On August 28, 1990, an F5 tornado tore through Plainfield. Twenty-nine people died, Plainfield High School was destroyed and more than 1,100 homes were damaged or wiped from their foundations. It remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in Illinois history, and it is still part of how insurers look at wind and hail risk in this corridor.
Plainfield in 2026 is a very different town. The population has grown from about 4,500 residents in 1990 to nearly 45,000 in 2020, and median household incomes north of $130,000 reflect a community that has become one of the most desirable suburbs southwest of Chicago. Hicks Insurance Group writes Plainfield families’ and businesses’ insurance with that history in mind: not out of fear, but because replacement-cost coverage, wind/hail deductible math and an independent agent who picks up the phone matter more here than in most Illinois towns.
We’re an independent agency working with 14+ top-rated carriers from our Mokena, IL home office, and we have been writing Illinois policies since 1998. Plainfield sits squarely in our footprint. Call (708) 532-7474 or email plservice@hicksinsurance.com to talk with an agent.
Independent insurance for Plainfield
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A Plainfield homeowners policy needs a few things that many other Illinois towns can treat as optional. Most of the housing here was built between 1995 and 2015, which is generally favorable for a standard policy, but rebuild costs, wind deductibles and flood exposure deserve a close look.
These are the layers we review on every Plainfield homeowners insurance policy.
| Coverage layer | What it covers | Plainfield-specific consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement cost (not ACV) | Cost to rebuild today with current materials and labor | Critical here. Many neighborhoods were rebuilt after 1990, and replacement costs have moved with post-2020 lumber and labor inflation. Actual cash value deducts depreciation. |
| Wind/hail with a flat deductible | Tornado, microburst and hail damage | Some carriers default to a 2% dwelling deductible. On a $400K home that’s $8,000 out of pocket. We push for a $2,500–$5,000 flat deductible where carriers allow. |
| NFIP flood | River, surface and rainfall flooding | Properties near the DuPage River have real exposure. |
| HO-3 standard | Fire, theft, internal water, liability | The baseline every home needs. |
| Equipment breakdown | HVAC, well pump, electrical | Worthwhile for 1995–2015 subdivision homes where original equipment is reaching replacement age. |
| Personal liability | Injuries on your property, dog bites, legal defense | $500K minimum, $1M better. Higher household incomes raise the stakes. |
Whether your insurance pays to rebuild a Plainfield home destroyed by a tornado depends on two things: whether you have replacement cost or actual cash value coverage, and whether your dwelling limit reflects current rebuild costs. We audit both on every Plainfield homeowners review.
The DuPage River runs through the village center, and standard homeowners policies exclude flood. If your home is near the river, a separate flood insurance policy through the NFIP is recommended. Outside the river corridor, it is still worth asking about water/sewer backup coverage for finished basements.
Related:Homeowners Insurance Homeowners FAQ What is the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost? How much homeowners insurance do I need?
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The Illinois state minimum is 25/50/20. We don’t recommend it for any Plainfield driver, and especially not for those commuting on I-55 or Illinois Route 59, where heavy traffic and multi-vehicle incidents are part of daily driving.
Here is how the state minimum compares with what we recommend for most Plainfield households.
| Coverage | IL minimum | What we recommend for Plainfield | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury per person | $25K | $100K–$250K | A hospital admission can use up $25K quickly |
| Bodily injury per accident | $50K | $300K–$500K | Multi-vehicle I-55 incidents stack up fast |
| Property damage | $20K | $100K | Totaling one newer vehicle can exceed the $20K minimum |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Matching liability | Matching liability | Protects you when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance |
| Comprehensive | Optional | $250–$500 deductible | Hail (a real risk here), theft and animal strikes |
| Collision | Optional | $500–$1,000 deductible | Required if the vehicle is financed |
Auto premiums vary widely. Driving record, vehicle, household structure and credit-based insurance score all matter, so the only reliable answer is a quote. Because we compare 14+ carriers, we can often find a better combination of price and coverage than a single captive agency can offer, and pairing auto with home through a bundle policy can lower the total. Rates vary, and this is not a quote. See our auto insurance page for coverage details.
Related:Auto Insurance Auto FAQ Why is insurance more expensive for young drivers? Can I bundle my home and auto insurance for savings?
Plainfield’s growth has produced a healthy commercial base: restaurants and shops in the historic Lockport Street district, professional services that scaled with the population, busy construction trades and a steady stream of new businesses along US-30 and the Route 59 corridor. Our commercial insurance team matches coverage to how each business actually operates.
These are the coverages we most often place for each type of Plainfield business.
| Industry | Most-relevant Hicks coverage |
|---|---|
| Historic-district restaurants and retail | General Liability, Restaurants & Bars, and commercial property with historic-building considerations |
| Construction and trades | Contractors Insurance, Performance Bonds, Workers’ Comp |
| Professional services and home offices | Business owner’s policy, Cyber Insurance, Employment Practices |
| Fleets, delivery and commercial drivers | Commercial Auto |
| Hospitality and hotels | Hotel Insurance |
Illinois requires workers’ compensation for any business with at least one employee, with very narrow exceptions. That includes a single part-time employee, so even the smallest Plainfield shop or contractor should have a policy in place before the first hire starts work.
