Note from our editor: Maybe you’re searching for car insurance for the first time or want to do some insurance shopping to help lower your monthly premium? This article can serve as a starting point for your car insurance research. There are a lot of factors when it comes to the cost of car insurance, so while you may not see the exact premiums we’ve researched, they can give you an idea of some of the insurers offering the cheapest rates in your state.
From Lake Shore Drive to Route 66, there are plenty of roads to explore in Illinois. But could you be saving money on your car insurance?
We looked at estimated car insurance rates across several Illinois insurance companies and calculated the average cost, as well as insurers offering the cheapest estimated rates for several driver needs and profiles.
We based our calculations on a relatively neutral driver profile — someone with no accidents, tickets or claims, for example — in order to evenly compare and get a baseline view of insurers’ rates for basic coverage (see our full methodology). The rates you see may be higher or lower given not only your personal driving history but other factors that affect car insurance like your mileage and vehicle type, age and coverage options.
Read on to learn about Illinois’ average car insurance rates and our findings for the cheapest options.
- Cost of car insurance in Illinois
- 5 cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois
- Cheapest state-minimum car insurance in Illinois
- Cheapest car insurance for good credit in Illinois
- Cheapest car insurance for poor credit in Illinois
- Cheapest car insurance for drivers with multiple claims in Illinois
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Illinois
- Illinois auto insurance requirements
- Is usage-based insurance available in Illinois?
- FAQs about the cheapest car insurance rates in Illinois
- Methodology
Cost of car insurance in Illinois
Average monthly premiums for car insurance in Illinois range from just over $50 up into the $100s for basic coverage, depending on the driver profile.
Average monthly auto insurance premiums in Illinois
| Driver or coverage | Avg. monthly cost |
|---|---|
| State-minimum car insurance in Illinois | $51.31 |
| Drivers with poor credit in Illinois | $82.11 |
| Drivers with multiple claims in Illinois | $112.02 |
| Young drivers in Illinois | $88.95 |
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois
We found that Geico was among Illinois’ cheapest car insurance companies offering basic coverage for several different driver profiles. As a reminder, we’ve calculated insurance rates based on a specific Illinois driver profile to assess insurers evenly and get a sense of costs for an average driver. Check out our methodology to learn more.
Unless otherwise noted, our Illinois driver has a 680 to 719 credit score, is between 36 and 45 years old, has a car valued between $20,000 and $30,000, and has no tickets or coverage gaps. Your rates could be different, but don’t worry — we’ve also calculated the cheapest car insurance options for several different driver profiles, so keep reading to find the best option for your needs.
1. Geico
Geico could offer our Illinois driver profile car insurance for as low as $31.25 per month for minimum coverage. With Geico, drivers can choose from a range of standard and add-on coverage options and an impressive lineup of discount opportunities. Tech-forward drivers may also appreciate Geico’s mobile app, which allows you to manage your policy and locate your ID cards, request roadside assistance, get a repair quote from a picture and more.
Check out reviews of Geico auto insurance.2. Mercury
With Mercury, our Illinois driver profile could pay as little as $32 a month for basic car insurance. Mercury offers insurance via local agents, who can help customers choose from collision, comprehensive, liability, medical payments, personal injury protection, rental car and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Mercury also offers 24/7 claims service and guaranteed repairs for work done in a Mercury-authorized repair shop.
Check out reviews of Mercury auto insurance.3. Westfield
Our Illinois driver profile could find basic car insurance for $32.63 monthly at Westfield. Westfield offers standard insurance options like collision, comprehensive, liability, medical payments and personal injury protection, as well as extras like roadside assistance, loan/lease gap coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, motorcycle and RV insurance and umbrella coverage. With Westfield, you’ll work with an agent to design your policy and make an insurance claim.
4. Hastings Mutual Insurance
Hastings Mutual could offer our Illinois driver profile a minimum-coverage monthly policy for as low as $33.08. Hastings car insurance policies include extra features like emergency roadside assistance, pet injury coverage, travel interruption coverage, key replacement services and more. Drivers may also qualify for discounts like the away at school discount, defensive driving course discount, good student discount, claim-free discount and multipolicy discount.
5. Pekin Insurance
Finally, Pekin Insurance could offer our Illinois driver profile a monthly policy for as little as $37.48 for basic coverage. Pekin offers bodily injury insurance, property damage coverage, medical payments insurance and coverage for hitting an animal. It also offers roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, new auto replacement, auto loan/lease coverage and more. Pekin also offers car insurance policies specifically for high-risk drivers.
Cheapest state-minimum car insurance in Illinois
Illinois requires drivers to carry a minimum 25/50/20 insurance policy. This is considered the state minimum and may be the cheapest policy option you can buy.
