What you need to know about car insurance in Illinois

Illinois drivers pay about 21% less than the national average for full coverage and liability auto insurance. This breaks down to $1,532 per year fully comprehensive car insurance versus $1,897 nationwide. For liability insurance only Illinois residents who meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements pay $421 a year, compared to $503 for the US.

Of course, these rates are only average values. Your Inniois car insurance premium will be different.

“Car insurance premiums are determined by a variety of personal, vehicle and external factors that insurers use to evaluate risk,” said Kristine Pokrandt, an agent with Goosehead Insurance in Highwood, Illinois.

“Each factor can increase or decrease the premium rate depending on how it affects the perceived likelihood of an accident or the likelihood of a claim being made. Understanding these factors can help drivers make informed decisions about their insurance coverage and potentially reduce insurance costs,” he said.

In this guide, we’ll explain the most important things you need to know about auto insurance in Illinois, including average costs by company, coverage requirements, and tips for saving money on your coverage.

Highlights

• The average cost of car insurance in Illinois is approximately 21% cheaper than the US average.
• Illinois drivers are required to carry liability insurance with at least 25/50/20 coverage limits.
• Auto Club Group (AAA) has the cheapest average car insurance rate at $979 per year. That’s $500 less than the state average.
• Allstate has the most expensive average rate at $2,742, more than $1,000 above the state average.

Understanding car insurance requirements in Illinois

Drivers need to carry liability insurance With a minimum coverage limit of 25/50/25 to register their vehicle and drive legally. Here are the minimum requirements in the state:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
• $20,000 property damage liability coverage per accident

If you are involved in a serious at-fault accident, these coverage amounts are unlikely to be sufficient. Experts recommend 100/300/100 liability insurance coverage.

“When it comes to liability insurance, that’s what protects your livelihood. While the state may only charge $25,000 per person for bodily injury coverage, carrying $250,000 of coverage may only cost $15 to $20 more per month. In the event of a catastrophic accident, if your policy limit doesn’t cover someone’s injuries, you’re on the hook for the difference,” says Pokrandt.

Keep in mind that liability insurance does not cover the cost of medical care for injuries you or your passengers may suffer in an at-fault accident. Other types of auto insurance, such as personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay) or health insurance, may cover these costs.

Compared to the United States as a whole, Illinois has cheaper auto insurance rates, from state minimum liability insurance to full coverage.

The average annual cost of state minimum car insurance in Illinois is $421, which is lower than the U.S. average of $503. If you choose the higher coverage limits of 50/100/50, you’ll pay an average of $471 per year; in comparison, the annual national average is $649. The Illinois average for full coverage auto insurance with 100/300/100 limits and $500 deductible is $1,532, which is significantly lower than the U.S. average of $1,897.

The following rates were collected from the auto insurance comparison site CarInsurance.com for 40-year-old single male and female drivers of a 2023 Honda Accord LX with a good credit score and no violations on record for a fully comprehensive insurance policy with liability limits. $100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles.

One of the easiest ways to reduce your car insurance premium is to take advantage of the following benefits: common discountsSuch as bundling your policies, maintaining a clean driving record, driving safely and low mileage discounts.

“Illinois drivers have a variety of options to save money on car insurance by taking advantage of discounts, adjusting coverage limits and improving personal factors that affect premiums,” Pokrandt says

You can also reduce your car insurance premium by shopping around. compare quotes from various insurance companies every six to 12 months or before renewing your existing policy. Comparison shopping is the best way to find the cheapest auto insurance policy for your coverage needs and individual situation.

Car insurance premiums in Illinois can vary significantly depending on the insurance company that insures your policy.

Our research shows that Auto Club Group (ACG), a AAA company, has the cheapest car insurance in Illinois, averaging $979 per year or $82 per month for full coverage. travelers is another inexpensive option, with full coverage rates 27% below the state average: $1,119 annually or $93 per month.

allstateOne of the largest auto insurance companies in the country, it is the most expensive company in Illinois, according to our rates data. Allstate’s average full insurance premium is $2,742 per year, or $228 per month, nearly 80% above the state average.

To give you a better idea of ​​what you might pay for insurance coverage in the Land of Lincoln, consider the following average auto insurance rates in Illinois:

The city you live in also determines how much you’ll pay for car insurance; rates may vary between zip codes.

Chicago is the most expensive Illinois city for car insurance, with an average annual full insurance rate of $1,930. Suburban cities Joliet ($1,574) and Waukegan ($1,564) have the second and third highest rates.

The cheapest city for car insurance in Illinois is Champaign, with an average annual rate of $1,367. Naperville ($1,429) and Aurora ($1,476) also have below-average rates.

Illinois drivers can save money on car insurance in many ways. First, ask your agent or insurance representative about general discounts you may qualify for, such as consolidating your policies, taking a defensive driving course, insuring more than one vehicle, not making prior insurance claims, and keeping a clean driving record. You might also consider a safe driver program that monitors your habits on the road for potentially lower fees if your carrier offers it.

Be sure to shop around every six to 12 months or before your policy renews to make sure you’re still getting the best rate possible.

No, Illinois is not a no-fault state. this one tort case.

“Illinois follows a flawed system for car insurance, which means the driver who caused the accident is responsible for any resulting damages,” says Pokrandt. “This differs from no-fault situations, where each party’s insurance generally covers their own (injury-related) losses regardless of who caused the accident.”

According to this system, the driver who caused the accident is responsible for covering the health expenses and financial damage of the other party. Injured drivers may sue their insurance company or the at-fault driver’s carrier to receive additional compensation.

Editors gathered rate information from auto insurance comparison site CarInsurance.com for 40-year-old single male and female drivers of the 2023 Honda Accord LX with good credit and no violations on their records on a full-coverage insurance policy with a 100/100 liability limit. $300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductible.

In addition, we also calculated rates for the same hypothetical drivers, but with one or more of the following on their record: speeding ticket, at-fault accident, DUI/DWI, poor credit history, or opt-out.

We analyzed more than 53 million quotes, more than 34,000 zip codes, and 170 insurance companies nationwide.

Note: 100/300/100 means up to $100,000 for medical bills for people you injured, up to $300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability for all people injured in a crash, and $100,000 to repair other drivers’ cars and property you damaged. .