WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
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The average cost of basic liability car insurance in Illinois is $1,820 per year. Opting for full-coverage car insurance in Illinois will leave you with an average cost of $2,425 per year. In comparison, the national average is $1,627 per year to buy basic liability car insurance and $2,297 per year to buy full-coverage car insurance.
The average cost of basic liability car insurance in Illinois is $1,820 per year. Opting for full-coverage car insurance in Illinois will leave you with an average cost of $2,425 per year. In comparison, the national average is $1,627 per year to buy basic liability car insurance and $2,297 per year to buy full-coverage car insurance.
Compare best car insurance quotes in Illinois
Your car insurance rates could be dramatically different based on your zip code, age, driving history, and other factors. This can make finding the best rates for car insurance a complicated process. That’s where Jerry comes in handy.
All you need to do is answer a few short questions and Jerry will generate competitive rates selected from more than 50 top providers. After you tailor your policy options and make your pick, Jerry takes care of the rest—switching you to your new policy, helping to cancel your old one, and sending you new quotes before every renewal.
Take a look at what other people had to say about their experience shopping with Jerry:
| Quote Date | Car | Before Jerry | After Jerry | City | Name | Age | Insurance Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 19, 2023 | Kia Rio LX | $300/mo. | $221/mo. | Mchenry | Theresa R. | 25 | Progressive |
| March 16, 2023 | Chrysler 300 | $185/mo. | $176/mo. | Rockford | Ernest L. | 27 | Progressive |
| March 10, 2023 | Saab 9-7X 5.3I | $136/mo. | $66/mo. | Chicago | Charles A. | 24 | Progressive |
| March 7, 2023 | Honda Odyssey LX | $95/mo. | $84/mo. | Villa Park | Estelle R. | 39 | Progressive |
| March 6, 2023 | Toyota Camry Trd | $140/mo. | $96/mo. | Berwyn | Arthur P. | 33 | Progressive |
Best car insurance companies in Illinois
You might find the lowest rates on car insurance in Illinois from a big-name company like State Farm, GEICO, or Progressive. If you or a family member are an active member of the US military, you could find cheap quotes from USAA. Or, depending on your driver profile, your perfect rate might be hiding with a smaller regional insurer like Bloomington-based Country Financial.
The bottom line: the best car insurance company is different for every driver. Because every company uses a different methodology to calculate rates, two people could get wildly different quotes on the same coverage from the same insurer based on seemingly insignificant factors like marital status, ZIP code, credit history, and more.
| Insurance Company | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairyland | $3,057 | $895 | |
| Nationwide | $2,488 | $807 | |
| Kemper | $2,276 | $802 | |
| National General | $2,342 | $750 | |
| Safeco | $2,409 | $739 | |
| Clearcover | $2,254 | $729 | |
| Progressive | $2,259 | $714 | |
| Allstate | $2,151 | $690 | |
| State Auto | $2,315 | $612 | |
| Travelers | $2,172 | $612 | |
| Compare Prices | |||
Illinois car insurance FAQs
Is Illinois insurance expensive?
Car insurance is relatively cheap in Illinois. Of course, your actual rates will depend on where you live in Illinois, your vehicle, driving habits, driving history, and more.
Is $200 a lot for insurance?
Car insurance is relatively cheap in Illinois, so a premium of $200 a month could be on the expensive end.
However, your rates will ultimately depend on your exact geographic location, the car you drive, your driving habits, driving history, and more. That means, if you live in a more expensive location like Chicago and drive a luxury vehicle, a premium of $200 may be quite reasonable!
Is car insurance cheaper once paid off?
Some car insurance providers will offer customers a discount for paying their entire 6-month premium in a lump sum, rather than in monthly installments.
If you renew your policy with the same company, they may offer you some sort of loyalty discount. However, keep in mind that your new rates will depend on your driving habits, driving history, and vehicle.
How much does car insurance cost in Illinois?
Illinois car insurance rates are fairly cheap compared to the national average—but that doesn’t mean you can’t pay a lot for insurance here! If you’re looking at a steep quote in Illinois, this might be why:
- Commuters: Between the third-largest metropolitan area in the United States and tons of cross-state freeways, Illinois roads are bustling with commuters every day. This increases the potential for car accidents.
- Freezing winters: Blizzards, freezing rain, and hail—Illinois winters can make for some seriously treacherous roadways. Again, the risk of an accident goes up, and with it, your annual premium.
- Uninsured motorists: Approximately 11.8% of Illinois drivers fail to meet the legal insurance requirements set by state law, which raises rates for everyone else.
On the other hand, Illinois is also home to large swathes of rural land where accident rates are typically lower. If you live in one of these areas, you’re likely to pay less for coverage than your city-dwelling neighbors.
If you’re getting ready to shop for car insurance in Illinois, the features below cover what you need to know.
Illinois car insurance requirements
Illinois drivers are required to carry minimum liability insurance before getting behind the wheel. This coverage includes at least $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage and $20,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage.
How much insurance do I need in Illinois?
Illinois requires $25,000 per person for bodily injury liability, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 of property damage liability per accident.