These companies offer the lowest rates for drivers shopping for state-minimum coverage only.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois for state-minimum coverage
| 1 | Geico | $31.25/month |
| 2 | Mercury | $32.00/month |
| 3 | Westfield | $32.63/month |
| 4 | Hastings Mutual Insurance | $33.08/month |
| 5 | Pekin Insurance | $37.48/month |
Cheapest car insurance for good credit in Illinois
One of the many factors that affect your car insurance premium is your credit. Generally, drivers with good credit pay less for car insurance than drivers who are considered to have poor credit.
The following companies have the lowest estimated rates for drivers considered to have good credit.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois for those with good credit
| 1 | Westfield | $26.61/month |
| 2 | Auto-Owners Insurance | $27.06/month |
| 3 | Mercury | $27.64/month |
| 4 | Geico | $28.63/month |
| 5 | Pekin Insurance | $30.68/month |
Cheapest car insurance for poor credit in Illinois
Drivers with poor credit often end up paying more for the same level of car insurance coverage. But there are other ways to keep your insurance costs low, like qualifying for various discounts and, most importantly, keeping your driving record free of claims and accidents.
These companies have the lowest estimated rates for drivers with poor credit.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois for those with poor credit
| 1 | Geico | $42.57/month |
| 2 | Mercury | $44.52/month |
| 3 | First Chicago Insurance | $45.92/month |
| 4 | Hastings Mutual Insurance | $50.83/month |
| 5 | Secura Insurance | $54.04/month |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with multiple claims in Illinois
Your claims history is another big factor in determining the cost of your car insurance. Drivers with multiple claims will end up paying more for car insurance than drivers with fewer (or no) claims.
These five insurance companies may offer the lowest rates for Illinois drivers with multiple claims.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois for multiple claims
| 1 | Hastings Mutual Insurance | $55.33/month |
| 2 | Secura Insurance | $58.77/month |
| 3 | General Casualty | $59.33/month |
| 4 | Geico | $64.21/month |
| 5 | American Family | $65.05/month |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Illinois
Finally, your age can affect how much you pay for car insurance, as insurers generally believe younger drivers to be riskier. Your rates should decrease as you get older and maintain a clean driving record.
These insurance companies have the lowest estimated rates for young drivers between the ages of 18 and 21.
5 cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois for young drivers
| 1 | Westfield | $46.04/month |
| 2 | Geico | $51.67/month |
| 3 | Pekin Insurance | $56.38/month |
| 4 | Mercury | $57.46/month |
| 5 | General Casualty | $58.42/month |
Illinois auto insurance requirements
Illinois requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, plus an additional $20,000 per accident of property damage insurance. If you have a car loan or lease, your lender may require you to carry higher levels of coverage.
Is usage-based insurance available in Illinois?
Usage-based insurance is a type of vehicle insurance that allows customers to pay premiums based on their driving behavior. In Illinois, drivers may save money on their premiums by taking advantage of their insurance company’s UBI program.
FAQs about the cheapest car insurance rates in Illinois
Your car insurance costs depend on several factors, including your credit, driving history and which coverages you choose. We found that Geico offered the cheapest car insurance for several Illinois driver profiles.
Illinois requires drivers to carry liability insurance. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could face a minimum $500 fine and suspension of your registration for a first offense.
We found that the cost of car insurance in Illinois is pretty middle-of-the-road compared to other states. There are things you can do to lower your insurance costs, like making sure you qualify for any discounts or UBI programs your insurer offers and maintaining a clean driving history.
Methodology
The estimated rates in this article are the lowest estimated rates based on the profile of a driver aged 36 to 45 living in Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, the rates displayed assume a single driver on the insurance policy with no tickets on their driving record and no claims or coverage lapses. The vehicle used in this estimate is valued between $20,000 and $30,000 and has annual mileage of 12,000 to 15,000. Estimated rates for insurance for good credit apply to scores of 720 or higher. Estimated rates for insurance for poor credit apply to scores from 350 to 579. Estimated rates for young drivers include those aged 18 to 21. Estimated rates for those with multiple claims are calculated based on two claims.
Note that the rates are provided every six months by Quadrant Information Services. Quadrant Information Services doesn’t include all insurance companies in its rate data. These are estimated rates meant only to provide a frame of reference and comparison. Your rates may vary depending on factors such as age, vehicle driving habits, and history.
The average monthly premium for full coverage car insurance includes bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, personal injury protection, collision and comprehensive coverages. The average monthly premium for state-minimum car insurance includes an Illinois-mandated 25/50/20 insurance policy.