To help you find those low premiums, we at the Home Media reviews team took a deep dive into the best car insurance companies, including both national and local providers, that serve Illinois drivers. We evaluated them on their coverage and reputation in addition to their rates in the Prairie State.
Cheapest Auto Insurance in Illinois
Because insurance coverage rates are cheaper in Illinois than the national average, you have a great chance at finding good car insurance in Illinois at excellent rates. Here, we’ll look at the cheapest car insurance companies and coverage options in the state.
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Illinois
After thorough research and review, our team named State Farm as the top choice for cheap car insurance in Illinois. Country Financial, Geico, Progressive and USAA are also smart choices for Illinois drivers looking for quality coverage options at affordable rates.
*Our research team considers nationwide factors when rating providers. The ranking order of providers in this table is specific to car insurance in Illinois.
Cheapest Car Insurance Coverage in Illinois
Coverage level has a major impact on rates. Many quotes from providers include estimates for minimum liability and full coverage car insurance. While only minimum liability coverage is required in Illinois, it’s a good idea for drivers to consider full coverage auto insurance.
Below are the cheapest auto insurance options in Illinois for both coverage types.
Cheapest Liability Car Insurance in Illinois
For a 35-year-old driver, the average estimate for an Illinois-state minimum policy is around $527 per year, or $44 per month. This is roughly 17% cheaper than the national average rate of around $635 per year. The table below shows the cheapest rate estimates in our study for a state minimum policy in Illinois.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Illinois
With typical rates below the national average, the cheapest car insurance in Illinois may be among some of the cheapest in the country. We found estimates as low as $994 per year for full coverage. The table below shows the providers that typically offer the lowest estimates on these policies in Illinois.
*These rate estimates are based on the profile of a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and a good credit score.
Cheap Car Insurance Illinois
Age and driving history have a large impact on how much you will pay for car insurance in Illinois. In the sections below, we’ll compare the cheapest auto insurance providers for drivers that fall under certain categories.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Illinois
Drivers in their teens and early 20s can pay much more than older drivers for car insurance. Below we go over how much you could pay at different ages.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for 16-Year-Olds
Country Financial tends to offer the cheapest insurance estimate for a 16-year-old driver in Illinois with an average estimate of $2,939 per year, or $245 per month. The average rate estimate in Illinois for a 16-year-old is $6,168 per year, or $514 per month. This is around 339% higher than the average estimate for 35-year-old drivers in Illinois.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for 17-Year-Olds
At $2,534 per year, or $211 per month, Country Financial tends to offer the cheapest insurance estimate for a 17-year-old driver in Illinois. The average rate estimate in Illinois for a 17-year-old is $4,634 per year, or $386 per month. This is around 230% higher than the average estimate for 35-year-old drivers in the state.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for 18-Year-Olds
Country Financial tends to offer the cheapest car insurance in Illinois for 18-year-old drivers with an average estimate of $2,224 per year, or $185 per month. The average rate estimate for 18-year-old drivers in Illinois is $4,061 per year, or $338 per month. This figure is around 189% higher than the average estimate for 35-year-old Illinois drivers.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for 21-Year-Olds
A 21-year-old driver in Illinois may find the cheapest car insurance with Geico, at an estimated $1,453 per year, or $121 per month. In Illinois, the average rate estimate for a 21-year-old driver is $2,336 per year, or $195 per month. This rate is 66% higher than the average rate for 35-year-old drivers in the state.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for 25-Year-Olds
Geico tends to offer the cheapest car insurance for 25-year-old Illinois drivers at an estimated cost of $1,116 per year, or $93 per month. The average rate estimate for 25-year-old Illinois drivers is $1,588 per year, or $132 per month. That’s 13% higher than the average estimate for a 35-year-old driver in Illinois.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for High-risk Drivers
Your age is one of the most significant factors that determines your car insurance premiums, but it isn’t the only one. Other factors related to your driving and credit histories can also influence your rates.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for Drivers With a Speeding Ticket
Even good drivers can get a speeding ticket. For Illinois drivers with a speeding ticket in their recent driving history, Erie Insurance tends to offer the most affordable coverage, with an average annual cost of $1,316.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for Drivers With a Recent Accident
The cost of insurance increases when you’ve been in a car accident. For those with a recent at-fault accident on their driving record, State Farm usually offers the cheapest rates, with an average annual estimate of $1,523.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for Drivers With a DUI
Illinois drivers with recent DUIs pay an average of $2,280 per year for full coverage. While DUI drivers across the nation can definitely expect higher-than average premiums, that doesn’t mean there aren’t companies with fair prices, such as Progressive, which has an annual average cost of $1,325 for full coverage.
Cheapest Illinois Car Insurance for Drivers With Poor Credit
A poor credit score can exponentially increase the cost of car insurance in Illinois. Country Financial offered the lowest rate estimate in our study with an estimated annual cost of $1,497. Check out the cheapest providers in the state for those with poor credit scores below.
Best Cheap Car Insurance in Illinois
For those who would like to know about the cheapest auto insurance in Illinois, the sections below contain more detailed information:
#1 State Farm: Editor’s Choice
As the largest insurer in the U.S., State Farm is our review team’s choice for the best auto insurance provider in Illinois. The company has been providing high-quality insurance products since 1922 and is known for its reliability. State Farm holds an A++ rating for financial strength from AM Best, highlighting its dependability when it comes to paying out claims.
Our review team awards State Farm the Editor’s Choice designation in our 2022 industry-wide review of the best auto insurance companies. The insurer is an especially good choice for students and teens as it offers savings opportunities and driving programs tailored to young drivers.
