Cheapest Car Insurance in Illinois for 2025
Quick Answer
The cheapest car insurance in Illinois is National General’s minimum coverage policy, costing on average $1,057 annually or $88 per month for minimum coverage. The cheapest full coverage car insurance in Illinois is from Root, averaging $2,194 annually or $183 per month. However, your driving record, age and other factors can all affect the cost of auto insurance in Illinois.
The cheapest car insurance in Illinois is National General's minimum coverage policy, at an average of $1,057 annually or $88 per month, according to Experian data from January 2025 and based on policies quoted through our automotive insurance marketplace.
The cheapest full coverage car insurance in Illinois is offered by Root and costs an average of $2,194 annually or $183 per month.
Buying minimum coverage car insurance gives you enough protection to meet the basic liability insurance requirements in Illinois. If you'd like more protection, you can purchase full coverage car insurance, which adds comprehensive and collision coverage to your liability coverage. If your vehicle is leased or financed, you are usually required to carry full coverage on your vehicle until your lease term ends or the vehicle is paid off.
Keep in mind that the cost of your car insurance can vary based on factors that include:
- Your age (younger drivers typically pay more for car insurance)
- Your driving record (incidents and violations usually increase your rates)
- Your annual mileage (driving more can mean higher rates)
- The type and amount of coverage you buy
As a result, although our data on the cheapest car insurance in Illinois can serve as a good general guideline, your rates may be higher or lower. Before purchasing an auto insurance policy, take the time to compare insurance quotes from several insurers.
Cheapest Minimum Coverage Car Insurance in Illinois
Most states, including Illinois, require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. Liability coverage includes bodily injury liability, which helps pay for medical care if you injure someone in an accident, and property damage liability, which covers damages you cause to someone's property or vehicle.
Drivers in Illinois must have minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, property damage coverage of $20,000 per accident, and bodily injury and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Buying just the minimum liability insurance Illinois requires is one way to keep your auto insurance costs down, but it might not provide enough protection if you're involved in an accident. As a result, insurance experts usually advise drivers to buy coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injuries and $100,000 for property damage.
Learn more: How Much Car Insurance Do I Need?
The table below lists the carriers that sell the cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance policies in Illinois.
| Carrier | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| National General | $1,057 | $88 |
| Gainsco | $1,084 | $90 |
| Mercury | $1,122 | $94 |
| Elephant Insurance | $1,137 | $95 |
| Progressive | $1,192 | $99 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Costs above represent insurance quotes, not policy premiums
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Illinois
Full coverage auto insurance adds comprehensive and collision coverage on top of liability insurance. Full coverage insurance isn't required by state law; however, most lenders or lessors will require it if you have an auto loan or lease your car. A full coverage policy offers the following protections for your vehicle:
- Collision coverage covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it's damaged due to a collision with another car, an animal or an object.
- Comprehensive coverage pays for repairing or replacing your car if it's damaged by a covered risk other than driving, such as hail, vandalism, theft or a falling tree branch.
Learn more: What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance?
The table below shows the carriers offering the cheapest full coverage auto insurance policies in Illinois.
| Carrier | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Root | $2,194 | $183 |
| GEICO | $2,370 | $197 |
| Progressive | $2,477 | $206 |
| Safeco | $2,505 | $209 |
| National General | $2,579 | $215 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Costs above represent insurance quotes, not policy premiums
Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Illinois
It can be expensive to insure new drivers. Younger drivers typically pay higher car insurance premiums because they're statistically more likely to be involved in accidents, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). On average, teenage drivers pay $3,512 annually for car insurance, according to Experian data.
Car insurance rates are usually highest for 16-year-olds and start to drop when your child turns 25. Until that time, you can usually reduce your car insurance premiums by putting your child on your auto insurance instead of buying them a separate policy. A teenager on your policy benefits from the lower rates you're likely to enjoy due to years of driving experience, homeownership or being married.
Good news if your child is a good student: Many insurance carriers offer discounts on auto insurance for young drivers who maintain a certain grade point average. Attending college away from home without a car could also earn your child a discount, as could completing an approved safe driving course.
