Want to learn how to find more affordable auto insurance rates in Evanston, IL? Finding better insurance prices for a new or used car in Illinois can be a painful process, but you can follow a few tricks to make it easier. There is a right way and a wrong way to find auto insurance online and we'll show you the proper way to get price quotes for a new or used and locate the lowest price.
A study showed that most auto insurance buyers kept their coverage with the same auto insurance company for more than four years, and almost 40% of drivers have never compared rates to find cheaper insurance. Illinois drivers could save up to $600 every year just by getting comparison quotes, but they mistakenly think it's difficult to compare rate quotes online.
It's a great practice to do rate comparisons on a regular basis since insurance prices trend upward over time. Even if you think you had the lowest rates on auto insurance last year there may be better deals available now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to learn the right way to lower your annual insurance bill.
Cutting your Evanston auto insurance rates is surprisingly easy. The only requirement is to take a couple of minutes comparing rate quotes from some recommended companies.
The following companies provide price comparisons in Illinois. If more than one company is shown, it's highly recommended you visit several of them in order to find the most affordable rates.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Policy Premium | 6-month Policy Premium | Monthly Premium | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Colorado LT Crew Cab 4WD | $732 | $366 | $61 | ||||
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $984 | $492 | $82 | ||||
| Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD | $1,298 | $649 | $108 | ||||
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $938 | $469 | $78 | ||||
| Dodge Ram Crew Cab ST 4WD | $882 | $441 | $74 | ||||
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $512 | $256 | $43 | ||||
| Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 2WD | $640 | $320 | $53 | ||||
| Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $802 | $401 | $67 | ||||
| Ford Fusion SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $758 | $379 | $63 | ||||
| Honda Accord LX 4-Dr Sedan | $742 | $371 | $62 | ||||
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $902 | $451 | $75 | ||||
| Honda Civic EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $884 | $442 | $74 | ||||
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4WD 4-Dr | $658 | $329 | $55 | ||||
| Mazda 3 S Grand Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $724 | $362 | $60 | ||||
| Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 4-Dr Sedan | $766 | $383 | $64 | ||||
| Nissan Rogue S 2WD | $882 | $441 | $74 | ||||
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $1,184 | $592 | $99 | ||||
| Toyota Corolla XRS | $842 | $421 | $70 | ||||
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $766 | $383 | $64 | ||||
| Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T Station Wagon | $790 | $395 | $66 | ||||
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Cost estimates assume married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Illinois minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Prices do not factor in vehicle location which can modify prices considerably.
Can higher deductibles save money?
When shopping for auto insurance, a common question is what deductibles to buy. The rates shown below can help illustrate the cost difference when you choose different deductibles. The first pricing table uses a $100 deductible and the second price grid uses a $500 deductible.
Ford Fusion rates are for example purposes only. To get rates for your specific vehicle, click here.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $224 | $406 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $1,011 | $84 |
| Fusion SE 4-Dr Sedan | $254 | $478 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $1,113 | $93 |
| Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $254 | $550 | $326 | $20 | $98 | $1,273 | $106 |
| Fusion SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $254 | $478 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $1,113 | $93 |
| Fusion Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $254 | $478 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $1,113 | $93 |
| Fusion SEL AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $282 | $550 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $1,213 | $101 |
| Fusion Sport AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $282 | $550 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $1,213 | $101 |
| Get a Quote for Your Vehicle Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $164 | $274 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $794 | $66 |
| Fusion SE 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $322 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $864 | $72 |
| Fusion Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $372 | $326 | $20 | $98 | $1,002 | $84 |
| Fusion SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $322 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $864 | $72 |
| Fusion Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $186 | $322 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $864 | $72 |
| Fusion SEL AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $206 | $372 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $934 | $78 |
| Fusion Sport AWD 4-Dr Sedan | $206 | $372 | $262 | $16 | $78 | $934 | $78 |
| Get a Quote for Your Vehicle Go | |||||||
Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Illinois minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, and safe-driver. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can influence prices significantly.
We can estimate from the data above that using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $21 more each month or $252 each year than opting for the higher $500 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $400 more to settle a claim with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you usually have at a minimum 19 months between claim filings, you would most likely save money if you choose the higher deductible.
Should you buy full coverage?
The illustration below visualizes the comparison of Honda Accord car insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Illinois. The premiums are based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, single female driver, and no discounts are factored in.
Honda Accord rates are for example purposes only. To get rates for your specific vehicle, click here.
When to eliminate full coverage
There is no definitive rule that is best for determining when to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it's probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
For example, let's pretend your Honda Accord book value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $6,000 after you pay the deductible. If premiums are more than $600 annually for your policy with full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some scenarios where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Do you qualify for these five discounts?
