers of your vehicle. Illinois law requires you to have at least $25,000 worth of coverage per person and $50,000 total per accident.
• Property damage insurance pays for damage to other vehicles or property like fences, buildings, signs, trees or utility poles. The required property damage limits are at least $20,000 per accident.
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage pays for your injuries if an accident involves a hit-and-run driver or a driver who does not have auto liability insurance. Minimum coverage for this insurance is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. You may buy higher limits to pay for more expensive claims at a higher premium.
• Underinsured motorist bodily injury insurance pays the difference between your underinsured motorist limits and the liability limits of the at-fault driver if it’s lower than your underinsured injury limits. If you purchase higher limits of uninsured motorist coverage, you must purchase this type of insurance.

All data on average expenditures is provided by the Insurance Information Institute.

Depending upon your vehicle, you may be required or recommended to purchase additional types of auto insurance coverage, including:

• Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by accidents with another vehicle or a fixed object, such as a tree, fence or building.
• Comprehensive coverage is auto insurance that pays for damage from other causes, including forces of nature (fire, hail, wind, fallen trees), theft or accidents involving animals.
• Accidental death benefit coverage pays death benefits if you die because of an auto accident.
• Gap coverage pays the difference between your vehicle’s cash value and what you owe on the loan or lease.
• Medical payments insurance covers medical or funeral expenses if you or one of your passengers are injured or killed in the vehicle. It can also cover you if you or your family members are struck by a vehicle while walking or riding in another car.
• Physical damage/repair/replace coverage can pay for a new vehicle if the cost to repair your car is more than the value of a new car. Endorsements for this coverage are usually only available during the first three model years.
• Rental reimbursement pays for the costs of a rental vehicle per day (up to a certain limit) if yours is being repaired due to covered losses.
• Towing insurance pays the costs of towing your disabled vehicle to repair shops.

Teen Driving Laws

Like many other states, Illinois uses a graduated driver license system⁴ to help reduce the risk of auto accidents and fatalities among teen drivers. This system ranges from a permit phase for drivers aged 15 and up to full licensing for drivers who are ages 18-20. Restrictions for teen drivers vary, but commonly include limits on passengers as well as a curfew and nighttime driving restrictions (with exceptions for work, school and medical emergencies). Cell phone use is typically prohibited for teenage drivers.

Car Registration Information

Registering a vehicle in the state of Illinois requires proof of auto insurance as well as documentation proving ownership of the vehicle, often in the form of a title. Title applications can be processed both by mail and by visiting the nearest Secretary of State facility.⁵

What is the average car insurance cost in ?

Your car insurance prices can be affected by several factors, including driving record, age, gender, marital status and more. Coverage limits impact your rates, too. Other factors impacting Illinois car insurance rates can include:

• Type of vehicle
• Use of vehicle, including annual mileage and length of commute
• Credit rating
• Your deductible
• Available discounts

The average car insurance cost in Illinois per year is $2,717. Average monthly premiums for SelectQuote customers are $226.43.****

Our Auto Insurance Partners in

SelectQuote works with highly-rated auto insurance companies in each state to provide you with competitive car insurance rates. Our trusted partners provide a wide variety of auto insurance coverage options, customer service and value.