Your car insurance premiums could soar if your young driver has a lot of accidents or moving violations. In this situation, buying your child a separate policy from an insurance provider that caters to high-risk drivers could be more affordable.
The table below shows the insurance providers with the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Illinois for drivers ages 16 to 25.
| Carrier | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Root | $2,639 | $220 |
| Safeco | $3,347 | $279 |
| Progressive | $3,701 | $308 |
| GEICO | $3,758 | $313 |
| Grange | $3,874 | $323 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Young drivers include those ages 16 to 25; costs above represent insurance quotes, not policy premiums
Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors in Illinois
Generally, your auto insurance rates will drop as you get older and have more driving experience. However, rates tend to rise again around the time you turn 70. Drivers ages 70 and up have a higher frequency of serious accidents, which can mean paying higher premiums. It's still possible to get cheap car insurance for seniors, however. Some carriers offer mature driver discounts for drivers over a certain age, for example.
The table below shows the car insurance carriers offering the cheapest full coverage car insurance for seniors in Illinois.
| Carrier | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,436 | $120 |
| National General | $1,668 | $139 |
| Progressive | $1,736 | $145 |
| Elephant Insurance | $2,017 | $168 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,064 | $172 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Senior drivers include those ages 65 and up; costs above represent insurance quotes, not policy premiums
It makes sense to reassess your auto insurance needs as you get older, because your driving habits are likely to shift as you age. For instance, retiring from a job with a long commute will likely mean driving less, potentially qualifying you for a more affordable low-mileage car insurance policy. Being a retired military service member or going accident-free for a certain number of years could also mean getting a discount on car insurance with some providers.
Learn more: How to Buy Car Insurance as a Senior
Car Insurance for Prior Incidents in Illinois
Making a habit of safe driving can reduce your risk of getting into an accident or receiving a traffic citation. Safer drivers generally enjoy lower insurance premiums because they present less risk for insurance companies. Illinois drivers with a clean driving history (no incidents or violations on their motor vehicle record) pay an average of $1,717 annually for auto insurance.
On the other hand, insurers may consider you a high-risk driver if your motor vehicle record lists moving violations or accidents (even if you weren't at fault). To compensate for the higher risk, insurance companies may increase your premiums. A record including several car accidents or serious infractions such as DUIs will usually have a bigger effect on your auto insurance premiums; in some cases, your insurer might even cancel your policy.
Learn more: How to Get Affordable Car Insurance as a High-Risk Driver
However, you can find affordable auto insurance even if your driving record isn't squeaky-clean. The table below shows the average cost of auto insurance in Illinois for drivers with negative marks on their driving records. (Incidents include things like traffic accidents or insurance claims; violations include moving violations, such as speeding tickets.)
| Driving Record | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Clean Record | $1,717 |
| 1 Incident | $1,954 |
| 1 Violation | $1,829 |
| 2 Incidents | $1,954 |
| 2 Violations | $2,270 |
| 3+ Incidents | $2,163 |
| 3+ Violations | $2,089 |
Source: Experian data as of January 2025
Note: Costs above are a blended average of full and minimum coverage policies sold through Experian's marketplace
Minimum Required Coverage in Illinois
Illinois requires drivers to carry the following minimum amounts of car insurance:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $20,000 property damage liability per accident
- $25,000 bodily injury uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
- $50,000 bodily injury uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
Minimum coverage car insurance in Illinois covers other vehicles and people (including your passengers) if you cause an accident. However, it doesn't cover costs for you or your vehicle.
Driving without minimum insurance coverage in Illinois will result in suspension of your vehicle registration. You'll need to get insurance and pay a $100 fee to reinstate your registration. In addition, if law enforcement finds you driving without proof of insurance, your license plates will be suspended, and you may owe a minimum $500 fine.
How to Save Money on Car Insurance
No one wants to pay more for auto insurance than necessary. Here are some ways to save on car insurance.
Check Into Discounts
Ask your current car insurance provider if they offer any discounts you aren't already taking advantage of. Then check out other carriers' websites to see what discounts they have available.
