In Chicago, new car owners often ask what extra coverages to get beyond basic auto insurance. The top auto insurance add-ons for your new car include GAP insurance, roadside assistance, and rental car coverage for peace of mind on Illinois roads. Insure on the Spot offers fast auto insurance quotes, SR-22 filings, and same-day proof of insurance. We also help you meet Illinois’ minimum coverage requirements and provide affordable payment options to ensure you stay covered.
Call Insure on the Spot in Chicago at 773-202-5060 or get a Free Quote Online Today! to explore affordable add-ons for your new ride.
1. GAP Insurance – Protecting Your Car’s Value
Even the moment you drive off a Chicago dealership lot, your new car begins to lose value. If an accident on a busy city street totals your car, your standard insurance will only pay the vehicle’s current market value, which may be thousands less than what you owe on a loan or lease. This is where GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection) insurance steps in. GAP insurance covers the difference between your car’s actual cash value and the remaining loan balance. It means you won’t be stuck paying off a car loan for a vehicle you can no longer drive, which is especially important for Chicago drivers financing a new car.
Key benefits of GAP Insurance:
- Keeps you financially secure – Covers your auto loan so you’re not out-of-pocket if your new car is totaled or stolen.
- Ideal for financed cars – Recommended for Illinois drivers who lease or finance, since new vehicles depreciate quickly (often ~20% in the first year).
- Peace of mind in high-traffic areas – In a city like Chicago with heavy traffic and winter hazards, GAP insurance ensures one crash won’t leave you with debt on a wrecked car.
2. Roadside Assistance – Help When You’re Stranded
Chicago’s notorious traffic jams and harsh winters can challenge even the most reliable new cars. A flat tire on the Dan Ryan Expressway or a dead battery on a frigid Illinois morning can leave you stuck. Adding roadside assistance coverage to your auto policy means help is just a phone call away. This optional add-on is usually very affordable (just a few dollars a month) and provides 24/7 assistance if your car breaks down. Instead of worrying about finding a tow truck in an unfamiliar Chicago neighborhood, you can rely on your insurer’s roadside network to get you moving again quickly.
Typical roadside services included:
- Towing and tire changes: If you get a flat or mechanical breakdown, a tow truck can take your car to a nearby mechanic, or help swap out a tire – crucial during Chicago’s pothole season.
- Jump-starts and lockouts help: Dead battery in a cold Illinois winter? Locked your keys in the car while downtown? Roadside assistance sends help to jump-start your engine or unlock your vehicle.
- Fuel delivery: If you run out of gas on the I-90/I-94, a technician will bring you enough fuel to reach the next gas station, saving you from walking along the highway.
3. Rental Car Reimbursement – Stay Mobile After an Accident
After an accident or major repair, you don’t want to be stuck without a car in Chicago. Rental car reimbursement coverage ensures you can stay mobile while your vehicle is in the shop. This add-on will pay for a rental car (up to a daily and total limit) when you have a covered claim that makes your car undriveable. Considering the high cost of renting a car in the city, this coverage is a lifesaver. For example, if you get into a fender-bender on a busy Chicago commute, you can get a rental vehicle right away and keep up with work, school, and errands while your car is being fixed – all billed to your insurance instead of your wallet.
Why add rental reimbursement?
- Keeps you moving: You won’t have to rely on public transit or rideshares if your car is out of commission; the coverage provides a rental so you can commute and travel as usual in Chicago.
- Saves money: It spares you from paying expensive rental fees out-of-pocket (which in a city can average $40–$70 a day) after an accident.
- Convenience: Arranging a rental through your insurer is hassle-free. You can focus on getting your car repaired while your insurance handles the rental costs up to the policy limits.
4. New Car Replacement Coverage – Full Value After a Total Loss
Standard insurance policies in Illinois pay out the actual cash value of your car after a total loss, factoring in depreciation. Unfortunately, new cars depreciate fast – if your 6-month-old car is totaled in a crash on Lake Shore Drive, the check from insurance might not cover buying a similar new car. New Car Replacement coverage is an optional add-on that solves this problem. If your brand-new vehicle is wrecked within a certain time frame (often within the first year or two, or under a mileage limit), this coverage allows you to get a brand-new car of the same make and model, rather than a used-value payout. For Chicago drivers, this is huge: you’ll be made whole after a major accident, without having to settle for an older or cheaper replacement. Not every insurer offers new car replacement, but it’s worth asking about when insuring a new purchase.
