Find the Best Car Insurance Quotes & Options in Illinois
The average cost of car insurance in Illinois is just $1,079 per year, which is cheaper than the current national average of $1,311 per year. Resident drivers in Illinois benefit from car insurance savings, which means there's no reason not to get equipped with all the coverage you need. Though the state has its own minimum insurance requirements, it's often wise to consider adding extra coverages to your policy just in case.
An independent insurance agent can help you get equipped with the right car insurance policy for you and your specific needs. But first, let's take a more in-depth look at car insurance in Illinois.
Best Car Insurance Companies in Illinois
You can find car insurance from many different insurance companies in Illinois, but it's worth skipping to the best companies right away. We've gone ahead and compiled a list of a handful of the best car insurance companies in Illinois for your convenience. Start with these great picks for car insurance in your state.
- Best Illinois car insurance company overall: Travelers
- Best Illinois car insurance company for minimum liability: Erie
- Best Illinois car insurance company for full coverage: Travelers
- Best Illinois car insurance company for young drivers: Progressive
- Best Illinois car insurance company for accident history: Erie
An Illinois independent insurance agent can help you determine if any of these carriers offer the car insurance policy you need most for your vehicle.
Best Illinois Car Insurance Company Overall: Travelers
Our pick for the best car insurance company in Illinois gets awarded to Travelers. Travelers offers auto insurance along with many other personal product options. With its extensive history of outstanding financial strength and customer feedback combined with many discounts and 24/7 claims reporting, Travelers is not to be overlooked.
Travelers was originally founded in 1853, and today the carrier is one of the oldest in the US. Currently, Travelers has about 30,000 employees, according to its official website. The insurance company primarily sells insurance through independent insurance agents. Travelers' independent agent network has about 13,500 agents total across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Travelers’ extensive history and reach led to the carrier's reputation as a reliable, stable company. AM Best, the leading global credit rating agency monitoring the insurance industry, gives Travelers the highest possible rating of "A++," indicating that it's one of the top insurance companies around today.
| Average Monthly Car Insurance Cost | Average Annual Car Insurance Cost |
| Full Coverage: $106 | Full Coverage: $1,275 |
| Minimum Coverage: $40 | Minimum Coverage: $485 |
Best Illinois Car Insurance Company for Minimum Liability: Erie
Our pick for the best car insurance company for minimum liability coverage goes to Erie Insurance. The carrier offers super affordable minimum coverage policies starting at just $459 per year. On top of that, Erie offers numerous discounts for even minimum coverage auto policies, including bundling discounts, full payment discounts, and anti-theft discounts.
Founded in 1925 under the name Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie has been around in the industry for nearly a century. Today, the carrier has more than 5,000 employees. Further, according to its official website, Erie has more than five million insurance policies in force today.
By 2020, Erie had earned several impressive titles, including the 12th largest auto insurer in the US, the 11th largest home insurer in the US, and the 12th largest business insurer in the US. The carrier has also been a Fortune 500 company since 2003.
The carrier's massive reach and size have guided Erie's reputation as a respected, financially stable carrier with a strong outlook for the future. AM Best gives Erie an “A+” rating, indicating the carrier is a superior choice for insurance customers.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Minimum Coverage | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Minimum Coverage |
| $38 | $459 |
Best Illinois Car Insurance Company for Full Coverage: Travelers
Our pick for the best Illinois car insurance company for full coverage goes to Travelers. Thanks to Travelers' extremely affordable full-coverage auto insurance policies that include all the coverage drivers need most, awarding this carrier a second mention on our top list is a no-brainer. In fact, Travelers lets you bundle all the car insurance you need for under $100 per month.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Full Coverage | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Full Coverage |
| $92 | $1,008 |
Best Illinois Car Insurance Company for Young Drivers: Progressive
Our top pick for the best car insurance company in Illinois for young drivers goes to Progressive. The insurance company also has a high financial strength rating, 24/7/365 customer service, and many auto insurance discounts, including those for distant students and good students. Progressive also offers the most affordable car insurance policy options, starting at $2,212 per year.
Progressive was founded in 1937, giving them many decades of experience under its belt. Progressive was the first insurance company to allow consumers to pay policy premiums in installments, which was groundbreaking for the insurance industry.