What do you need if you’re pulled over?
If you get pulled over, you are required to show your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and registration. Thankfully, digital insurance ID cards are accepted by police and the DMV so you will always have your stored proof of insurance available 24/7 in the Jerry app.
Is Illinois a no-fault state?
No, Illinois is an at-fault state. This means the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay for the not-at-fault driver’s and passengers' injuries, once the at-fault driver’s insurance company accepts liability and confirms that there is enough coverage.
Illinois’s minimum coverage will protect your wallet if you cause any injuries or property damage in an at-fault accident. But the state minimum won’t pay for any damage to your own vehicle. A full-coverage insurance policy, on the other hand, includes comprehensive coverage and collision insurance, which will pay for your repairs due to a range of incidents—from car theft to a collision.
Take a look at the graph below to understand how much you’re paying for each.
Cheap car insurance with a DUI or speeding ticket in Illinois
You don’t need a perfect record to buy auto insurance coverage—or to save on that coverage with Jerry.
Your driving history can affect your rates, though. If you have a history of violations, from minor traffic tickets to serious charges like DUI or reckless driving, you’ll likely pay a higher rate than drivers with a clean record.
But that doesn’t mean you need to resign yourself to overpaying. Check out the table below to see how much drivers with violations saved with Jerry.
| Driving Violation | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Record | $1,944 | $602 |
| Racing/Drag Racing | $5,900 | $2,010 |
| Defective Equipment | $2,892 | $1,241 |
| Speeding over 15 | $2,598 | $929 |
| Careless Driving | $2,763 | $802 |
| DUI | $2,019 | $772 |
| Eluding Police | $2,597 | $749 |
| Speeding under 15 | $2,186 | $722 |
| Illegal Turn | $2,185 | $688 |
| Driving on Sus. License | $2,123 | $670 |
Insurance Cost With a DUI in Illinois
If you get a DUI in Illinois, you can expect your car insurance to increase to an average of $326 per month.
Read More
Insurance Cost With a Reckless Driving Citation in Illinois
If you have a reckless driving citation, you should expect your insurance to increase by 52% per month.
Read More
Illinois auto insurance rates by age
Illinois ranked 7th in the nation for teen driver safety, making it one of the most affordable states for car insurance for young drivers.
But that doesn’t mean you’ll pay the same rates as older drivers. Insurance companies see any young driver as a higher risk due to lack of experience and statistically higher accident rates. Even if you’re able to maintain a clean driving record and earn a safe driver discount, your base premium is likely to be high if you’re under 25 years old.
The chart below compares average rates (and average savings with Jerry) for various age groups in Illinois.
How can young drivers save money on car insurance in Illinois?
- Choose lower coverage limits: While it’s always a good idea to buy more than the minimum required insurance if you can afford it, keeping your coverage low until you age out of the high-risk driver category could save you money.
- Build up your credit score: Did you know good credit could win you lower insurance rates? If you’ve got poor credit, you could be overpaying for car insurance—so pay your bills on time to get a lower rate!
- Practice safe driving habits: A clean driving record will keep your rates as low as possible, so drive safe and always carry proof of insurance!
- Keep your GPA up: Maintaining a B average or equivalent in high school or college classes could make you eligible for a good student discount.
- Choose lower coverage limits: While it’s always a good idea to buy more than the minimum required insurance if you can afford it, keeping your coverage low until you age out of the high-risk driver category could save you money.
- Build up your credit score: Did you know good credit could win you lower insurance rates? If you’ve got poor credit, you could be overpaying for car insurance—so pay your bills on time to get a lower rate!
- Practice safe driving habits: A clean driving record will keep your rates as low as possible, so drive safe and always carry proof of insurance!
- Keep your GPA up: Maintaining a B average or equivalent in high school or college classes could make you eligible for a good student discount.
Auto insurance rates in Illinois by city
Illinois’s average car insurance rates are lower than the national average, but your individual rates will depend on your zip code.
It’s probably no surprise that Chicago car insurance costs are among the highest in the state. After all, busy roads, high accident rates, and rampant auto theft will all raise premiums. But rural towns typically have lower rates, on average.
Here’s a more specific breakdown of insurance prices for Jerry users across Illinois:
| City | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | $1,982 | $718 |
| Belleville | $2,009 | $572 |
| Champaign | $1,852 | $790 |
| Chicago | $2,011 | $679 |
| Elgin | $1,908 | $668 |
| Naperville | $1,935 | $690 |
| Peoria | $2,051 | $880 |
| Rockford | $2,023 | $643 |
| Schaumburg | $1,887 | $512 |
| Springfield | $2,036 | $863 |
Least Expensive Cities in Illinois
On the other hand, drivers in Bloomington can get cheap rates at an average of $846.
City With Highest Rates of Accidents in Illinois
Naperville has the highest accident rates in Illinois, as 11.82% of drivers in Naperville have a prior accident on their record already. Drivers in a Naperville zip code can expect inflated insurance rates with the increased accident risk.