New Car Replacement coverage offers:
- Protection from depreciation: You get a new vehicle of the same model if yours is totaled, avoiding the financial hit of your car’s rapid value drop.
- Great for first-year ownership: Typically applies during the initial ownership period (e.g., first 12–24 months), when your new car in Illinois is most vulnerable to losing value.
- Extra peace of mind: Chicago traffic can be risky – knowing you won’t be stuck without a comparable car after a serious accident brings peace of mind as you drive your new vehicle around town.
5. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage – Protection from Uninsured Drivers
Despite state laws, about 1 in 8 drivers in Illinois have no insurance – and many others carry only minimal coverage. In a dense urban area like Chicago, the chance of getting hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver isn’t negligible. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is a crucial part of your policy that steps in to pay for your injuries and damages if you’re in an accident caused by a driver with little or no insurance. Illinois already requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (to cover medical bills for you and your passengers), but it’s wise to increase your UM/UIM limits above the minimum. You can also add uninsured motorist property damage coverage if you carry only liability insurance, which will pay for repairs to your car if an uninsured driver hits you. This add-on ensures that even if someone else neglects their responsibility, you’re not left paying the price for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
How UM/UIM coverage keeps you safe:
- Covers injury costs: If you’re hit by an uninsured driver, UM coverage pays for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering up to your policy limits – crucial since hospital bills in Chicago can add up quickly.
- Covers vehicle damage: With uninsured motorist property damage (or collision coverage), your own policy will pay to fix your car when the other driver can’t. You won’t be stuck with repair bills because someone else chose to drive without sufficient insurance.
- Protects against underinsured drivers: If the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough to cover all your expenses (common with Illinois’s low minimum limits), UIM coverage makes up the difference so you’re fully compensated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What’s the minimum auto insurance required in Illinois?
A: Illinois drivers must carry at least 25/50/20 liability insurance (that’s $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 property damage). The state also mandates uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage with 25/50 limits. It’s wise to consider higher limits or add-ons beyond these minimums to stay fully protected.
Q: Is GAP insurance required if I lease or finance a car?
A: GAP insurance isn’t legally required in Illinois, but many lenders and leasing companies strongly recommend it for financed cars. Without GAP, if your new car gets totaled, you could be stuck paying the difference between the insurance payout and your remaining loan balance. This add-on is a smart way to protect your finances when you owe money on a vehicle.
Q: Does my insurance automatically include roadside assistance?
A: No, standard auto insurance policies do not automatically include roadside assistance. Roadside coverage is an optional add-on you can purchase for a small extra premium. Given Chicago’s harsh winters and traffic, adding roadside assistance is worth it – it ensures help is available 24/7 if your car breaks down.
Q: What happens if an uninsured driver hits my car?
A: If an uninsured driver hits you in Chicago, you could be left paying for damages unless you have uninsured motorist coverage. Illinois requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, which helps with medical expenses for you and your passengers. To cover damage to your vehicle, you can add uninsured motorist property damage coverage (or rely on your collision coverage) so you’re financially protected in this situation.
Q: Will my insurance pay for a rental car after an accident?
A: Your insurance will only cover a rental car if you have rental reimbursement coverage on your policy. This optional add-on pays for a rental (up to your policy’s limits) while your car is being repaired for a covered claim. In a busy city like Chicago, having rental coverage means you won’t be stranded – you can stay on the move without paying out-of-pocket for a temporary ride.
Get a Quote Today!
Insure on the Spot is Chicago’s local auto insurance expert, ready to help you protect your new car with the right coverage and add-ons. Get a quote today by calling 773-202-5060 or start your Free Quote Online Today! Drive with confidence knowing our team will find you quality coverage at an affordable price.