The best and cheapest car insurance in Illinois

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GEICO is the best car insurance company in Illinois, earning 4.50 out of 5 stars in our analysis of pricing, customer satisfaction and financial strength. It offers average annual rates of $1,524, which is $414 less than the state average.

Drivers in Illinois pay an average of $1,938 a year or $162 a month for car insurance coverage.

The table below shows the best car insurance companies in Illinois.

How we picked the top car insurance companies

When choosing the top car insurance companies in Illinois, we looked beyond just the average cost of coverage. We also reviewed customer satisfaction data from J.D. Power, financial strength ratings from AM Best and complaint trends reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). If state or regional data wasn’t available, we used national averages to keep the comparisons consistent and fair for readers.

For each of the four metrics, we gave companies in each state from 1 to 5 (5 being the best) based on how they performed in each category. Those components were then given the following weights to arrive at an overall star rating.

• Premiums: 25%
• JD Power: 30%
• AM Best: 25%
• NAIC: 20%

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Which insurers offer the cheapest car insurance in Illinois?

Travelers has the cheapest average car insurance rate in Illinois at $1,428 a year.

Other low-cost insurers in Illinois include:

• GEICO, with average rates of $1,524 a year, or $127 a month
• Auto Club Group (AAA), with average premiums of $1,648 a year, which comes out to $137 per month

On the higher end, Allstate has the highest average premium at $2,851 a year.

Keep in mind that your actual rate may be different. Insurers consider factors like your driving record, credit score, age, vehicle and ZIP code when calculating premiums, so the cheapest company for the average driver may not be the cheapest for you.

Below are the cheapest car insurance rates by company, based on a profile of a 40-year-old driver with a Honda Accord LX to ensure fair, apples-to-apples comparisons. Rates are for full coverage car insurance.

What is full coverage car insurance in Illinois?

Full coverage car insurance isn’t a single policy – it’s a bundle of protections that offer more complete financial security. It generally includes liability coverage (required in most states), along with collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision pays to repair or replace your car after an accident, while comprehensive covers non-collision damage such as theft, hail, fire or vandalism.

Because it protects your own vehicle in addition to others, full coverage typically comes with a higher premium than minimum liability insurance. It can be especially worthwhile if you drive a newer vehicle, have an auto loan or lease, or own a car that would be expensive to repair or replace.

Auto insurance premiums vary significantly from city to city, so drivers need to be sure they’re getting the best deal. Insure.com has done the research for you. Get more information on auto insurance rates by city below.

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How to find the best car insurance in Illinois

Shopping around for coverage is a great way to make sure you are getting the best rates on your auto insurance.

“It is extremely important to make sure you start off with an apples-to-apples comparison,” says Tim Bottini, a Country Financial insurance agent based in St. Louis. That means checking:

• The same liability limits
• The same deductibles
• The same coverage types

For example, if one quote shows 25/50/25 in liability coverage and another shows 50/100/100, the lower price may simply reflect lower protection — not a better deal. Many agents recommend at least 50/100/100, and higher limits may make sense depending on your income and assets.

You can also lower your premium by:

• Maintaining a strong credit score
• Avoiding tickets and accidents
• Bundling home and auto insurance with the same carrier

Which companies have the cheapest car insurance for seniors in Illinois?

Senior drivers in Illinois typically pay higher car insurance premiums than most other age groups, although teens generally remain the most expensive to insure.

The cheapest car insurance companies for seniors in Illinois include:

• GEICO: $1,345 a year ($112 a month)
• Travelers: $1,506 a year
• Progressive: $1,592 a year

Insurance companies often charge seniors more because premiums are based on broader risk trends, including claim frequency and age-related driving changes such as slower reaction times or vision shifts. Even so, many seniors can lower their costs by maintaining a clean driving record, limiting mileage and taking advantage of mature driver or safe driver discounts.

The chart below shows the average car insurance premiums for senior drivers in Illinois.

Which company has the cheapest car insurance for young adults in Illinois?

Young adults (21-25) pay less than teens, but they still pay more than more experienced drivers. In Illinois, Travelers is the cheapest option for young adults with a yearly premium of $2,346 or $196 a month.

GEICO is the next most affordable with an average rate of $2,570 followed by Auto Club Group (AAA) at $2,665.

Young drivers who maintain a clean driving record can expect their rates to drop even more as they reach their late 20s.

The table below shows the best insurers for young drivers in Illinois:

Which companies have the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers in Illinois?

In Illinois, Erie Insurance offers the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers, with average premiums of $4,680 per year or $390 per month.

“Teenagers and seniors are riskier drivers, so they often pay more for auto insurance than other policyholders in different age groups,” says Chong Gao, director of product management R&D at Mercury Insurance. “For teenagers, the lack of driving experience is a significant factor that impacts their rates; younger drivers with little experience behind the wheel tend to pay higher insurance premiums.”

Auto Club Group (AAA) is the next most affordable option at $4,969 per year or $414 per month, followed by Country Financial at $5,044 per year.

The chart below shows average premiums for teens in Illinois:

Why the cheapest company may vary by driver

An insurer with the lowest average premium may not offer you the lowest price. Car insurance rates are personalized, and companies calculate risk differently based on individual driver profiles.

