How many times have you told yourself it’s time to shop around for more affordable auto insurance rates in Chicago, IL? Chicago shoppers have lots of choices when shopping for the lowest priced Subaru Forester insurance. They can either spend hours contacting agents trying to get quotes or save time using the internet to find the lowest rates. There are both good and bad ways to buy auto insurance and we’ll show you the quickest way to get price quotes for your Subaru and locate the lowest price either online or from Chicago insurance agents.
It is always a good idea to compare premium rates at least once a year because prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price on Subaru Forester insurance in Chicago a year ago you can probably find a better rate quote now. You can search a lot of Forester insurance on the web, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some excellent ideas to put money back in your pocket.
Finding the cheapest car insurance coverage in Chicago seems hard but is not really that difficult. If you have a policy now, you will definitely be able to find better prices using the concepts you’re about to learn. Drivers only have to learn the tricks to buy car insurance from many different companies.
Quote Subaru Forester Insurance More Affordably
One of the most helpful ways to save on car insurance is to to have a grasp of some of the elements that help calculate your policy premiums. If you have a feel for what impacts premium levels, this empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower car insurance prices. Many things are considered when you get a price on insurance. Some are obvious such as traffic violations, but other criteria are not as apparent like your continuous coverage or your financial responsibility.
Shown below are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate rates.
- Gender and insurance coverage rates – Over time, data shows females are less aggressive when driving. This data doesn’t prove that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men tend to get into at-fault accidents at a similar rate, but the male of the species get into accidents with more damage. Men also receive more costly citations like driving under the influence (DUI). Male drivers age 16 to 19 generally have the highest accident percentage and thus pay the highest rates.
- High deductibles cost less – Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be rearending another vehicle, animal collisions, and damage from wind. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the better rate you will receive.
- Eliminate extra policy coverages – Insurance policies have a lot of add-on coverages you can purchase on your Forester policy. Insurance for things like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness, and additional equipment coverage are probably not needed. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
- Performance impacts insurance costs – The type of vehicle you need insurance for makes a huge difference in how high your rates are. The best insurance prices are usually found on low performance passenger vehicles, but there are many factors that impact the final cost. Since the Subaru Forester falls in the crossover class, insuring your vehicle will cost slightly more compared to average rates in Chicago.
- Low stress occupation equals lower rates – Do you work in a high-stress field? Careers such as doctors, police officers, and stock brokers usually pay higher premium rates attributed to intense work-related stress and long work hours. On the other hand, professions such as scientists, students and homemakers pay the least.
- Costs and your address – Living in less populated areas of the country can be a good thing when buying car insurance. Lower population means less chance of accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. People who live in big cities have more road rage incidents and longer commutes to work. Spending more time driving means a statistically higher chance of an accident.
- Experienced drivers save more – Beginning drivers in Illinois have a tendency to be more careless when driving with friends so they pay higher car insurance rates. Parents adding a young driver to your policy can be very expensive. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims, and are generally more financially stable.
- Subaru Forester insurance loss probability – Companies analyze the history of losses to determine a price that will be profitable for them. Vehicles that are shown to have high amounts or severity of claims will have higher premium rates. The data below shows the compiled insurance loss statistics for Subaru Forester vehicles.
For each insurance policy coverage type, the loss probability for all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer or model, is considered to be 100. Values below 100 suggest losses that are better than average, while values over 100 show a trend for more claims or tendency to have higher losses.