Thanks in part to the insurance company's original mission, which was to become the number one choice for auto insurance with both consumers and agents, Progressive is able to be awarded our top spot in this category today. A rich history and a huge selection of other products have also led to Progressive developing a reputation as a stable insurance company with a positive outlook for the future.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Young Drivers | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Young Drivers |
| $184 | $2,212 |
Best Illinois Car Insurance Company for Accident History: Erie
Earning a spot on our list once again is Erie, our pick for the best Illinois car insurance company for accident history. Erie offers policies to drivers with poor driving records, including accident histories, starting at just $1,319 per year. The carrier also offers accident forgiveness as well as better car replacement coverage and rental car reimbursement.
| Average Monthly Insurance Cost: Drivers with Poor Records | Average Annual Insurance Cost: Drivers with Poor Records |
| $110 | $1,319 |
Illinois Car Insurance Requirements
Every state has its own unique requirements for the minimum car insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. Before you hit the road in Illinois, you must be equipped with a car insurance policy that at least includes these state-required coverages. Failure to purchase these coverages can result in fines or worse penalties. Here's what Illinois requires by state law:
- Bodily injury liability: In Illinois, this coverage is required in amounts of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. This coverage can pay for the costs of medical treatment to another driver and their passengers after an accident you're at fault for.
- Property damage liability: In Illinois, this coverage is required in the amount of $20,000 per accident. This coverage can pay for the costs of repairs to a third party's personal property, like a vehicle or other things like fences, etc., if you damage them with your car.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: In Illinois, this coverage is required in amounts of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. This coverage can help cover your own costs after an accident caused by another driver who lacks any or adequate car insurance of their own to reimburse you.
Optional car insurance coverages in Illinois include:
- Comprehensive: This coverage can pay for costs caused by threats other than collision, including incidents with large animals, windshield breaks, and more.
- Collision: Pays for damage to your car from a collision with another driver, regardless of fault.
- Gap coverage: This coverage can pay the difference between what your vehicle is worth and what you owe on your remaining vehicle loan after a collision.
- Medical payments: This coverage can pay for the treatment of your own injuries or injuries to your passengers after an accident you're at fault for.
- Roadside assistance: This coverage can pay for the costs of towing, etc. if you break down on the side of the road.
- Rental car reimbursement: This coverage can pay for the cost of a rental car after a covered accident.
An Illinois independent insurance agent can help you decide which coverages would be most beneficial for you to add to your car insurance policy.
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Average Cost of Car Insurance in Illinois
The average cost of car insurance in Illinois is $1,079 annually. The overall US average for car insurance is $1,311 per year. Illinois ranks #39 overall for all states' car insurance rates. Of course, your car insurance costs will vary depending on the coverages you select, the insurance company you choose, and more. A policy with only minimum coverage can cost an average of just $475 per year in Illinois, while a policy offering "full coverage" can cost an average of $1,533 annually.
Average Illinois Car Insurance Costs By City
Not only do car insurance rates vary by state, but also by specific city. Factors that can lead to higher car insurance rates in a city can include local crime rates, car values, traffic rates, risk of severe weather, and more. In Illinois, resident drivers in the city of Naperville pay the lowest car insurance rates, on average, for the whole state, at just $750 per year. On the contrary, resident drivers in the city of Carbondale pay an average of $1,008 for car insurance each year, which is the highest average for the state.
Finding Car Insurance Discounts in Illinois
Though resident drivers in Illinois already enjoy cheaper average premiums than most of the rest of the nation, there are still ways to further reduce your costs. Here are just a few common car insurance discounts available in Illinois.
- Student driver discounts: If your household has a student driver on your car insurance policy, you may be able to score a discount on your premiums.
- Safe driver discounts: If you've got a clean track record with no accidents or traffic violations over the past few years, you may be rewarded with a nice coverage discount.
- Anti-theft devices: If your car comes equipped with anti-theft devices that add to its security, such as an alarm, you may earn a discount on your premiums.
- Military discounts: If you're an active or even retired military member, you may receive a discount on your car insurance premiums.
- Paperless billing: If you sign up for paperless billing statements, your insurance company may offer you a nice discount on your coverage.
- Other discounts: If you belong to a certain organization such as a union, group, or the government, or are a teacher, you may earn an additional discount on your car insurance premiums.
Your Illinois independent insurance agent can help you find all the discounts you qualify for on auto insurance.