Several factors can affect what you pay, including:

• Driving history
• Credit profile (where permitted)
• Age and marital status
• The type of vehicle you drive
• Your ZIP code and local claim trends

Age plays a major role in pricing. Adding a teen to a policy can significantly increase premiums because teens are the least experienced drivers and tend to have higher accident rates.

“Teen drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents due to their lack of driving experience and tendency to engage in risky behaviors like speeding,” says Eliezer Zupnick, founder of East Leads Group LLC. “Teens are involved in three times as many auto accidents per mile compared to drivers aged 20 and up, making them a high-risk category for insurers.”

To help offset higher premiums, parents can explore good student discounts, choose a more affordable vehicle or reconsider certain coverages if the car’s value is low.

What is the average cost of car insurance in Illinois?

The average cost of car insurance in Illinois is $1,938 a year.

Car insurance rates vary widely from state to state because insurers base premiums on overall risk trends, including claim frequency, repair costs, state regulations and local accident data. Even within the same state, drivers can see different quotes depending on their driving history, age, vehicle and ZIP code.

The chart below displays the average rate in Illinois for a 40-year-old driver with 100/300/100 coverage and a $500 collision and comprehensive deductible driving a Honda Accord LX.

Which Illinois cities and ZIP codes are most expensive for car insurance?

Chicago has the most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Illinois, with average annual premiums of $2,801.

Insurance rates vary by location because where your vehicle is parked overnight affects risk exposure. Areas with frequent severe weather, higher traffic density or elevated crime rates tend to have higher accident and theft claims, which raises premiums for everyone in those cities and ZIP codes.

Here are the most expensive cities and ZIP codes in Illinois for car insurance:

Which Illinois cities and ZIP codes are the cheapest for car insurance?

When it comes to cheap car insurance in Illinois, these ZIP codes have the most affordable coverage. The area around Normal has the lowest premiums in Illinois with an average premium of $1,583.

How location in Illinois impacts car insurance rates

Your ZIP code can significantly influence what you pay for car insurance in Illinois. Insurers look at local risk factors such as accident rates, traffic density, repair costs and weather-related claims when setting premiums.

“States that have a higher rate of severe weather that damages cars or helps cause accidents will typically have higher rates,” says Gao.

Because insurers weigh these location-based risks differently using their own pricing models, quotes can vary widely even for drivers with similar profiles living in different parts of the state.

Which companies have the cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in Illinois?

Traffic violations and accidents can lead to higher car insurance premiums because insurers may view you as a greater risk.

For instance, a speeding ticket can increase the average premium to $2,806 and typically impacts rates for up to three years. An at-fault accident usually has a bigger effect, raising the average cost of coverage to about $3,046.

A DUI is considered a serious violation and often results in the largest increase, with average premiums climbing to $3,486.

The table below illustrates the average rate increases following common driving incidents.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Illinois

Drivers in Illinois are required to carry at least 25/50/20 in liability insurance to legally operate a vehicle. This minimum coverage pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident.

However, state-required limits are often modest. In a major crash, medical expenses and vehicle repairs can quickly exceed those minimum amounts – and anything beyond your coverage becomes your financial responsibility.

To better protect your savings and income, many insurance professionals suggest higher liability limits, such as 100/300/50. Increasing your coverage can provide an added layer of financial security if the unexpected happens.

That required coverage translates into:

• $25,000 for injury/death per person
• $50,000 for injury/death per accident
• $20,000 for damage to property

Final thoughts on the best and cheapest car insurance in Illinois

The best car insurance in Illinois depends on your budget, driving profile and coverage needs. GEICO stands out for its overall value, offering competitive pricing along with strong customer satisfaction and solid financial strength.

That said, the cheapest insurer for the average driver may not be the cheapest for you. Factors like your age, driving history, vehicle and ZIP code all influence your final quote, which is why comparing multiple insurers is key.

To get the best rate in Illinois, compare quotes from at least three companies, review coverage limits (not just price) and take advantage of discounts such as bundling, safe driver, telematics or good student savings. A few minutes of comparison shopping can lead to significantly lower premiums without sacrificing coverage.

What our experts say

Q: How does a state’s population affect car insurance rates?

Chong GaoDirector of product management R&D at Mercury Insurance.

Teenagers and seniors are riskier drivers, so they often pay more for auto insurance than other policyholders in different age groups

Methodology

Our car insurance analysis is based on 2026 rate data across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., covering 29,159 cities and 34,595 ZIP codes.

For standard rate comparisons, we analyzed 65,756,440 quotes from 195 companies across 73 insurer groups. Rates reflect a 40-year-old male and female driving a Honda Accord LX with 100/300/100 liability limits, $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles, a good insurance score, no violations, a 12-mile commute and 10,000 annual miles. The national average premium for this profile is $2,578 per year.

To measure the impact of risk factors, we reviewed an additional 95,071,152 quotes modeling at-fault accidents, DUI/DWI, speeding violations and poor credit, using the same base profile for consistency.

Company rankings are weighted as follows:

• J.D. Power (30%) – customer satisfaction
• Annual premium (25%) – average cost
• AM Best (25%) – financial strength
• NAIC (20%) – complaint index

Alisha Ambre

 

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Alisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game.

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