insurance in Illinois

According to our current Insurance Company’s underwriters, our 2000 Mini-Van’s premium needs to be $37/yr more because of it’s age. Local agent inquired with them about it. Agent states that underwriting declares its body parts, if available, would likely cost more. My reply, “Parts? Heck, at it’s 20yr age, if its involved in an accident, insurance is probably going to total it anyway! So are you saying I need to have a few year newer auto?” Agent replies it may not be the age as much as the make? Then I’m thinking, since owning this make, our family’s been involved in two serious non-fault accidents. One accident was a huge interstate car pileup. Our van stopped, then it got rear ended by someone who vehicle couldn’t. All 5 of us were safe, no injuries, & then after policeman help check rear lights, we continued/finished our planned 2 week vacation in that same van. Second accident, a young person who wasn’t paying attention, turned left in front of my wife while traveling in town(25-30mph). Wife again walked away, hospital visit later no serious injuries. A few Chiropractor visits to relieve whiplash. No further complications. That accident totaled that 2000 minivan, so we located another identical make/packaged 2000 Mini-Van to replace it. Now our premium has risen. What am I missing?? Which insurance companies do you feel offer best service @ reasonable rates? We have 2 autos & home covered within same insurance company & may move them all to a better insurer?

I've had State Farm for nearly 50 years as well my parents and my wife's parents always had State Farm. Over the years we've been in a few accidents that we were not at-fault and the only one that was ever a problem was one that the other vehicle was also covered by State Farm. Currently the newest thing I have is over 30 years old with not intention whatsoever of ever getting something new. Actually I've been getting a bigger discount every year as I get older. 

Your rates are higher because you have been involved in too many crashes!---just plain and simple!--all companies will treat your record the same way.---Don't matter WHO caused the crashes either, its the fact that you were involved is what they look at! ---sorry but that's the way it is.

I've had State Farm for over 35 years.  They're not the cheapest but they take care of us. Last summer my HD pickup burst into flames during a tractor club meeting.  It was totaled.  Other than one testy adjuster, and I realize he was just doing his job trying to figure out if I torched it, State Farm was good to work with.  Very reasonable settlement in a short amount of time.  Way back in 1992 I was following 3 semi's on my way home from work at night.  The 1st semi lost a pallet full of steel under an overpass.  Disabled the 2nd & 3rd semi's & totaled my car.  Very lucky I'm still here.  The trucking company's insurance co. & the steel plant's insurance co. did their best to stiff me.  State Farm stayed in the fight and the next year I get a check from State Farm.  It was a reimbursement of my deductible.  State Farm had won the case.  In 1995 I got rear ended by a speeding car as I was turning into my farm lane.  Crazy county judge ruled it was my fault.  Said something like "You're just a well off farmer out checking your crops & obstructing the traffic."  State Farm did an investigation & measured 165 feet of skid marks the other driver left before he hit me.  State Farm's position was that it was totally the other guy's fault & never charged me a penny of extra premiums for the claim.  So, yes, I recommend State Farm.

I had State Farm and they "TRIED" to screw me on an accident that was the OTHER guys fault and he had no insurance.. We switched to AMERICAN Family and had it for 5 years... Price going UP every year... I just switched to PROGRESSIVE and the price was 50% of AMERICAN..  I have 4 cars/ trucks insured.. 3 have full coverage.. The last one is a 2002 Explorer with BASIC coverage... its only worth $2500.  ........... Coverage is $15 every 6 months !!.  Central Illinois.

Sorry Steve, you have no insurance. Pgressive is the worst at settling claims fairly. They nick you for everything imaginable and are too ready to settle trying to imply that they are the fastest to settle a claim.
I have told them to leave and come back( not in person, email works fine from here forward)when they decide not to screw me or the customer.

Insurance sucks. Michigan's insurance for autos is the most expensive in the country. Come July, we are under some new "reform" rules. I don't know how it's going to change things yet. We have the "No Fault" system, which translates to "Everyone's Fault" and "Y'all pay through the nose."

I've had and stuck with State Farm for a long time.....not so much because they're awesome, I know the agent and he always clues me in on the best way to do things and he's a really good guy and straight shooter. I actually bought the car I drive from him! Funny story....but anyway, right after I bought it, he asked how things were. It had overheated on me right away and I was expecting the worst like a head gasket or something. I had an appointment with my mechanic for the following day. He said he would pay for anything wrong but if I didn't mind would I take it to the dealer instead of the mechanic, and just like he said he paid every penny for it to be fixed. Turned out was something simple, but still.

When I had my Harley, I asked him for a quote and he gave me one. I kind of said "Holy CRAP!". He said yeah, State Farm's motorcycle insurance isn't our strong suit, and gave me the number for Progressive!

Crashed my Harley on an unfamiliar curve in the rain. Progressive was at my house within 2 or 3 days, and I had a generous check in the mail 2 days later that paid for the bike to be fixed. So I had a decent experience with them too.

But don't let it fool you, they're in it for themselves, they have to be, and you're mandated to buy it! They've got you and they know it. They all suck!!!

Certainly has a lot to do with it, like a dealership and your paint of choice!

I recently switch from American Family to Progressive for the Autos... Went thru a local Carrier.. He said  Progressive did not do HOME insurance.. He had several options as he is an INDEPENDENT SELLER ...... he told me the BEST deal for Rural / Farm in Illinois was a smaller guy....this is what i ended up with..

Edited by steve(ill) - 23 Jun 2020 at 9:13pm

A few years ago, I had X insurance.  Got hit at a notorious bad intersection, got the blame, X upped my rates...  Had someone  also insured by X run off the road, and tear up the lawn by road frontage.  Had a buddy write me an estimate, to fix the ruts, that the X insured driver had made.  Charged them the exact amount that they had upped my rates!

“ Why are you insuring a 20 year old vehicle beyond personal liability and property damage? ”

That’s the question of the day.

Carry liability and any anything else, that’s all. Comprehensive will still cover deer damage. And glass coverage isn’t a bad idea.