Related:Commercial Insurance Business FAQ What happens if I don’t have workers’ compensation insurance? What does general liability insurance cover?
Get a Plainfield Business Quote →
With a median household income around $131,000 and significant home equity, Plainfield households have more to protect than the Illinois average. Liability and umbrella insurance coverage matter accordingly.
Consider umbrella coverage once your assets exceed about $250K: a paid-off home, retirement accounts, college funds or business interests. Teen drivers, a pool or a dog raise the odds of a claim that outruns your underlying limits.
Related:Umbrella Insurance Insurance FAQs How much liability coverage do I really need? Do I need umbrella insurance if I already have home and auto coverage?
Get a Plainfield Umbrella Quote →
Many Plainfield clients come to us after the same moment: they file a claim with a captive agency, get the call-center treatment and realize there’s no real agent on their side.
That’s not how we work. When a Plainfield client calls Hicks, the same person picks up. We’ve been writing Will County and Kendall County policies since 1998. The agent on your file knows your household, your business, which county your property sits in and your prior renewals. When something goes sideways, we call the carrier on your behalf and stay on it until the claim is resolved.
That’s the difference between an independent agency and a captive one. We work for you, not the carrier. We can re-shop your policy across 14+ top-rated carriers when rates rise, and we don’t disappear at renewal. Clients rate us 5.0 across 1,400+ Google reviews.
“Worked with Lanie Hicks who was very responsive throughout the process and helped us find the lowest quote possible! Easy to communicate and made the process very easy.”— Federica M., Google review
Learn more:About Hicks Our Team Carriers and Partners Client Testimonials
Answers to the questions Plainfield residents ask us most. For claims questions, see our insurance claims FAQ, and for life coverage, the life insurance FAQ.
A few facts about Plainfield shape how we insure homes, cars and businesses here.
Counties: Plainfield spans Will County and Kendall County.
Population: About 4,500 residents in 1990, growing to nearly 45,000 by 2020.
Median household income: $131,241, well above the Illinois state median.
Housing: Mostly 1995–2015 construction, with older homes near the historic downtown.
Waterway: The DuPage River flows through the village center.
Historic downtown: Lockport Street includes older commercial buildings that may need specialty replacement-cost coverage.
Schools: Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 is one of the area’s largest employers.
Commuting: I-55 and IL Route 59 are the main commuter routes, and Pace bus service runs to Chicago on weekday rush hours.
The 1990 tornado and your deductible
The 1990 F5 tornado still informs how carriers look at wind risk in Will County, and wind/hail deductibles can run higher here than in other corridors. Check whether yours is a flat amount or a percentage of your dwelling limit.
Plainfield-Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
The Plainfield-Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce connects local member businesses in Plainfield and Shorewood through networking, events and advocacy. It is based at 24109 W Lockport St, Plainfield, IL 60544, (815) 436-4431. Learn more at psacc.org.
We serve Plainfield’s neighbors across Will, Kendall, DuPage and Cook Counties from our Mokena insurance office.
Mokena Frankfort Manhattan New Lenox Homer Glen Bolingbrook Lockport Shorewood Channahon Minooka
Lemont Orland Park Tinley Park Oak Lawn Palos Park Palos Hills Chicago Orland Hills
Hicks is also licensed in Arizona and serves Maricopa County clients from our Tempe, AZ office.
Pick the quote path that matches what you need today. We’ll compare options across our carriers and explain the differences before you decide.
Prefer to talk it through? Contact Hicks or call (708) 532-7474. Existing clients can use the client login, and our blog covers more insurance topics.
Plainfield insurance from an independent agency: 14+ carriers, 5.0 across 1,400+ Google reviews, since 1998.
Give us a call today and we can help.
What makes our independent insurance agency so wonderful is not our extensive experience or our network of top carriers. It is you. It is the relationship we get to build with you and the trust you place in us.
We want to ensure we deserve your loyalty and trust, which is why we build our agency on the three principles listed below.
We work diligently to find the very best coverage and risk management options for you and your specific needs.
We are only as good as our word. We're committed to advocating for and living up to the highest of moral and ethical standards.
We want to be your insurance partner for as long as you need coverage. We will stand by your side at all times, and are available when you need us.
If you are new to Hicks Insurance, you probably have some questions. Let's help you get some answers.
If you cause an accident, be prepared to pay your deductible. After you’ve done that, your insurance company should pay the remaining costs, including damages or medical expenses you caused to other parties involved.
Your business insurance needs are as unique as your business itself. While all businesses need certain types of coverage—general liability, business property, and workers’ compensation, for example—your other needs hinge on your type of business. If, for example, you use vehicles in your line of work, you need business auto insurance. Similarly, businesses that manufacture a product should consider product liability insurance. Talk to your agent to determine your exact needs.
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