Illinois car insurance

Illinois car insurance costs an average of $189 per month for full coverage and $56 per month for minimum coverage.

Your personal rate depends on factors like the ages and driving histories of all household drivers, vehicle types and usage, coverage choices, and ZIP code. Comparing quotes, checking for discounts, and keeping a clean driving record can help you save on Illinois car insurance in 2026. 

The average cost of car insurance in Illinois in 2026 is $56 per month for state-minimum coverage and $189 per month for full coverage. That works out to average annual rates of $667 and $2,263, respectively.

These are averages, not guaranteed rates. Your actual premium may be higher or lower depending on your age, driving record, vehicle, coverage limits, deductibles, ZIP code, and other rating factors. 

Full coverage car insurance averages more than three times as much as state-minimum coverage in the Prairie State. But that’s because it includes state-minimum coverage, plus comprehensive and collision coverage to help pay for damage to your vehicle after a covered loss.

Illinois requires most drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum limits of 25/50/20 and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of 25/50. That’s $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $20,000 per accident for property damage liability.²

If you choose to raise your uninsured motorist coverage limits beyond the state minimums, then your policy will also need to include underinsured motorist bodily injury insurance with matching limits.² It helps cover your injuries when the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough bodily injury liability insurance.

Uninsured motorist property damage liability coverage is optional in Illinois.² It covers damage to your vehicle by an uninsured driver.

Is Illinois a no-fault or at-fault state?

Illinois is an at-fault state, which means the driver responsible for an accident is generally responsible for the resulting damages. Under Illinois law, you can usually recover damages when you’re 50% or less at fault.³ Illinois also uses comparative negligence, so your compensation can be reduced if you share fault in the crash.⁴

For example, if you’re found 20% at fault and the other driver is 80% at fault, you can collect damages under their insurance policy. But their insurer may only pay 80% of the eligible damage costs. If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot collect any damages from the other driver’s insurance company.

Drivers can also sue you if you’re at fault for an accident in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) recommends considering higher liability limits to better protect yourself financially in case of a lawsuit.²

The cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois depend on your driver profile. Insurers typically use the same rating factors, but may weigh them differently. Comparing quotes with the same coverage types, limits, and deductibles from multiple companies can help you find the cheapest company for you.

Check out the table below for the cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois and their average monthly premiums.

According to the IDOI, insurers use many factors to determine car insurance rates in Illinois, including:²

• Age: Younger, less experienced drivers are more likely to get into more accidents, so they typically pay more for auto insurance.

• Gender: Statistics show males are riskier drivers and get into more frequent crashes than females, so they usually pay higher rates.

• Marital status: Research also shows that single drivers have more accidents than married drivers, so insurers may charge higher premiums.

• Driving record: Premiums are usually higher for drivers with a history of tickets and accidents because they’re statistically more likely to file future claims. 

• Household driver information: Insurers also consider the age, gender, marital status, and driving history of all household drivers when setting rates.

• Credit: Many insurers consider your credit profile, such as your payment history, credit mix, and debt load, when setting auto insurance premiums.

• ZIP code: Heavy traffic, crashes, car thefts, and vandalism are more likely in densely populated areas of Illinois, so drivers in urban areas often pay higher costs than those in rural areas.

• Vehicle type: Vehicles that are more likely to be stolen, vandalized, or cost more to repair cost more to insure.

• Vehicle usage and mileage: The more you drive and the longer your commute to school or work, the more you’ll likely pay for car insurance.

How your driving record affects Illinois rates

Your driving record can significantly affect your Illinois car insurance rates.

On average, drivers with a speeding ticket pay around 28% more than drivers with no violations. Rates are around 55% higher for drivers with an at-fault accident. But the greatest average increase is for drivers with a DUI, who pay over 80% more than drivers with a clean record.

Car insurance usually costs more in Chicago than in less densely populated areas of Illinois. That’s because insurers consider local claim patterns, traffic congestion, vehicle theft, and other risks when setting rates. 

Chicago ranked as the most congested city in the United States and the third most congested in the world in INRIX’s 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard.⁵ Chicago drivers lose an average of 112 hours per year to congestion, costing the average driver $2,063 in 2025.⁵

About one in three Illinois crashes occurred in Chicago in 2023.⁶ The Windy City recorded 101,023 crashes compared with 299,133 statewide, with Chicago accounting for nearly 34% of all reported Illinois crashes.⁷

Chicago also accounts for a significant share of Illinois vehicle thefts. The Chicago Police Department reported 18,027 car thefts in 2025. Illinois reported 29,812 thefts. That’s almost 61% of the state’s vehicle thefts.⁸ The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) also ranked the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area third in the country for vehicle thefts in 2025.⁹

More crashes and car thefts typically mean more frequent claims and higher costs for insurers in an area. When insurers expect higher claim costs in a city like Chicago, those higher costs often contribute to higher premiums. 

But that doesn’t mean every Chicago driver pays more than every driver downstate. Your age, driving record, vehicle, coverage, ZIP code, and insurer can have a more significant impact on your premium.

You can usually find cheap car insurance in Illinois by comparing quotes, asking about discounts, and maintaining a clean driving record. The key is to compare policies with the same coverage limits and deductibles so you can get a true “apples-to-apples” price comparison.

Here are some ways you might be able to save money on Illinois car insurance:

1. Compare multiple insurers. Get quotes from several companies before buying or renewing your policy. Luva can help you compare rates from multiple insurers in one place.

2. Use the same coverage limits. A lower quote may simply provide less coverage. Compare matching coverage types, liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages.

3. Ask about discounts. Insurers typically offer discounts you can stack together for more savings. Discounts may apply for situations such as insuring multiple vehicles, bundling your auto and home insurance, driving a vehicle with safety features and an anti-theft device, being a good driver, carpooling, or driving less than 7,500 miles per year. 

4. Check insurance rates before buying a new or used vehicle. Some vehicles cost more to insure than others. Comparing quotes can help you find the cheapest, safest vehicle.

5. Avoid tickets and accidents. Maintaining a clean record can help you qualify for the lowest rates.

6. Maintain good credit. Pay your bills on time and don’t take on more debt than you can manage to maintain a higher credit score.

7. Increase your deductibles. Your comprehensive and collision deductibles are the amount you pay towards covered losses under those coverages. Insurers often charge less for higher deductibles because you’re taking on more financial responsibility if you file a claim.

Luva can help you find cheaper car insurance rates in minutes. Just enter your personal information once to receive multiple quotes to compare side by side. Lu, your personal insurance guide, is ready to answer your questions and help you navigate the quoting process.