Auto insurance can be pricey, but you may qualify for discounts that may help make it more affordable. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before you get the savings.
- Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit could qualify you for better premium rates.
- Telematics Data - Drivers that enable their company to spy on driving habits by using a telematics device such as Progressive's Snapshot could save a few bucks if they are good drivers.
- Air Bag Discount - Factory options such as air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts - Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS and/or traction control can avoid accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Discounts for Government Workers - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% depending on your auto insurance provider.
We need to note that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Even though the math looks like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn't work that way.
Some companies that may offer policyholders most of the discounts above include:
If you want inexpensive Evanston car insurance quotes, ask each company or agent what discounts are available to you. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not apply in your state.
Car insurance just makes sense
Despite the fact that car insurance is not cheap in Evanston, insurance is most likely required but also gives you several important benefits.
- Almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to buy a specific level of liability insurance in order to get the vehicle licensed. In Illinois these limits are 20/40/15 which means you must have $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you bought your vehicle with a loan, almost every bank will have a requirement that you buy full coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you let the policy lapse, the bank will be required to insure your vehicle at a much higher premium rate and require you to reimburse them for the expensive policy.
- Car insurance protects both your vehicle and your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical transport and hospital expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if you are sued as the result of your driving. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of buying car insurance definitely exceed the price paid, particularly when you have a large claim. But the average driver in Illinois is overpaying over $810 a year so we recommend shopping around each time the policy renews to be sure current rates are still competitive.
When should I talk to a local insurance agent?
A small number of people still like to visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! Licensed agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you can get lower prices and still choose a local agent.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will give you quotes for your coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won't have to contact any insurance agencies as quotes are delivered immediately to you. If you need to get a price quote from one company in particular, just jump over to their website and complete a quote there.
Picking the best provider requires you to look at more than just a cheap price quote. A good agent in Evanston will have answers to these questions.
- Do they make recommendations based only on price?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Will they give you a referral list?
Auto insurance agents in Evanston come in two varieties
When finding a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Evanston can be described as either exclusive or independent. Both can insure your vehicles properly, but it's worth mentioning how they are different since it may influence which type of agent you select.
Exclusive Insurance Agents
Exclusive insurance agents work for only one company and examples are State Farm or Allstate. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. These agents are trained well on their products and sales techniques which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Some people will only use the same agent mainly due to loyalty to the company instead of buying on price only.
The following is a list of exclusive agencies in Evanston that can give you comparison quotes.
- Chris Bailey Agency - Farmers Insurance
1611 Simpson St #1 - Evanston, IL 60201 - (224) 307-2884 - View Map - Farmers Insurance - Tim Berg
1318 Oakton St - Evanston, IL 60202 - (800) 500-0170 - View Map - Farmers Insurance - Milos Radojevich
1522 Greenleaf St - Evanston, IL 60202 - (847) 475-1075 - View Map
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not locked into one company so as a result can place your coverage with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If premiums increase, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, you absolutely need to include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison. Most independent agents also contract with additional companies that you may not be familiar with that may provide cheaper insurance rates.
Shown below are independent agencies in Evanston willing to provide price quotes.
- Education Insurance Agency
900 Chicago Ave #104 - Evanston, IL 60203 - (847) 388-0044 - View Map - Robert Reece Insurance and Financial Services
1603 Orrington Ave #500 - Evanston, IL 60201 - (847) 440-5813 - View Map - InsureOne Insurance Agency
1160 Dodge Ave - Evanston, IL 60202 - (773) 570-4175 - View Map
Educate yourself about insurance coverages
Learning about specific coverages of insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle's occupants from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 20/40/15), it doesn't take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages should not be overlooked.
Comprehensive insurance
This will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers things like damage from a tornado or hurricane, hitting a bird and hitting a deer. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if it's not worth much more than your deductible it's not worth carrying full coverage.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for short-term medical expenses such as surgery, chiropractic care, EMT expenses, hospital visits and rehabilitation expenses. The coverages can be utilized in addition to your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Auto liability
Liability insurance provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property that is your fault. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 20/40/15 which stand for a $20,000 limit per person for injuries, a total of $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $15,000.
Liability insurance covers claims like attorney fees, legal defense fees, repair bills for other people's vehicles, loss of income and medical services. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but it's cheap coverage so purchase higher limits if possible. Illinois requires drivers to carry at least 20/40/15 but it's recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.
Collision protection
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as colliding with another moving vehicle, sideswiping another vehicle, scraping a guard rail and colliding with a tree. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from older vehicles. You can also increase the deductible to bring the cost down.