How to Find the Best Car Insurance Quote in Illinois
Finding the best car insurance quote in Illinois can require a bit of research if you decide to embark on this journey by yourself. However, you can easily enlist the help of an Illinois independent insurance agent to do this work for you. Independent insurance agents in Illinois take on the task of comparing rates from several different insurance companies for you, and they'll provide the results together in one place. From there, you can make an informed decision about which carrier offers the best blend of coverage and cost for you.
How to File a Car Insurance Claim in Illinois
Filing a car insurance claim in Illinois may be stressful for numerous reasons, but it doesn't have to be difficult. Just follow these five easy steps to make it happen:
- File a police report: Many states require you to file a police report immediately or from the scene of a car accident. Be sure not to skip this step if you were involved in a collision.
- Tend to any injuries: After filing a police report (if necessary), get any injured individuals the medical treatment they require right away.
- Call your independent insurance agent: Your independent insurance agent can help contact your car insurance company and even file the claim for you.
- Get a rental vehicle: Your agent can provide you with your claim number to keep track of the claim's status, and they can also help you arrange to get a rental vehicle if you need one.
- Schedule a visit with an adjuster: Your agent may also be able to help you with this step while filing the claim for you, but most likely, you'll need to schedule a visit with an insurance adjuster to assess the damage to your vehicle.
If you have any questions about the car insurance claims process and what you can expect, your Illinois independent insurance agent can help answer them for you and walk you through the process.
How does your city measure up to the national average?
National average time spent commuting 26.9 Min
National average car thefts per 1,000 2.3 Year
National average car insurance cost $1,311 Year
| City | Commute time (min) | Auto thefts / 1,000 | Annual insurance cost |
| Aurora | 29.2 | 0.61 | $816 |
| Bloomington | 15.8 | 0.95 | $858 |
| Carbondale | 15 | 1.59 | $1,008 |
| Chicago | 35.1 | 3.36 | $936 |
| Decatur | 16.5 | 1.28 | $960 |
| Evanston | 30.8 | 0.74 | $876 |
| Joliet | 30.7 | 0.92 | $810 |
| Mount Vernon | 15 | 1.42 | $984 |
| Naperville | 34.2 | 0.26 | $750 |
| Orland | 35.1 | 0.44 | $858 |
| Peoria | 17 | 3.99 | $948 |
| Rockford | 21.3 | 2.67 | $876 |
| Schaumburg | 30.3 | 0.89 | $756 |
| Springfield | 17.7 | 2.32 | $918 |
| Tinley | 33.6 | 0.8 | $846 |
Popular Questions about Illinois Car Insurance
The average cost of car insurance in Illinois is $1,079 per year, or about $89.92 per month.
What your Illinois car insurance policy covers depends on the coverages you add to your policy. While the state requires minimum coverages of bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage, you may choose to add extras like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and more. Ask your Illinois independent insurance agent for advice when assembling your car insurance policy.
Illinois requires the following coverages for all drivers by state law:
- $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
- $20,000 in property damage liability coverage
- $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist coverage
Currently, about 13.7% of Illinois drivers are uninsured. This is slightly higher than the national average of 13%.
Illinois requires all resident drivers to carry at least the minimum amounts dictated by the state for property damage liability coverage, bodily injury liability coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage.
In Illinois, many car insurance companies offer several discounts on car insurance. These can include:
- Safe driver discounts: If you've got a clean track record with no accidents or traffic violations over the past few years, you may be rewarded with a nice coverage discount.
- Anti-theft devices: If your car comes equipped with anti-theft devices that add to its security, such as an alarm, you may earn a discount on your premiums.
- Military discounts: If you're an active or even retired military member, you may receive a discount on your car insurance premiums.
- Paperless billing: If you sign up for paperless billing statements, your insurance company may offer you a nice discount on your coverage.
Note that discount options will vary by the specific carrier.
Auto insurance follows the car in Illinois, meaning that other drivers listed on the insurance policy can still be covered after a collision. So if you loan your car to another family member that's listed on your car insurance policy, it's still covered after an accident. But if you decide to loan your car to a friend who's not listed on the policy and they cause an accident, you'll probably be responsible for paying the costs out of your own pocket.
The state penalty for not having car insurance in Illinois can include a suspension of your driver's license for three months, a fine of $500 (minimum, up to a maximum of $1,000), and a reinstatement fee of $100, along with any court costs.
No, Illinois is not a no-fault state for car insurance. Illinois is in fact an at-fault or tort state, meaning drivers are held responsible for paying the cost of an accident they're at fault for, including covering injury treatments to the other driver and their passengers.