Keep reading: State Farm insurance review
#2 Country Financial: Great Local Coverage
Founded in 1925, Country Financial has nearly a century of experience in the insurance industry. The company has a dedicated team of 3,000 employees and 2,000 representatives that operate in 19 states, including Illinois. Country Financial holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best.
Country Financial consistently offers some of the cheapest rates on average for Illinois drivers — those with a speeding ticket or a poor credit score in particular. The provider also offers a range of car insurance discounts, including multi-car and multi-policy discounts, a good driver discount and a defensive driver discount.
#3 Geico: Affordable for Most Drivers
Geico is one of our review team’s highest-rated providers in the nation with a rating of 9.2 out of 10.0. It’s the second-largest insurance company in the U.S. and is known for offering low rates nationwide. In the state of Illinois, Geico is a great option for affordable car insurance for good drivers and young drivers in particular.
Although Geico doesn’t provide gap insurance, it does offer accident forgiveness, motorcycle insurance and usage-based insurance. This provider was granted the highest possible ratings from both AM Best and the BBB, with an A++ for financial strength from AM Best and an A+ rating from the BBB.
Keep reading: Geico insurance review
Compare: State Farm vs. Geico
#4 Progressive: Low Rates for High-risk Drivers
Progressive is one of the most recognizable names in the industry and has been providing high-quality insurance products since 1937. Our review team recognized Progressive with the Low Rates for High-risk Drivers title in our 2022 industry review. It offers some of the most affordable rates for car insurance in Illinois for good drivers and those with a recent speeding ticket or car accident on their record.
Progressive holds an F rating from the BBB, however it has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best. It’s also a smart option for those looking to save on their auto insurance due to its range of discounts, which include multi-vehicle discounts, bundling discounts and savings for students and new drivers.
Keep reading: Progressive insurance review
Compare: Geico vs. Progressive
#5 USAA: Low Rates for Military
Exclusive to military members, veterans and their families, USAA is a great option for those who qualify. The provider holds an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best as well as an A- rating from the BBB, and it frequently receives the highest score in J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings.
In our 2022 industry review, our team gave USAA the Low Rates for Military award. Unsurprisingly, USAA is the number one provider for the military, with discounts and benefits tailored to military members. USAA also offers usage-based insurance, gap insurance and accident forgiveness.
Keep reading: USAA insurance review
Compare: USAA vs. Geico
Average Car Insurance Cost Illinois
According to our rate estimates, full car insurance coverage costs an average of approximately $1,347 per year or $112 per month in the state of Illinois. This is based on the profile of a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit. Compared to the national average of $1,730 per year, Illinois drivers pay about 22% less.
Illinois Car Insurance Cost by Age
Your age is one of the biggest factors in your insurance premiums. In general, younger drivers pay much higher premiums than drivers from other age groups, with teen drivers paying the highest rates on average. The table below shows the average rate estimates for different ages of Illinois drivers.
As you can see from the chart above, younger drivers in Illinois will pay much more for car insurance than older drivers.
Cost of Illinois Car Insurance by City
Car insurance rates vary from state to state, but they also vary within states due to different risk factors. The following table shows the average estimated rates for the 25 biggest cities and towns in Illinois.
As you can see from the table above, someone who lives in a big city like Chicago will pay a higher car insurance rate than someone from a smaller town in Illinois.
Insurance Rate Cost Factors in Illinois
Your rates will most likely vary from the ones you see listed in the tables. Insurance companies use a number of different variables to calculate your premiums.
Age, credit scores and driving records can have serious effects on car insurance, as noted. Here are some other important factors that influence your Illinois car insurance rates.
- Gender on driver’s license: Female drivers often pay lower rates than male drivers at certain ages (usually teens and early 20s).
- Marital status: Married drivers often get lower rates by insurers because they’re more likely to use combined incomes to buy homes and bundle policies.
- Location: Urban areas with large populations (like Chicago) often have higher theft and car crash rates, so insurance premiums are often higher in these areas.
- Discount choices: Drivers can often save a lot on premiums by taking advantage of their providers’ discounts.
- Deductible choice: Drivers who choose higher deductibles will get lower premiums, but will have to pay more out of pocket if they get into an accident.
Illinois Car Insurance Requirements
Most states have their own required coverage limits that all drivers must meet to drive legally. According to the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI), drivers in the state must meet the following minimum coverage requirements:
Illinois state law does not require drivers to carry collision coverage, comprehensive coverage or medical payments coverage, but these coverages are recommended to ensure you and your vehicle are protected in a number of situations.
How To Get Car Insurance in Illinois
Following in-depth research and thorough review, our review team found State Farm to be the top choice for those looking for cheap car insurance in Illinois. Other top insurance providers in the state of Illinois include Country Financial, Geico, Progressive and USAA.
To get started, we recommend comparing car insurance quotes online from top-rated providers. You can also reach out to companies by phone to find out how much you’d pay with each provider. Using an auto insurance agent or broker can be a smart choice if you’re looking for more personalized service, as well.
Illinois Car Insurance: Conclusion
In this article, we reviewed the cheapest auto insurance companies, coverage and rates in the state of Illinois. We also looked at the average cost of car insurance and coverage requirements in the Land of Lincoln.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Illinois: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about cheap car insurance in Illinois:
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost (30% of total score): Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation (15% of total score): Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability (10% of total score): Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer Experience (15% of total score): This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
*Data accurate at time of publication.