Read More
Cities With the Longest Commute Times in Illinois
With an average commute time of 41.8 minutes, Barrington Hills has the longest commute in Illinois. Drivers in Barrington Hills are likely to see increased rates due to risk of accidents and additional miles on their car.
Read More
Cost to insure your car in Illinois
Auto insurance companies charge more to insure expensive, dangerous, or rare vehicles—so your daily driver could have a big impact on your annual car insurance premiums.
For example, the most popular vehicle in Illinois is the Hyundai Tucson, which is one of the cheapest SUVs to insure thanks to solid build quality, good safety ratings, and a low starting price.
The most popular used vehicle, on the other hand, is the Ford F-150. The overwhelming popularity of America’s favorite truck makes replacement parts for this pickup affordable and easy to find—but because it’s a larger vehicle with less positive NHTSA safety ratings, you’re likely to pay a little more to insure it.
Check out the table below to estimate how your vehicle might be impacting your insurance costs in Illinois.
| Car | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata SE | $1,760 | $709 |
| Kia Optima LX | $1,935 | $668 |
| Ford Fusion SE | $1,978 | $644 |
| Chevrolet Cruze LT | $1,806 | $619 |
| Nissan Rogue S | $1,863 | $601 |
Most Popular Car in Illinois
The most popular vehicle in Illinois is the Hyundai Tucson. Tucson drivers pay an average of $1,400 a year in car insurance. Tucson drivers can save on their insurance by using Jerry to find the cheapest quotes.
Do you need more than the minimum car insurance in Illinois?
Most states have minimum insurance requirements that you must meet to hit the road.
But the minimum coverage required by Illinois law won’t cover all your potential expenses. For example, let’s say you get into a crash on I-74 and end up with a broken collarbone and smashed windshield—and it turns out the other driver doesn’t have Illinois’s minimum liability coverage.
Without uninsured motorist coverage including uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage or some form of personal injury protection (PIP), you’ll be on your own to cover your repairs and medical costs. That’s why experts recommend going beyond basic liability and springing for what’s typically called “full-coverage car insurance."
Full-coverage policies generally include:
- Liability coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
Check out the features below to understand the aspects of Illinois life that make these coverages a good buy for anyone living in the state.
Illinois ranks 36th for traffic and infrastructure in the US, putting it in the bottom half of states for poor road conditions. High traffic can increase the likelihood of a collision, so make sure you have collision coverage.
Read More
21,332 Illinois vehicles were stolen in 2020, and the state ranks 8th for most car thefts. Get comprehensive coverage so you’re insured in case your vehicle is stolen or vandalized.
11.80% of drivers in Illinois are uninsured, and if they’re at fault in an accident with you, they won’t have liability insurance to pay for the damages. Get uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to cover you from uninsured drivers.
Read More
Illinois residents rate their roads a dismal 6.3/10. Poor road conditions could cause you to be stranded. Get roadside coverage for towing, flat tires, and other services.
How to save money on car insurance in Illinois
Illinois has relatively affordable car insurance rates, but there are still ways to make your quotes even lower.
Shop around for car insurance quotes
Experts recommend getting quotes from at least three companies before you purchase a car insurance policy. Using an insurance comparison website or app is the easiest way to reduce the hassles and leg work associated with gathering rates from multiple companies.
Look for discounts
Sometimes saving on car insurance doesn’t require a whole new policy—sometimes it’s as simple as finding a discount you qualify for and asking your insurance provider about it.
You see, most auto insurance companies offer discounts, but they won’t always advertise them directly. That’s why it’s on you to find out what you’re eligible for and get the discount applied to your rate.
Here are some common discounts to look out for in Illinois:
Clean Driving Record Discounts
Clean Driving Record Discounts
Drivers with clean driving records will get a discount for their clean record. Because safe drivers are less likely to file a claim, insurance companies will offer discounted insurance.
Bundling Discounts
Bundling Discounts
Drivers who bundle their auto insurance with home or renters insurance at the same company are eligible for bundling discounts.
Vehicle Safety and Anti-theft discounts
Vehicle Safety and Anti-theft discounts
Insurance companies will often offer lower insurance rates for customers who drive vehicles with high safety ratings, as they’re less likely to get injured and file a claim. Anti-theft technology can also warrant a discount.
Increase your deductible
Increasing your deductible—the amount you pay before collision or comprehensive insurance kicks in—is a super simple way to keep monthly bills low.
Common deductibles are $500 or $1,000, but it’s possible to go as far up as $2,000—if you can afford it! Never choose a deductible that you couldn’t reasonably pay out of pocket in the event of an accident. That’s asking for trouble—and trouble usually answers.
By R.E. Fulton
Updated on Mar 23, 2023
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear, Director of Content.
Compare best car insurance quotes in Illinois
Best car insurance companies in Illinois
Illinois car insurance FAQs
How much does car insurance cost in Illinois?
Illinois car insurance requirements
Cheap car insurance with a DUI or speeding ticket in Illinois
Illinois auto insurance rates by age
Auto insurance rates in Illinois by city
Cost to insure your car in Illinois
Do you need more than the minimum car insurance in Illinois?
How to save money on car insurance in Illinois
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