Smart Auto Insurance Blog

Chicago car insurance quotes are managed by Illinois State Law according to the article “New Minimum State Requirements for Chicago Auto Insurance Quotes” by Cathy Wilson on youronlineinsurance.com.  Some of the mandatory coverage options are discussed in the article.

Car insurance continues to be mandatory in Chicago so anyone driving must be covered.  Liability coverage is also mandatory.  This covers the driver for injuries to other people, other cars and property.  The minimum liability is at $20,000 per driver in a car accident.  The max coverage is $40,000 and property damage excluding the car caps at $15,000.

Illinois drivers who are not insured properly or not insured at all will be responsible for the costs from the injuries up to the state minimum liability amounts.  They may also be responsible for damages that are not covered.  It’s important to be familiar with all of the driver and insurance laws in your state if you plan on operating a vehicle.  They can change from year to year as well, so keep up with the changes. It’s a good idea to periodically get Illinois auto insurance quotes as well.

According to the Associated Press, Michigan auto insurance policy holders will soon have to pay more in fees as of July 1st. The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association raised its fee, which covers seriously injured victims of car accidents, to $125 per vehicle. The charge is a $20 increase from last year.

Since Michigan is the only state that offers unlimited lifetime medical benefits through auto insurance for the seriously injured, the MCCA levies the fee to cover rising medical costs. The fee was actually reduced by $18 last year; however, that was due to investment gains that reversed themselves this year.

Scott Bauer from the Associated Press has reported on the impact Governor Jim Doyle’s new budget could have on Wisconsin auto insurance. The Wisconsin Insurance Alliance is against the provision that would require an increase in the lowest level of coverage available to buy:

• $300,000 in total coverage (formerly $50,000)
• $100,000 in coverage per person (formerly $25,000)
• $25,000 in property damage coverage (formerly $10,000)

A change in state regulations may be resulting in higher auto insurance rates for people in New Jersey based on their education or occupation, states Larry Higgs of the Ashbury Park Press. Since January 1, New Jersey auto insurance companies are formally allowed to use factors other than an individual’s driving record in determining premiums.

According to a study of quotes, having a high school education as opposed to a college degree resulted in quotes up to 61% more expensive. Opponents of the new regulations contend that they will lead to an unregulated free-for-all: insurers will be able to reject individuals without explanation, and those individuals might choose to illegally drive without insurance. Larry says that some groups also consider this rule discriminatory against blue-collar workers and those with lower incomes, whom are least likely to afford higher auto insurance premiums.

Bills that would eliminate the usage of factors like a person’s job, education, and credit rating in calculating quotes for a policy have been introduced in both the state Senate and Assembly, but the former has remained stuck in committee for several years.