Waukegan Car Insurance

Waukegan is located in Lake County, Illinois, on the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan. As the ninth largest city in Illinois by population, Waukegan is regarded as an excellent place to live.

Because the city's large population increases the likelihood of car accidents, proper auto insurance is imperative for those living in Waukegan.

While auto insurance can be difficult to afford, there are tools to help you find the best rate possible. An online auto insurance comparison tool is one of the easiest ways to instantly compare insurance rates in your area.

Start comparing auto insurance rates now using the FREE comparison tool above!

Purchasing Insurance in Waukegan

In the process of purchasing auto insurance, the first thing to do is find an insurance agent or agency from which to purchase insurance. Look online or in your local phone book to find the names of insurance agencies in your area.

Insurance is sold in the following ways:

• Independent agents who represent several companies and can give you different quotes on automobile and home insurance
• Exclusive agents who only sell the products of one insurance company
• Direct market sales by mail, telephone, or online

Selecting Insurance Companies and Assessing Them

Insurance companies and agencies must be licensed within the state of Illinois to legally sell insurance. To examine insurance companies, use the following links:

• Illinois Department of Insurance – gives required limits of liability and licensing for agencies and companies within the state.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners – provides financial data and complaint information about insurance companies.
• A.M. Best Ratings – provides financial information about insurance companies.

Licensing and solvency of insurance companies is necessary to ensure that the company you choose will be able to complete their obligations under the policies they sell.

Types of Coverage Required by the State of Illinois

• Bodily injury liability – $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident; this coverage pays for costs due to the injury or death of a pedestrian or individual in another car.
• Property damage liability – $20,000 per accident; this coverage pays for damage that you are responsible for causing.

Suggested Additional Coverage

Considering the inflated costs of doctors, hospitals, legal fees, and repairs, it is an excellent idea to purchase additional coverage. The suggested limits of additional liability are:

• Underinsured or uninsured motorists coverage – $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident to protect you and your family against bodily injury resulting from an accident caused by someone without insurance.
• Medical payments coverage – $5,000 per accident, at least, to pay for emergency medical costs and transportation that may not be covered by medical insurance.

Physical Damage Coverage

Liability coverage does not pay for damage to your own vehicles. If you have a lien against your automobile, you will need to purchase this coverage.

• Comprehensive coverage – pays for damages resulting from animals, hailstorms, weather, vandalism, theft, and fire.
• Collision coverage – pays for damages to your automobile resulting from a collision with another automobile, a fence, or any other item.

Deductibles

A deductible applies to both comprehensive coverage and collision coverage. The amount of the deductible is your choice, but higher deductibles can save you money month-to-month. However, a higher deductible means that you will be covered less when you are in an accident. Consequently, a higher deductible may not save you money in the long run.

How to Save Money on Automobile Insurance

There are a number of ways to save on car insurance. Some of the possibilities are listed below:

• Obtain quotes from different insurance companies. Be sure that the details of the quotes are comparable so you can get a clear idea of the costs.
• Purchase cars that are inexpensive to repair.
• Choose a vehicle with dual air bags, anti-lock brakes, and an automatic anti-theft device since many insurance companies give discounts for these.
• Purchase home insurance policies and car insurance policies from the same company in order to take advantage of multi-line discounts.

Car Insurance Discounts

Many companies offer discounts that are unique to their company or your situation. Ask your insurance provider about the following discounts:

• Discounts based upon memberships, such as government workers or teachers
• Discounts for professional associations
• Discounts for good drivers, which is based upon your driving record
• Discounts for seniors
• Discounts good students
• Discounts for a college student who does not have a vehicle and is over 100 miles away
• Discounts for good credit

Information Needed to Obtain Automobile Quotes

Insurance companies need specific information to configure quotes for auto insurance. If the information you give them is inaccurate, you may end up paying more than you expected to pay.

The following is some of the information insurers require:

• The names, addresses, dates of birth, and driver's license numbers for everyone in your household
• The social security numbers for the main members of your household
• The driving records for the last three to five years of members of your household
• The occupations of the members of your household
• The make, model, and VIN number for your automobiles
• The coverage desired for each of your automobiles
• The total usage for each of your cars
• The grade point averages for the students in your household

Be sure that the information you provide is accurate because inaccurate information may lead to invalidation of your policy. For example, not mentioning a young driver can affect your coverage should they be involved in an accident.

What To Do If You Cannot Find Auto Insurance

Sometimes individuals are not able to qualify for auto insurance for reasons such as an accumulation of points. Consult your local agent for information about the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan.

You will have to verify that you have been unable to acquire auto insurance from an insurer for the last 60 days. This application must be submitted through a licensed insurance agency.

Now that you understand the auto insurance requirements and recommendations for the city of Waukegan, you can begin to search for auto insurance. Use an online comparison tool to find the best rate for you.

Start comparing auto insurance rates now using the FREE comparison tool below!