Best Car Insurance in Illinois
Last Updated on September 9, 2023
Whether you’re in Chicagoland or a rural area of Illinois, good car insurance is crucial. Many Illinois drivers pay too much for car insurance. Fortunately, with some research and shopping around, drivers can obtain the best car insurance in Illinois. Today, we’re listing the best car insurance companies in Illinois based on price, value, claims satisfaction, DUIs, speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and other factors.
Table of Contents
- The 10 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Illinois
- Illinois Auto Insurance Requirements
- Driving Without Insurance in Illinois
- Car Insurance in Illinois with a DUI
- Car Insurance in Illinois with At-Fault Accidents
- Car Insurance in Illinois with Speeding Tickets
- Car Insurance in Illinois for Young Drivers
- Car Insurance in Illinois with Poor Credit
- SR-22 Insurance in Illinois
Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Illinois
Drivers in Illinois often complain about car insurance prices. However, Illinois has relatively cheap car insurance premiums compared to the rest of the United States.
Here are the best car insurance companies in Illinois based on price, value, claims satisfaction, and other factors:
1) USAA
USAA is the best-value car insurance company in virtually every state in America. The only catch is whether or not you qualify. If you qualify for USAA membership, then you can pay as little as $625 for full coverage car insurance in Illinois, making USAA one of the best-rated and best overall car insurance providers in the state.
| USAA | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 9800 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78288 |
| Phone Number | 1-210-531-USAA |
| Website URL | http://www.usaa.com/ |
2) Safeco
Safeco is one of the top-rated car insurance companies in Illinois for claims satisfaction and customer service. Drivers also love Safeco for its pricing. At under $640 per year, Safeco offers some of the cheapest car insurance premiums in Illinois.
| Safeco Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-332-3226 |
| Website URL | https://www.safeco.com/ |
3) GEICO
In most states, GEICO ranks among the top 5 cheapest car insurance providers. Illinois is no exception. Expect to pay around $750 per year for car insurance in Illinois.
| GEICO | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 5260 Western Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-861-8380 |
| Website URL | https://www.geico.com/ |
4) Erie
Erie is known throughout the Midwest for offering effective customer service at a reasonable rate, and the company’s Illinois car insurance rates are particularly competitive. Drivers in Illinois pay around $892 per year, on average, for full coverage car insurance with Erie.
| Erie | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 100 Erie Insurance Place Erie, PA 16530 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-458-0811 |
| Website URL | https://www.erieinsurance.com/ |
5) State Farm
State Farm, headquartered in Bloomington, IL, is the largest insurance company in America. State Farm offers low car insurance premiums in most states, and they’re frequently ranked among the best insurance providers in Illinois. Expect to pay rates of around $1,052 per year for full coverage car insurance in Illinois with State Farm.
| State Farm | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 1 State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61701 |
| Phone Number | 1-309-766-2311 |
| Website URL | https://www.statefarm.com/ |
6) Pekin
Although not as well-known as other insurers on this list, Pekin continues to be popular with drivers across Illinois. Pekin competes with some of America’s largest insurance companies for pricing and claims satisfaction, offering an effective combination of both throughout Illinois. Expect to pay around $1,113 per year for full coverage car insurance with Pekin.
| Pekin Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-322-0160 |
| Website URL | https://www.pekininsurance.com/ |
7) COUNTRY Financial
COUNTRY Financial charges low rates throughout Illinois, and the company is particularly cost-effective for drivers seeking minimum liability coverage (with no collision or comprehensive coverage). Expect to pay around $1,252 per year for full coverage car insurance with COUNTRY Financial, although rates drop to as low as $345 per year for minimum liability coverage.
| COUNTRY Financial | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 701 Towanda Ave Bloomington, IL 61701 |
| Phone Number | 1 (866) 268-6879 |
| Website URL | https://www.countryfinancial.com/ |
8) Travelers
Travelers is one of America’s largest car insurance companies, and Travelers has a strong presence across Illinois. Travelers charges drivers approximately $1,332 per year for car insurance in Illinois. Although they’re not as affordable as some of the top-ranked options on our list, Travelers offers other perks Illinois drivers may appreciate.
| Travelers | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 485 Lexington Ave 10th Fl New York, NY 10017 |
| Phone Number | 1-866-218-5589 |
| Website URL | https://www.travelers.com/ |
9) Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners offers reliable coverage throughout Illinois, and many drivers appreciate the personal touch of working with an independent agent – not a faceless insurance company. If you don’t mind paying slightly higher premiums than other top-rated Illinois insurers on this list, then Auto-Owners charges rates of around $1,392 per year for full coverage car insurance in Illinois.
| Auto-Owners | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 6101 Anacapri Blvd. Lansing MI, 48917 |
| Phone Number | 1-517-323-1200 |
| Website URL | https://www.auto-owners.com/ |
10) Westfield
Founded in 1848, Westfield has over 170+ years of experience serving customers throughout Illinois and other states. The company is small but effective, known for its strong customer service, great bundling packages, and high claims satisfaction ratings. Expect to pay around $1,414 per year with Westfield in Illinois. These prices are based on full coverage car insurance for an average driver with a clean driving record.
| Westfield Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | P.O.Box 5001 Westfield Center, OH 44251 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-243-0210 |
| Website URL | https://www.westfieldinsurance.com/ |
Illinois Insurance Requirements
Illinois has similar car insurance requirements to other states. To legally drive on roads in Illinois, drivers must maintain bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. Drivers must also obtain uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Specific Illinois auto insurance requirements include:
- $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $20,000 of property damage liability coverage
- $25,000 of uninsured/underinsured motorist liability coverage per person / $50,000 per accident
Illinois does not require medical payments coverage, personal injury protection (PIP), or other coverage types. Like all states, Illinois does not require collision or comprehensive coverage, although many drivers add these coverages.
