Are you at wits end from scraping the payment together to keep your car insured? You are no different than many other Illinois consumers.
A recent study showed that nearly 70% of Illinois drivers kept their coverage with the same insurance company for at least four years, and nearly half have never compared quotes from other companies. Consumers in the U.S. could save almost 47% every year, but they don’t know how much money they would save if they switched to a cheaper policy.
Having so many choices of insurance companies that have affordable insurance for a Dodge Challenger in Chicago, it’s nearly impossible to find the best insurance company.
Quoting and comparing rates for the best car insurance in Chicago is easy if you know what you’re doing. Nearly everyone who needs cheaper car insurance should buy a cheaper policy. Although Illinois consumers should learn how insurance companies charge you for coverage.
Why You Might Pay Inflated Rates in Chicago
Many things are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. A few of the factors are predictable such as traffic violations, but other criteria are more obscure such as your credit history or how financially stable you are. Part of the insurance buying process is learning some of the factors that are used to determine the rates you pay for insurance. When consumers understand what determines base rates, this allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower insurance prices.
The following are a few of the “ingredients” used by insurance companies to determine prices.
How many miles do you drive? – The higher the mileage driven every year the higher the price you pay to insure it. A lot of insurance companies calculate rates based upon how the vehicle is primarily used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your insurance coverage reflects the proper vehicle usage. Improper usage on your Challenger is throwing money out the window.
Credit history impact insurance premiums – Having a bad credit score is a large factor in your rate calculation. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your Dodge Challenger by taking the time to improve your credit score. Drivers who have very good credit scores tend to be better risks to insure than those with poor credit scores.
Youthful drivers pay higher prices – Young drivers in Illinois are statistically proven to be inattentive and easily distracted in a vehicle so insurance rates are higher. Parents adding a beginning driver to your policy will cause a huge premium hike. Older, more experienced drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents, and tend to be get fewer driving tickets.
Don’t abuse policy claims – Auto insurance companies in Illinois give most affordable rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for larger claims.
Pay more for higher performance vehicles – The performance of the car you need insurance for makes a big difference in your auto insurance rates. Because the Dodge Challenger is a sports car, insuring your vehicle will cost much more as compared to the average rate in Chicago. The lowest performance passenger cars normally have pretty low rates, but many other things help determine your insurance rates.
How to find low cost Dodge Challenger insurance in Chicago
When shopping for affordable Chicago auto insurance quotes, there are a couple of ways to get quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The quickest method to find affordable Dodge Challenger insurance rates involves getting comparison quotes online.
Getting quotes online is very simple and it makes it a waste of time to call or drive to insurance agents’ offices. Comparing Dodge Challenger insurance rates online makes this unnecessary unless you require the guidance that can only be provided by a licensed insurance agent. Drivers can get the lowest quotes online but have your policy serviced through an agent. Just remember that making a lot of price comparisons will increase your chances of finding a better price. Not every company does online rate quotes, so it’s important to also get prices on coverage from those companies, too.
The auto insurance companies shown below can provide price quotes in Chicago, IL. If multiple providers are shown, we suggest you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Challenger SE | $248 | $460 | $356 | $22 | $106 | $1,192 | $99 |
Challenger R/T | $178 | $316 | $284 | $16 | $84 | $878 | $73 |
Challenger SRT-8 | $378 | $766 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,686 | $141 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Premium data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Illinois minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, claim-free, safe-driver, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in specific garaging location which can alter auto insurance rates substantially.
Raise deductibles and save
The hardest decision when buying coverage is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The tables below illustrate the rate fluctuation between high and low coverage deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 physical damage coverage deductible and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Challenger SE | $254 | $400 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $1,079 | $90 |
Challenger R/T | $280 | $462 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $1,167 | $97 |
Challenger SRT-8 | $306 | $522 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $1,253 | $104 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Challenger SE | $156 | $252 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $808 | $67 |
Challenger R/T | $172 | $290 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $862 | $72 |
Challenger SRT-8 | $188 | $328 | $294 | $18 | $88 | $916 | $76 |
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go |
Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Illinois minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in specific location which can lower or raise premium rates greatly.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $250 deductible will cost you about $25 more each month or $300 for a full year than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Due to the fact that you would have to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally go at least 30 months between claim filings, you would save money if you opt for a higher deductible.
Reckless driving habits raise auto insurance rates
The illustration below illustrates how speeding tickets and fender-benders influence Dodge Challenger insurance costs for different insured age categories. The costs are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
Auto insurance buyers beware
Well-known auto insurance companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm consistently run ads in print and on television. All the ads advertise claims that you’ll save big if you change your policy. How is it possible that every company can charge you a lower premium? This is the way they can do it.
Companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that will generate a profit. One example of this type of risk profile might be described as a mature driver, has no driving citations, and does not commute to work. Any customer who meets those qualifications may get the lowest rates in Chicago and is almost guaranteed to save some money.