Some common auto insurance discounts include deals for bundling home and auto insurance, eliminating paper statements, paying your premium upfront or setting up automatic payments.
Many insurance companies will give you a discount if you get your insurance quotes online or sign documents digitally. Be sure to check with your workplace and any membership organizations you're a part of; they may offer discounts on auto insurance too.
Increase Your Deductible
When you file a car insurance claim, you're generally responsible for paying a deductible before insurance coverage kicks in. Insurance companies usually let you select a deductible ranging from $250 to $2,000. Increasing your deductible usually decreases your premiums, but keep in mind that you'll have to pay the new, higher deductible if you have a claim in the future.
To ensure you could cover the higher amount if needed, evaluate the state of your emergency fund and your other financial resources. Your car insurance company can tell you how different deductibles would change your premiums.
Cancel Add-On Coverage
You might be paying for add-on car insurance coverage, such as windshield replacement, roadside assistance or rental car reimbursement, but do you really need them? If not, cutting back on these extras can help lower your premiums. Consider how much the extra coverage would save you in case of a claim, and weigh that against the ongoing premiums. Perhaps you have alternatives, such as borrowing your spouse's car while yours is in the shop instead of paying extra for rental car reimbursement.
If your car is paid off and isn't worth very much, you may want to think about dropping collision and comprehensive coverage. At most, collision and comprehensive coverage only pays out the vehicle's value. For a vehicle only worth a few thousand dollars, the extra premiums may not be worth the expense. However, be sure to think about whether you could pay to replace or repair your vehicle yourself if it were totaled.
Learn more: Top Car Insurance Discounts
Drive Less
The more miles you drive, the greater your chances of getting into a car accident. Because low-mileage drivers face less risk, many car insurance companies give discounts to those who drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually. To reduce your mileage—and possibly your insurance bill—consider walking, carpooling or taking public transportation more often. Look into switching to remote work if your job allows it.
Usually, low-mileage car insurance policies track your mileage with self-reported or third-party odometer readings or devices that are installed in your car. Low-mileage drivers may also want to look into pay-per-mile car insurance, which charges a monthly base rate plus a per-mile charge for each additional mile you drive.
Be a Safe Driver
Maintaining a clean driving record can help keep your auto insurance costs low. Make it a priority to drive safely and avoid moving violations or accidents. Is it time to brush up on the rules of the road? Many insurance carriers offer discounts to drivers who complete an approved defensive driving or safe driving course.
Improve Your Credit
Insurance companies in most states, including Illinois, can consider your credit-based insurance score when setting your car insurance rates. A poor score could mean paying more for auto insurance. Credit-based insurance scores aren't the same as consumer credit scores, but they are based on much of the same information. That means taking action to improve your consumer credit score could benefit your credit-based insurance score, which might save you money on car insurance.
Compare Rates
Each insurance provider relies on its own formulas when determining car insurance rates. As a result, you may be quoted widely different rates from one insurance carrier to another.
Comparing quotes from multiple insurers is an effective way to find lower prices on car insurance. Make it a habit to get quotes from several providers at least once a year or whenever your current policy is about to be due for renewal.
To get auto insurance quotes, you can visit insurance company websites or contact insurers directly. That can be time-consuming, however. If you're looking for a more efficient way to explore your options, Experian's free car insurance comparison tool can help. You'll get auto insurance quotes from multiple top insurance companies in Illinois, so it's easy to tell which carrier offers the lowest rates.
Methodology
This analysis is based on a review of auto insurance policies and quotes provided through Experian's insurance marketplace. Policy premium and quote averages are based on driver data across all genders and ages unless otherwise noted.
Experian's insurance marketplace matches users with auto insurance coverage from more than 30 carriers across 50 states and Washington, D.C.
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About the author
Karen Axelton
Karen Axelton specializes in writing about business and entrepreneurship. She has created content for companies including American Express, Bank of America, MetLife, Amazon, Cox Media, Intel, Intuit, Microsoft and Xerox.
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