It’s important to note that the limits above are minimum liability limits. Many drivers exceed these limits for added peace of mind and protection. A single accident in Illinois can lead to millions in medical bills and other expenses, and many drivers buy umbrella protection to safeguard their assets.
Driving without Insurance in Illinois
It’s illegal to drive without insurance in Illinois. If you fail to meet the minimum car insurance requirements listed above, then you could face significant fines, license revocations, and other penalties.
For the first and second offense, you will pay a fine of $500 to $1,000. If you are caught driving on suspended plates because of an insurance violation, then you will pay an additional fine of $1,000. Your driver’s license and vehicle registration could also be suspended for up to three months, and you must pay a $100 fine to reinstate your license and registration.
Subsequent offenses lead to more severe penalties. For your third offense and beyond, you will pay a fine of $1,000, plus an additional $2,500 if you were caught without insurance twice and involved in an accident. You will also pay an additional $1,000 fine if your plates were suspended due to an insurance violation. Your driver’s license and registration will be suspended for four months, and you need to pay a $100 fee to reinstate your license and registration. You need to obtain an SR-22 certificate for three years after being caught driving without insurance.
Car Insurance in Illinois with DUI
Drivers with a DUI on their record in Illinois will face higher insurance rates with any company. However, because Illinois has lower-than-average car insurance premiums, you can still find cheap car insurance even with a DUI conviction in Illinois.
Request a quote from the following providers after receiving a DUI in Illinois:
- Safeco: $915 per year
- GEICO: $956 per year
- Erie: $1,068 per year
- Pekin: $1,105 per year
- State Farm: $1,306 per year
In addition to paying higher insurance premiums in Illinois after a DUI, you could face up to a year of jail time, $2,500 in fines, and a one-year license suspension – all for your first offense. For second offenses or DUIs that injure someone, you will face more severe penalties.
Car Insurance in Illinois with At-Fault Accidents
Illinois insurers treat at-fault accidents in different ways. Some have a harsh stance towards accidents, while others only raise premiums by a small amount.
The best car insurance companies for drivers with an at-fault accident in Illinois include:
- GEICO: $398 per year
- Safeco: $421 per year
- Erie: $498 per year
- State Farm: $521 per year
- Pekin: $539 per year
All insurance premiums above are based on a minimum liability insurance policy (without comprehensive or collision coverage). If you want full coverage car insurance after an at-fault accident, then you can expect to pay $1,000 to $2,500 per year for car insurance in Illinois.
Car Insurance in Illinois with Speeding Tickets
Some car insurance companies treat speeding tickets as seriously as at-fault accidents and DUIs. Other insurers ignore a single speeding ticket or minor violations.
The best insurance companies in Illinois for drivers with a speeding ticket include:
- Pekin: $815 per year
- Safeco: $865 per year
- GEICO: $870 per year
- State Farm: $873 per year
- Erie: $892 per year
All prices above are based on full coverage car insurance, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage.
Car Insurance in Illinois for Young Drivers
As a young driver, you pay higher rates for car insurance in any state – and Illinois is no exception. Fortunately, some car insurance companies welcome young drivers into their insurance pool, while others charge exorbitant rates.
The best car insurance companies for young drivers in Illinois include:
- Pekin: $730 per year
- Safeco: $780 per year
- GEICO: $810 per year
- State Farm: $982 per year
- Erie: $989 per year
All rates above are based on a 25-year old driver who has a clean driving record. If you are a younger driver or have multiple violations, then you will pay significantly higher rates than listed above.
Car Insurance in Illinois with Poor Credit
Drivers with bad credit scores pay higher rates than drivers with good credit scores. Illinois allows insurers to charge drivers different rates based on their credit.
Fortunately, not all car insurance companies treat credit the same way.
The best car insurance providers in Illinois for drivers with poor credit include:
- Safeco: $1,211 per year
- Country Financial: $1,324 per year
- Pekin: $1,333 per year
- GEICO: $1,493 per year
- Travelers: $1,512 per year
SR-22 Insurance in Illinois
The Illinois Driver Services Department requires certain drivers to provide a certificate of financial responsibility known as the SR-22. The SR-22 is a document your insurer files on your behalf with the Illinois Driver Services Department. The document verifies you meet minimum car insurance requirements in Illinois.
You may need to obtain SR-22 insurance in Illinois if you were recently convicted of:
- One or more serious driving offenses
- Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI)
Any major insurance company in Illinois provides SR-22 insurance. Insurers charge a flat fee of $15 to $50 to file the SR-22 certificate on your behalf, and then you can meet minimum insurance requirements in Illinois.
Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Illinois
Illinois has relatively cheap car insurance premiums compared to the rest of the United States. Whether you’re in the heart of Chicagoland, outside the Chicago area, or in a rural area of the state, you can find the right car insurance company for your unique needs in Illinois. Consider buying a policy from any of the providers listed above to enjoy the best auto insurance in Illinois.
