Springfield, IL Insurance Quotes
There are a lot of things you may not know about Springfield, Illinois. The state’s capital is rich with fascinating history, as the residence of Abraham Lincoln, the location of the first fast-food drive-through, and the birthplace of the corndog.
Why You Need Springfield Insurance
Illinois, Springfield included, is also home to some of the toughest laws in the nation concerning auto insurance. If you’re tempted to take a spin in your car without it being adequately insured, you will definitely want to think again. In Illinois, you could face serious penalties and fines, including jail time, if you drive without insurance.
A law passed in 2003 makes drivers without insurance subject to a $500 fee the first time and suspension of registration until proof of insurance is provided. A second offense results in registration suspension of four months and a $1,000 fine. A third offense, and your driver’s license will be revoked and car impounded.
An amendment in early 2010 took it even further, making it a misdemeanor to injure someone while driving uninsured. Guilty parties could end up paying a fine of $2,500 or spend up to a year in jail.
Springfield Insurance –What You Need to Know
While the laws regarding coverage vary from state to state, it’s important to know minimum requirements when gathering information for Springfield insurance quotes. In the Prairie State, insurance requirements include:
- Bodily Injury Liability. Not every state requires BIL, but Illinois does. This insurance will cover costs associated with an accident you cause that results in injury or death. It covers medical bills, insurance costs, and also legal representation and judgments in the event you are sued. You must have a limit of $20,000 per injured person, with a total of up to $40,000.
- Property Damage Liability. Let’s say you’re driving along in Springfield and you swerve to avoid hitting an animal in the road. The animal scampers away unharmed, but you run into a fence, causing major damage totaling $5,000 (it’s a nice fence). Your property damage liability insurance, which includes a minimum of $15,000, will cover the costs of repairing the fence.
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury. Your Springfield insurance quotes will also need to include uninsured motorist bodily injury. Uninsured drivers make up approximately 16% of all drivers in Illinois, one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the nation. This type of coverage will cover the costs if you are in an accident that is not your fault, but the driver is uninsured or underinsured (Illinois, like most states, combines uninsured with underinsured coverage). This minimum requirement is $20,000 per injured person, with a total of up to $40,000.
Getting Springfield Insurance Quotes
In order to keep your costs reasonable, it’s a good idea to get a variety of Springfield insurance quotes. A comprehensive insurance site like NetQuote.com will do this for you for no cost at all, allowing you to compare them to find the best rate.