Insurance Loss Ratings for Subaru Forester Vehicles
Vehicle Make and Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Subaru Forester 4dr 4WD 71 80 108 72 76 68 Subaru Forester 4dr 4WD with Eyesight 74 66 118 77 78 53 Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
The following companies provide price comparisons in Illinois. If multiple providers are shown, we suggest you visit as many as you can in order to find the lowest rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forester X AWD | $120 | $210 | $232 | $14 | $70 | $646 | $54 |
| Forester X Premium AWD | $196 | $334 | $250 | $14 | $76 | $870 | $73 |
| Forester X Premium AWP AWD | $180 | $268 | $226 | $14 | $68 | $756 | $63 |
| Forester X Limited Edition AWD | $242 | $418 | $250 | $14 | $76 | $1,000 | $83 |
| Forester X Limited Edition W/Navigation AWD | $254 | $400 | $222 | $14 | $66 | $956 | $80 |
| Forester XT AWD | $134 | $246 | $232 | $14 | $70 | $696 | $58 |
| Forester XT Limited Edition AWD | $218 | $412 | $250 | $14 | $76 | $970 | $81 |
| Forester XT Limited Edition W/Navigation AWD | $134 | $260 | $250 | $14 | $76 | $734 | $61 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Table data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Illinois minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-policy, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in garaging location in Chicago which can impact premiums greatly.
Policy deductible comparison
The illustration below demonstrates how deductible levels and can increase or decrease Subaru Forester insurance rates for different age groups. The data assumes a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
Should you buy full coverage?
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Subaru Forester car insurance rates with and without full coverage. The prices are based on no violations or claims, $100 deductibles, single male driver, and no discounts are applied.
When to buy liability coverage only
There is no clear-cut formula to exclude physical damage coverage, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of coverage is more than around 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Subaru Forester claim settlement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $5,000 after paying your deductible. If you are paying more than $500 annually for full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are a few cases where only buying liability is not a good plan. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if your savings is not enough to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should not remove full coverage.
How violations and accidents impact rates
The diagram below shows how speeding tickets and at-fault accidents raise Subaru Forester annual premium costs for each age group. The rates are based on a married male driver, full coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
Insurance does more than just protect your car
Despite the high cost, insuring your vehicle is not optional due to several reasons.
- Just about all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific minimum amount of liability protection 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 took out a loan on your Subaru Forester, it’s guaranteed your bank will require that you buy full coverage to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you do not keep the policy in force, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Subaru at a much higher premium rate and require you to fork over for the expensive policy.
- Insurance safeguards both your Subaru and your assets. It will also provide coverage for many types of medical costs for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One of the most valuable coverages, liability insurance, also pays expenses related to your legal defense if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, your policy will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of insuring your car definitely exceed the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. According to a recent study, the average American driver is overpaying more than $825 a year so you should quote and compare rates at every renewal to ensure rates are inline.
You may qualify for discounts for Subaru Forester insurance in Chicago
Insurance is not an enjoyable expense, but there could be available discounts that may help make it more affordable. Certain reductions will be credited when you purchase, but some discounts are required to be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit.
- Discounts for Cautious Drivers – Accident-free drivers could pay up to 40% less as compared to drivers with claims.
- Driver’s Education for Students – Have your child enroll in driver’s education if offered at their school.
- Claim Free – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less in comparison with drivers who are more careless.
- Defensive Driving Course – Taking a class that teaches safe driver techniques is a good idea and can lower rates and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Payment Method – By making one initial payment instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
- Professional Organizations – Participating in qualifying clubs or civic groups could earn you a nice discount when shopping for insurance.
- Discount for Multiple Policies – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
- Telematics Discount – Drivers that enable their insurance company to look at where and when they drive by using a telematic data system like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot might see lower rates if their driving habits are good.
As a sidenote, some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Despite the appearance that you could get a free insurance policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.
A few of the larger companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are detailed below.
- State Farm includes discounts for multiple autos, student away at school, Steer Clear safe driver discount, passive restraint, defensive driving training, and safe vehicle.
- Farmers Insurance has savings for pay in full, distant student, teen driver, bundle discounts, homeowner, youthful driver, and electronic funds transfer.
- GEICO may have discounts that include defensive driver, good student, air bags, anti-lock brakes, driver training, daytime running lights, and military active duty.
- American Family policyholders can earn discounts including TimeAway discount, mySafetyValet, bundled insurance, good driver, air bags, and defensive driver.
