Giannoulias & Local Elected Officials to Conduct South Side Town Hall Meeting to Combat High Car Insurance Rates
Giannoulias & Local Elected Officials to Conduct South Side
Town Hall Meeting to Combat High Car Insurance Rates
Skyrocketing Costs Unfairly Impacting Communities of Color
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is inviting South Side residents to attend at a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, August 20, at Bright Star Church in Bronzeville, to discuss the skyrocketing cost of auto insurance.
Joining Giannoulias at the Town Hall meeting are State Sens. Mattie Hunter (3rd District – Chicago) and Elgie R. Sims Jr. (17th District – Chicago), State Rep. Kimberly du Buclet (5th District) and Alderperson Pat Dowell (3rd Ward).
The Town Hall meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, at Bright Star Church, 735 E. 44th St. Visit actionnetwork.org/events/drivingchange-southside/ to RSVP.
Giannoulias’ office recently launched a statewide advocacy campaign – “Driving Change” – aimed at preventing insurance companies from using socio-economic data – such as credit scores, zip codes and age – to unfairly charge Illinoisans higher auto insurance rates. As a result, drivers from disadvantaged neighborhoods and communities of color disproportionately suffer.
The event is the first in a series of Town Hall meetings that the Secretary of State is conducting during the next several weeks to gather feedback from Illinoisans that will help inform state legislation to be filed in General Assembly.
Giannoulias is seeking to hear first-hand from residents who have experienced spikes in their auto insurance rates because of reasons that have nothing to do with their driving record, such as a recent move, a poor credit score or advanced age.
“As Secretary of State, I strongly believe that an individual’s driving record should serve as the primary factor that’s analyzed when setting auto insurance rates,” Giannoulias said. “Insurance companies need to implement a ratemaking process that’s fair and transparent. The current system results in fewer Illinoisans being able to afford insurance and fewer opting to pay for it, making our roads less safe for everyone.”
In addition, Giannoulias has launched a website – www.ilsos.gov/drivingchange – enabling Illinoisans to learn more about the issue and easily share their stories about unfair and discriminatory ratemaking practices by insurance companies. The site also allows users to email their state representative and senator and urge them to support reforming the current system.
The Secretary of State’s office has announced additional Town Hall meetings across the state, including:
- August 26 – South Suburbs/Matteson
- September 3 – Metro East
- September 17 – Champaign
- September 22 – Chicago, West Side
- September 24 – Peoria
- October 1 – Rockford
- October 15 – Springfield
Locations and times of the town halls will be posted on www.ilsos.gov/drivingchange.
Illinois-focused studies have revealed ratemaking inequities and disparities, including insurers on average increasing rates on senior drivers and charging consumers with a safe driving record and poor credit hundreds of dollars more than someone with a DUI conviction and excellent credit.
The launch of the campaign comes as insurance rates for both homes and automobiles are skyrocketing. According to Insurify, Illinois auto insurance rates increased 18% in 2024 and are projected to increase another 4% in 2025, bringing the projected annual cost of full coverage to $2,050. Meanwhile, new tariffs are expected to cause auto parts to climb and result in insurance rates soaring even higher.
Along with factors like credit reports, address and age, insurance companies are using third-party site data from sources like social media and common cell phone apps, which can be used in a discriminatory way to unfairly determine rates.
Like most states, Illinois requires every vehicle owner to buy insurance, but it is one of only two states – along with Wyoming – that doesn’t require prior rate review to protect insurance customers from excessive or unfair rates.
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