Frequently Asked Questions

RateShield is a free service that helps Illinois homeowners compare home insurance rates. You fill out a short form with basic details about your home, and a local licensed agent contacts you with quotes from multiple carriers. Your information goes to one agent only. There is no cost and no obligation.

You can compare home insurance rates for free in about 60 seconds through RateShield. You enter basic information about your home and a local licensed agent will call you with competitive quotes. There is no obligation and your information is only shared with one agent, not sold to multiple companies.

Most Illinois homeowners pay between $2,200 and $2,600 per year, though this varies based on your home's value, location, roof age, and claims history. Illinois rates are above the national average, mainly due to hail and severe storm risk.

Illinois ranks high for severe weather claims, especially hail and wind damage. Carriers factor this risk into every policy. Rising construction costs also play a role, since your premium is based on what it would cost to rebuild your home today, not what you paid for it.

The most effective ways are bundling home and auto insurance (saves 15 to 25 percent), raising your deductible, opting for a separate wind/hail deductible, and comparing quotes from multiple carriers every 2 to 3 years. Many homeowners also miss out on claims-free and loyalty discounts they qualify for but never asked about.

Every 2 to 3 years, or whenever you have a major life change like paying off your mortgage, renovating, or adding a pool. Carrier pricing changes every year, and the cheapest option three years ago might not be the cheapest today. Comparing takes about an hour and regularly saves $400 to $800 per year.

In most cases, yes. Bundling typically saves 15 to 25 percent on your home insurance premium. On a $2,500 annual premium, that is $375 to $625 in savings. The only reason not to bundle is if the cheapest home insurer and cheapest auto insurer are different companies and the individual savings outweigh the bundling discount, which is rare.

A standard HO-3 policy covers damage to your home's structure, personal belongings, liability if someone is injured on your property, and additional living expenses if you need to live elsewhere during repairs. It does not cover flooding, earthquakes, or normal wear and tear. In Illinois, most claims are related to hail, wind, and water damage.

No. Standard home insurance does not cover flood damage. You need a separate flood insurance policy, which is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private flood insurers. Even if you are not in a FEMA-designated flood zone, localized flooding from heavy rain can still cause damage.

If you have a basement, yes. Standard home insurance does not cover water damage from sump pump failure or sewer backup, which are common in Illinois. Water backup coverage is an add-on endorsement that typically costs $50 to $100 per year. Given how many Illinois homes have basements, this is one of the most important endorsements to have.

Filing a claim can increase your premium by $200 to $400 per year for 3 to 5 years, even for a small claim. That means a $1,500 claim that nets you $500 after your deductible could end up costing you more in higher premiums than you received. Save your insurance for major losses and pay for small repairs out of pocket.

Replacement cost pays to rebuild or repair your home at current prices. Actual cash value pays the depreciated value, meaning you get less money for older items. Most standard policies use replacement cost for the structure but may use actual cash value for the roof if it is older than 15 to 20 years. Replacement cost coverage costs more but pays out significantly more when you need it.

A wind/hail deductible is a separate, percentage-based deductible that applies only to wind and hail damage claims. In Illinois, a 1 or 2 percent wind/hail deductible is common. On a home insured for $300,000, a 1 percent deductible means you pay $3,000 out of pocket for a hail claim. In exchange, your annual premium is lower. Since hail is the most common claim in Illinois, this trade-off often saves money over time.

A new roof can save anywhere from 5 to 25 percent on your premium depending on the material and your carrier. Impact-resistant shingles rated Class 4 can save 10 to 28 percent because they are much less likely to sustain hail damage. Since hail is the top claims driver in Illinois, carriers reward this heavily.

Yes. Illinois allows insurers to use credit-based insurance scores when setting rates. A higher credit score generally means a lower premium. This is separate from your regular credit score and is based on factors like payment history and outstanding debt.

Illinois does not legally require homeowners insurance. However, if you have a mortgage, your lender will require it as a condition of the loan. If you let your coverage lapse, the lender can purchase insurance on your behalf at a much higher cost.

Home insurance in Naperville typically runs $2,400 to $3,200 per year for a standard policy. Rates are higher than the state average because of higher home values in the area. Newer construction in zip codes like 60564 tends to be slightly cheaper to insure than older homes in 60540.

Arlington Heights homeowners generally pay $2,200 to $2,800 per year. Cook County rates can vary a lot depending on your specific neighborhood, home age, and proximity to fire stations.