Car insurance rates have been on the rise nationwide, and this has also held true for the state of Illinois. With the recent legalization of marijuana in Illinois, state auto insurance rates are expected to rise once again, based on data from 4 other states that have already enacted marijuana legislation. That said, rates vary widely based on the insurer, city/county, age, driving history, type of vehicle, and even credit score. To get a clearer idea of how auto insurance works and how to find the cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois, let’s first take a look at how Illinois laws regulate drivers, their insurance, and their vehicles.
Car Insurance Laws for Illinois
According to the Illinois State Bar Association’s Auto Insurance Guide, drivers must abide by the following regulations:
- Illinois drivers must obtain liability insurance if they wish to own, register, or operate a vehicle in the state.
- Your liability insurance must cover no less than $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person, and no less than $50,000 for bodily injury or death per accident.
- Your liability insurance must also cover no less than $20,000 for damage to another person’s property.
- Illinois auto insurance policies must also provide minimum coverage for uninsured motorists (UM) and underinsured motorists (UIM). This insurance helps pay for your injuries in the event that another at-fault driver does not have sufficient insurance to cover the costs.
How Auto Insurance Rates are Determined in Illinois
As of the latest data, good drivers in Illinois pay an average of $1,462 annually for auto insurance, or about $122 per month. Rates vary by insurance provider, location, insurance type, and the level of coverage. However, these rates are also highly dependent on drivers. When an insurance provider is calculating your rates, they will look at the following factors:
- Location – Generally, if you live, commute, or work in an urban area (like Chicago, Aurora, or Rockford), your rates will be higher, as accidents are more prevalent in densely-populated regions. However, other location-based factors are important, too, like adverse weather conditions and reports of vandalism.
- Age – Statistically, younger drivers get in more accidents. This means that the younger you are, the more you will need to pay in insurance premiums. The average age in Illinois is 37, which is slightly lower than the national average.
- Gender – Men are more likely than women to get in accidents, so your gender could impact your auto rates as well.
- Marital Status – Typically, married couples take fewer risks than their single counterparts, and this holds true for driving. Married couples get in fewer accidents, and therefore pose a smaller risk for insurance providers.
- Driving Experience – While this metric is similar to age, it is still slightly different. Usually, the older you are, the longer you have been driving, but that is not always true. Nonetheless, people who have held a driver’s license for longer are more experienced, and therefore pay lower premiums.
- Driving Record – A driver’s record is one of the most important factors that insurance providers consider. If you have a history of frequent speeding tickets, DUIs, or other infractions, you will have to pay more. Illinois’ rate of traffic incidents is significantly lower than the national average, which is one of the primary reasons that auto insurance rates are relatively low.
- Claims Record – It is also important to consider how many claims you have made to insurance providers in the past (if any). At-fault claims will cause your premiums to rise, while not-at-fault collisions will generally have no impact on your rates.
- Credit History – Your credit is a good indicator of how financially responsible you are, but the research also shows that people with low credit tend to file more claims, making them a greater risk for insurance providers.
- Previous Insurance Coverage – If you have maintained auto insurance without any gaps, your new insurance provider will see this as a good sign. However, if you went for several years, months, or even days without any insurance, you will be seen as high-risk.
- Vehicle Type – Certain cars are driven differently, which means that certain cars are more prone to accidents. Some cars are also more prone to theft or vandalism.
- Use of Vehicle – When you exclusively use your vehicle for personal use, you are less likely to get in an accident. However, if you take long business trips or frequently drive for your work, you increase your chances of a collision.
- Annual Mileage – How much you drive directly impacts your chances of getting in an accident. No matter how you use your vehicle (personal or business use), if you put a lot of mileage on your car, you are more likely to file a claim with your insurance provider.
- Number of Policies – Finally, the type of insurance you want/need will help determine your rates. The more policies you have (liability, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, etc.), the more you will need to pay.
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for Illinois
When looking at rates across the entire state, there are 6 major insurance providers that consistently provide low rates for good drivers. Additionally, there are several other companies that provide low rates in certain cities and counties, but do not consistently provide low rates statewide. In any case, let’s take a look at some of the lowest auto insurance rates and best cheapest car insurance companies available in the state of Illinois:
| Provider | Annual Rate | Monthly Rate |
| American Family | $619 | $51 |
| Progressive | $830 | $69 |
| Geico | $981 | $81 |
| Travelers | $1,007 | $84 |
| Allstate | $1,283 | $107 |
| USAA* (only for active military/veterans/families) | $443 | $37 |
It is important to note that the table above shows the average rates for the minimum coverage required by the state of Illinois. For standard or “full coverage,” the rates are significantly higher:
| Provider | Annual Rate | Monthly Rate |
| American Family | $1,787 | $149 |
| Progressive | $1,881 | $156 |
| Geico | $2,316 | $193 |
| Travelers | $2,414 | $201 |
| Allstate | $4,002 | $333 |
| USAA* (only for active military/veterans/families) | $1,184 | $98 |
These are approximate rates based on statewide polling for 40 year old men and women with good driving records. Naturally, individual rates will vary. Additionally, insurers like Country Financial and Farmers Insurance provide low rates for certain areas. So, in order to get a better picture of auto insurance rates around the state, let’s look at how rates vary by city.