Consumers who are not a match for the requirements may be required to pay a higher rate and this results in the customer buying from someone else. The trick companies use is to say “people who switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” can save as much as they claim. That’s the way companies can make claims that they all have the best rates.
Because of these techniques, you really need to compare many company’s rates. It is impossible to guess which insurance companies will have the best prices for your profile.
Buying the right vehicle insurance in Illinois is an important decision
Despite the fact that auto insurance is not cheap in Chicago, auto insurance is required in Illinois but it also protects you in many ways.
- Most states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific minimum amount of liability 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 Dodge with a loan, almost all lenders will have a requirement that you buy full coverage to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totalled. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank may buy a policy for your Dodge for a much higher rate and force you to pay for it.
- Auto insurance protects not only your Dodge but also your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical transport and hospital expenses for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay attorney fees if you cause an accident and are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of having insurance are definitely more than the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. According to a recent study, the average American driver is wasting up to $810 a year so compare rate quotes every year to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Verify you’re applying every discount
Some providers do not advertise every discount very well, so the following list contains a few of the more common as well as some of the hidden credits available to you. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you may be paying too high a price.
- Buy New and Save – Putting coverage on a new Challenger can get you a discount because newer models are generally safer.
- Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give a discounted price on car insurance if you buy some life insurance too.
- No Claim Discounts – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less when compared to policyholders that have many claims.
- Safety Restraint Discount – Drivers who require all occupants to fasten their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks off the personal injury premium cost.
- Cautious Drivers – Safe drivers can save up to 40% or more on their Chicago auto insurance quote as compared to drivers with claims.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems could see savings of more than 20%.
- Accident Forgiveness – Not necessarily a discount, but companies like Progressive, State Farm and GEICO will let one accident slide without the usual rate increase with the catch being you have to be claim-free before the accident.
- Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles on your Dodge may enable drivers to earn substantially lower premium rates.
- Safety Course Discount – Taking a course that instructs on driving safety could save 5% or more and also improve your driving technique.
As is typical with insurance, most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Despite the fact that it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck.
If you would like to see a list of insurance companies with the best Dodge Challenger insurance discounts in Chicago in Illinois, follow this link.
Local Chicago car insurance agents
Many people just prefer to talk to an insurance agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find cheap auto insurance quotes but also keep your business local. Supporting local insurance agents is important especially in Chicago.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your coverage information is submitted to companies in Chicago that can provide free Chicago auto insurance quotes for your auto insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to contact any insurance agencies since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. You can find better rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you wish to quote rates from a specific insurance company, don’t hesitate to find their quoting web page and submit a quote form there.
If you want to buy auto insurance from a local insurance agency, it can be helpful to understand the types of insurance agents and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Auto insurance agencies may be either exclusive or independent.
Independent Insurance Agents
Independent agencies do not sell for just one brand so they have the ability to put coverage through many different auto insurance companies and get the cheapest rates. If you are not satisfied with one company, they can switch companies in-house and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, you will definitely want to include price quotes from a couple of independent agencies so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Shown below is a partial list of independent agencies in Chicago that may be able to give you rate quotes.
Amigo Insurance Agency
5902 W Fullerton Ave – Chicago, IL 60639 – (877) 999-2644 – View Map
Great Northern Insurance Agency
5632 S Pulaski Rd – Chicago, IL 60629 – (773) 838-3900 – View Map
Illinois Vehicle Auto Insurance
100 W. Randolph, Suite C14 – Chicago, IL 60601 – (312) 201-9111 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agents
These agents can usually just insure with one company and examples are Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so always compare other rates. Exclusive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their products and sales techniques which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.
Listed below is a short list of exclusive insurance agents in Chicago willing to provide rate quotes.
Linda Kuczka – State Farm Insurance Agent
954 W Webster Ave – Chicago, IL 60614 – (773) 975-9111 – View Map
Jim Mays Jr – State Farm Insurance Agent
4465 N Milwaukee Ave – Chicago, IL 60630 – (773) 282-1500 – View Map
Mark Yun – State Farm Insurance Agent
223 W Cermak Rd, Fl-2 – Chicago, IL 60616 – (312) 225-8311 – View Map
Finding the right insurance agency requires you to look at more than just the quoted price. Before buying a policy in Chicago, get answers to these questions.
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- How does the company pay claims for a total loss?
- Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
- When do they do policy reviews?
- How long have they been in business?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
Cheaper car insurance is out there
We just showed you a lot of ways to shop for Dodge Challenger insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even be surprised to find that the best auto insurance rates are with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower premium rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
As you quote Chicago auto insurance, make sure you don’t reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured cut collision coverage to discover at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. The goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while still protecting your assets.
For more information, feel free to visit the resources below:
- Steps to Take After an Auto Accident (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has the Cheapest Chicago Car Insurance Rates for Business Use? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Chicago Car Insurance Quotes for Drivers Over Age 60? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for a Ford Fusion in Chicago? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for a Jeep Wrangler in Chicago? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance for a Subaru Outback in Chicago? (FAQ)
- Auto Crash Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)