Who is covered under my auto insurance in Chicago?

Jackie

Good question, Jackie.

It’s a subject that often comes up because most of the time the text of your auto insurance policy in Chicago isn’t all too clear. You might have to hassle a car insurance agent or read the policy several times to figure it out, but even then you cannot always be certain of who is covered under your auto insurance in Chicago.

First of all, let’s state the obvious. You are covered under your policy for auto insurance in Chicago, as are any other named drivers on your policy. It doesn’t matter who they are or where they live, if they are on your policy then they are covered under your auto insurance in Chicago.

Beyond that, there are a couple of more groups of people who are also covered under your auto insurance in Chicago. The first group is members of your household. This does not mean, as it seems, anybody who lives in your house and drives your car. It has the more specific meaning of being anyone who lives in your house and is related to you by marriage, adoption, or blood. So that means your spouse, child, stepchild, grandmother, and so on, so long as they live with you.

The second not so obvious group of people that are covered under your policy for auto insurance in Chicago are your friends and other relatives. However, there is a clause attached to this. They are only covered by your policy for auto insurance in Chicago if they

• have your permission to drive your car, or
• have reason to believe that you would give them permission to do so.

The trouble on that second part is that it is often very difficult to prove that your friend or relative had no reason to believe that you would have allowed them to drive your car.

Now, while these groups are covered under your auto insurance in Chicago, you have to remember that insurance follows the car, not the driver. They are only covered under your policy so long as they are driving one of the vehicles listed on the policy.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

I have a teen that is going to be sixteen this month. He will be getting his license. Is he automatically insured once he get his license on my car insurance policy in Chicago? He will only be driving part time and with an adult. Basically my question is, do I have to put him on the insurance policy as long as he drive one of my vehicles is he insured?

Reed

Chicago, IL

Most insurance carriers require that you list all licensed drivers living in the household on your car insurance policy so that they will be properly covered to operate your vehicles. If the insurance provider is not notified of the licensing status of your teen and they are not listed but are in a crash driving your car, it may be possible for the insurance company to deny an insurance claim. I heard that some insurance carrier will cover the insurance claim but then they will charge you for the insurance premiums that should have been paid previously for the teenager to be on the insurance policy.

I suggest that you contact your car insurance agent now in Chicago, IL, before your teen start the licensing process at age of sixteen, so that you will know what to expect when they do obtain their licensed and what coverages you will need to put on them.<

I am curious, what could possibly affect my auto insurance rates to go up or down in Chicago, Illinois? Thanks so much in advance!

Lilia

Knowing the factors that affect your auto insurance rates could help you to save more on your insurance rates. So what factors are these? They are:

• Speeding Tickets. The more you have, the higher your auto insurance rates will be.
• Accidents. Auto insurance companies may increase your insurance premiums if you have been involved in too many accidents. In fact for some insurers, they would increase a person’s auto insurance premium after one at-fault accident.
• Age. If you have not reached the age of 25 yet, chances are you will be getting higher auto insurance rates.
• Teen driver. If a teen driver will be added under your insurance policy, expect that your auto insurance rates will increase.
• Credit Score. If you have bad credit report your auto insurance rates will be affected, you will be charged for more insurance rates.

If you are paying more for your auto insurance rates, it would help you to get cheaper insurance rates if you will shop around. The Internet could give you a lot of insurance quotes that you can choose from. Meanwhile, if you have other question on how you can save on your insurance premiums, you may opt to check with your auto insurance agent.