Best Illinois Car Insurance Rates by City
Aside from your driving history, your location is one of the most important factors when calculating the cost of your auto insurance. Population, crime rates, weather conditions, and cost of living can all affect the amount you pay each year. Individuals who live and work in rural areas typically have the lowest rates, however the majority of Illinois residents live in urban or suburban areas, where rates tend to increase.
The table below shows the average yearly auto insurance rates for 50 of the most populated cities in Illinois, in alphabetical order. These are approximate rates based on statewide polling for 40 year old men and women with good driving records. Additionally, this data is taken from all of the best car insurance companies in Illinois. Here is what the data shows:
| City | Average Yearly Rate |
| Aliquippa | $1,492 |
| Addison | $1,475 |
| Arlington Heights | $1,387 |
| Aurora | $1,365 |
| Bartlett | $1,511 |
| Belleville | $1,347 |
| Berwyn | $1,738 |
| Bloomington | $1,158 |
| Bolingbrook | $1,632 |
| Buffalo Grove | $1,536 |
| Calumet City | $1,876 |
| Carol Stream | $1,392 |
| Carpentersville | $1,384 |
| Champaign | $1,587 |
| Chicago | $1,740 |
| Cicero | $1,849 |
| Crystal Lake | $1,295 |
| Decatur | $1,312 |
| DeKalb | $1,131 |
| Des Plaines | $1,501 |
| Downers Grove | $1,293 |
| Elgin | $1,410 |
| Elmhurst | $1,331 |
| Evanston | $1,578 |
| Glenview | $1,656 |
| Hanover Park | $1,507 |
| Hoffman Estates | $1,457 |
| Joliet | $1,512 |
| Lombard | $1,311 |
| Moline | $1,129 |
| Mount Prospect | $1,408 |
| Naperville | $1,292 |
| Normal | $1,127 |
| Oak Lawn | $1,559 |
| Oak Park | $1,580 |
| Orland Park | $1,455 |
| Palatine | $1,405 |
| Park Ridge | $1,560 |
| Peoria | $1,307 |
| Plainfield | $1,467 |
| Quincy | $1,009 |
| Rock Island | $1,159 |
| Rockford | $1,399 |
| Romeoville | $1,469 |
| Schaumburg | $1,375 |
| Skokie | $1,723 |
| Springfield | $1,283 |
| Streamwood | $1,458 |
| Tinley Park | $1,425 |
| Urbana | $1,196 |
Now, let’s take a closer look at the top-5 largest cities in Illinois and compare their respective auto insurance rates:
Chicago
In Chicago, the average annual cost is $1,097 for minimum liability insurance and $1,740 for full auto coverage. However, as with most large cities, these prices can vary by district or neighborhood. For example, residents of Forest Glen and Lincoln Park will likely pay higher auto insurance premiums than residents of Hyde Park or Washington Heights. Chicago has the 10th worst traffic of major cities in the US, and harsh winter weather only increases the risk of collisions. Asa result, premiums tend to be highest in Illinois’ largest city.
Aurora
In Aurora, the average annual cost is $776 for minimum liability insurance and $1,365 for full auto coverage. As a suburb of Chicago, Aurora deals with similar weather conditions in the winter months. That said, the cost of living is significantly lower, which helps keep auto insurance relatively low compared to the state average. Additionally, Aurora does not bring in as much tourism as Chicago, which means that traffic is not as much of an issue.
Rockford
In Rockford, the average annual cost is $803 for minimum liability insurance and $1,399 for full auto coverage. According to accident report data, Rockford drivers are involved in collisions about once every 10 years, which is on par with the national average. This is a surprising statistic, considering that Rockford gets an average of 30 inches of snow every year. One factor that keeps premiums low is the high-quality of roads in the city, with only 3% of major roads considered to be in “poor” condition.
Joliet
In Joliet, the average annual cost is $827 for minimum liability insurance and $1,512 for full auto coverage. Joliet gets quite a bit of precipitation, with an annual average of 34 inches of rainfall and 23 inches of snow. Unfortunately, 67% of roads in the city are rated either “mediocre” or “poor,” which contributes to additional wear-and-tear on vehicles. So, while traffic is not as bad in Joliet as many other cities in the state, weather and road conditions contribute to higher premiums.
Naperville
In Naperville, the average annual cost is $736 for minimum liability insurance and $1,292 for full auto coverage. Naperville is another suburb of Chicago that sits between Aurora and Bolingbrook. Despite the high cost of living in this city, auto insurance rates are lower than the state average. While the city is known for its good drivers, weather conditions, poor road conditions, and heavy traffic are all major concerns.
As you can see, there are a lot of variables that affect the cost of auto insurance in Illinois. Additionally, the figures provided above are averages based on adults with good driving records, so the exact rates you pay may differ. Nonetheless, we hope that this information helps you when you’re ready to obtain a new policy, or upgrade your current one with one of the best car insurance companies in Illinois. If you’d like to learn more about acquiring auto insurance in your state, consult some of our other auto insurance guides, and if you’re looking for more information about Illinois auto insurance, consult the Illinois Department of Insurance today!
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