By Kiah Haslett | The average premium for car insurance in Illinois is $1,679.15, the
ninth most expensive in the nation, according to a study by insure.com.
The study looked at more than 2,400 vehicles, based on ten zip codes
from each state. The states topping the list are Louisiana, at $2,510.87, and
Michigan, at $2,098.29. At the bottom are Vermont, at $968.58, and
Maine, at $902.85. Maine has a small population that doesn’t drive very
often, keeping commuter mileage and the crash count low.
Illinois’ rates are higher for several reasons. “Have you ever heard of
Chicago?” said Dennis Garrett, executive vice president of the
Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois, based in Springfield. “I would
rather have my teeth pulled out than drive on the Dan Ryan.”
He said the Chicagoland area is so large and so congested that the
amount of accidents and claims paid out raises the cost of premiums.
“Insurance as a whole outside of a large metro area is much, much less,”
he said.
To see the entire list, click
here.
Yep! Remember the speil about mandatory auto insurance will lower the premiums for all? That was their big sell, cost spread across many drivers lowers the bill for everyone. My insurance has never gone down. Wonder if health care reform will be the same do you think?
It’s nice to live in a state where the insurance premium is No. 48 (I don’t know you the survey got 51 states; there are only 50 that ratified the U.S. Constitution!). Do we have any more accidents than Chicago? Just put the traffic on a congested road with all of the distractions and we’re just as vulnerable The only reason some of the states that seemed to be innocuous are high are because those are states where the speed limit is 70 mph or greater. Put yourself in congestion with that type of speed limit and it’s a recipe for an accident.
I don’t know what this survey means. I recently moved from Illinois to Minnesota, and even though I had the same car, same record, etc., the same carrier (Allstate) charged me $150 a year because Minnesota requires extra coverages that Illinois doesn’t (underinsured motorist, e.g.).
Lower premiums if everyone got insurance? I never fell for that one, but apparently a lot of people did. Not only do my rates keep going up, but I also pay a premium for “uninsured motorists” and more recently “UNDER-INSURED motorists”. What that h**l is that all about? If there’s a state minimum of coverage why am I paying for under-insured and why are they on the roads? I’m sick and tired of shelling out my hard earned dollars to go along with this nonsense on top of paying for the screw-ups who won’t.
Is there anything in this country today that isn’t a money racket designed to screw the people?
On the other hand, maybe if more people would take their heads out of their butts when they’re behind the wheel we MIGHT see some lower rates. Better yet, let’s start pulling the licenses of those who just won’t obey the laws and tell them if they get caught driving again it’ll be some time in jail for them to ponder things. I’ll bet we could easily take 25% of current drivers off the roads.
“where the speed limit is 70 mph or greater. Put yourself in congestion”
In those states, the speed limit in urban areas is still 55, there are no ‘congested areas with 70 mph speed limts’. Michigan has bad roads with potholes, so that is a big factor. Going 70 on a wide open highway is safer than driving on urban or 2 lane highways at 55.
I had to switch from Allstate to State Farm Insurance after being with Allstate for 20years. This saved me over $400 a year. I don’t think people realize you can save by switching.
Why is the Tribune pimping stories for the benefit of a website? This isnt jounalism, its sleaze! Shame on you Kiah Haslett!
jebbers – you should have uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage anyway. If someone hits you and they don’t have insurance, and you don’t have UI, you’re screwed.