- Nationwide may offer discounts for defensive driving, accident-free, good student, easy pay, and family plan.
- Progressive offers premium reductions for multi-policy, online quote discount, online signing, multi-vehicle, and good student.
Before buying, ask every company which discounts can lower your rates. Some of the discounts discussed earlier may not apply to policyholders in Chicago. If you would like to view insurers with significant discounts in Chicago, follow this link.
Buying from insurance agents
A lot of people prefer to sit down with an agent and that is a smart decision Agents can help you choose the best coverages and help submit paperwork. A nice benefit of comparing rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get cheap insurance rates and also buy local.
After completing this short form, the quote information is instantly submitted to insurance agents in Chicago that provide free Chicago auto insurance quotes to get your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent to your email. If you wish to compare prices from a specific company, you would need to navigate to their website and submit a quote form there.
Picking an insurance company is decision based upon more than just the quoted price. These are some questions your agent should answer.
- How long has their agency been in business in Chicago?
- Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Illinois?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Does the company have a local claim office in Chicago?
- What discounts might you be missing?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
If you want to buy insurance from a reliable insurance agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents and how they work. Agents can either be independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive. Either type can properly insure your vehicles, but it’s a good idea to understand how they differ because it may have an impact on your selection of an agent.
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive agents write business for a single company such as State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. Exclusive agencies are unable to compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Exclusive insurance agents are well schooled on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Many people buy from the same agent for years partially due to the brand legacy rather than having low rates.
Below is a short list of exclusive agents in Chicago who may provide you with price quote information.
- Linda Kuczka – State Farm Insurance Agent
954 W Webster Ave – Chicago, IL 60614 – (773) 975-9111 – View Map - Peter Grande – State Farm Insurance Agent
1535 W Division St – Chicago, IL 60642 – (773) 270-4600 – View Map - Gus Andrade – State Farm Insurance Agent
4355 W 26th St – Chicago, IL 60623 – (773) 521-0216 – View Map
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
These type of agents do not have single company limitations so they can quote policies with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you want to switch companies, they simply switch companies in-house which requires no work on your part.
When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several independent agencies for maximum quote selection. Most can insure with companies that do not advertise much that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.
Listed below are independent insurance agents in Chicago willing to provide comparison quotes.
- Eagle Insurance Agency
3517 N Spaulding Ave – Chicago, IL 60618 – (773) 463-7576 – View Map - Beyer Insurance Agency
35 E Upper Wacker Dr #1730 – Chicago, IL 60601 – (312) 922-5300 – View Map - Great Northern Insurance Agency
5632 S Pulaski Rd – Chicago, IL 60629 – (773) 838-3900 – View Map
Your insurance coverage should be tailored to you
Always keep in mind that when comparing insurance from an agent or online for your personal vehicles, there really is not a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that.
For example, these questions can aid in determining if you could use an agent’s help.
- How long can I keep a teen driver on my policy?
- Do they offer discounts for home and auto coverage?
- Does my Subaru Forester need full coverage?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Are combined or split liability limits better?
If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
Don’t give up on cheap coverage
You just learned many ideas to find lower-cost Subaru Forester insurance in Chicago. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of getting the cheapest Subaru Forester rate quotes. You may even discover the most savings is with the least-expected company. They often have lower rates on specific markets than their larger competitors like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Lower-priced insurance in Chicago is definitely available both online in addition to local insurance agencies, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies provide coverage only through independent agencies.
As you prepare to switch companies, don’t be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big error on their part. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at the best possible price and still be able to protect your assets.
For more information, feel free to browse the following helpful articles:
- Alcohol Impaired Driving FAQ (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes for Felons in Chicago? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Chicago Car Insurance Rates for First-time Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Chicago Car Insurance Quotes for Low Mileage Drivers? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Chicago Auto Insurance for Teenagers? (FAQ)
- Should I Purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
- Shopping for a Safe Car (Insurance Information Institute)