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The Best Car Insurance in Illinois

Find out which car insurance companies in Illinois best suit your needs.

Best Overall
Allstate Logo 2023

Allstate is one of the largest providers in the industry, and it’s known for its wide range of coverage policies, first-rate customer service, affordable prices, and various other insurance products.

Best for High-Risk Drivers
Direct Auto Logo

Direct Auto has protected drivers for more than three decades with its car insurance policies. The company aims to cover all drivers, regardless of their driving history.

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If you drive in Illinois, you’ll be happy to know that you pay less on average for your car insurance than drivers in other states. But how can you find the very best policies and rates? With so many options available, sorting through different auto insurance providers may be difficult. On this page, we take a closer look at Illinois’ top auto insurance companies and what makes them stand out.

The Best Auto Insurance in Illinois for 2024

  1. 1.

    Best Auto Insurance in Illinois Overall: Allstate

  2. 2.

    Best Auto Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in Illinois: Direct Auto

  3. 3.

    Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Illinois: USAA

  4. 4.

    Best Auto Insurance Bundles in Illinois: State Farm

Comparison of the Best Auto Insurance in Illinois

Provider Best category J.D. Power rating (out of 1,000) Discounts Review
Allstate Overall 826 Multiple policies, new car, early signing, responsible payer, good student Allstate review
Direct Auto High-risk drivers 803 Multi-car, military, senior citizen, good student, safe driver, driver education, vehicle equipment, homeowner, affinity Direct Auto review
USAA Cheap 884 Safe driving, bundling, low mileage, vehicle storage, auto-pay, multi-vehicle, new car, family, vehicle equipment USAA review
State Farm Bundles 847 Bundling, muli-car, Drive Safe & Save, safe vehicle, good student, accident-free, defensive driving course, anti-theft, passive restraint State Farm review

Detailed List of the Best Auto Insurance of 2024

1. Best Auto Insurance in Illinois Overall - Allstate

What We Like Most:

  • Three ways to earn a student discount
  • Pay-per-mile option for drivers with low mileage
  • No waiting period to purchase accident forgiveness

According to a report from the Illinois Department of Insurance, Allstate was among the top 10 writers of private passenger auto liability insurance in the state, with a market share of 7 percent as of 2021. That market share is even higher in Chicago: 13 percent.1 Learn about what Illinois drivers value most about Allstate below.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    New drivers, like young drivers or recent immigrants
  • pro
    Those who value the convenience of mobile apps to manage their policies
  • pro
    People who want to save by bundling auto insurance with other policies
  • pro
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Active military members and veterans (no discounts available)
  • con
    Those who drive electric vehicles (no discounts available)

Third-Party Ratings

Trusted third-party organizations rank Allstate among the top auto insurance providers consistently. Specifically, customers praise the company for its financial strength, as demonstrated by its A+ rating by AM Best – a superior rating compared to competing companies.2 Allstate’s customer satisfaction ratings are also high. For example, the company’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of an A+ (the highest rating possible) indicates its commitment to customer service and high response rate to complaints.3

Mobile App

Allstate’s mobile app allows customers to manage their policies anytime, anywhere, through their mobile devices. Below are more details about Allstate Mobile:

Allstate app functions iOS rating (out of 5) Android rating (out of 5)
  • Live customer support
  • Digital ID card access
  • Claim filing
  • Bill review and payment
  • Roadside assistance
  • QuickFoto Claim
  • DriveWise safe driving program
4.8 3.9

Allstate Ride for Hire

If you drive for a rideshare company like Lyft or Uber, it’s important to be familiar with the limitations of your personal auto policy. Personal insurance policies do not cover commercial driving, and your rideshare company’s insurance coverage covers you only when you have passengers in the car.

This means that if you get into an accident while you’re waiting for a ride request or driving to pick up a customer, neither your rideshare company’s coverage nor your personal coverage will cover the costs. Luckily, Allstate offers rideshare insurance through its Ride for Hire coverage, which you can add to your policy as optional coverage. Allstate’s Ride for Hire provides deductible gap coverage to pay for damage to your vehicle up to $2,500.

NOTE:

Ride for Hire coverage covers you while you are signed in to your rideshare app only.

2. Best Auto Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in Illinois - Direct Auto
Direct Auto Logo

What We Like Most:

  • Low rates for high-risk drivers
  • Can pay in cash locally
  • Save money by bundling with life insurance

Direct Auto has over 30 years of experience protecting drivers with its wide range of coverage options. The company aims to provide low car insurance rates and strong coverage to all drivers, regardless of their driving history. With its specialization in nonstandard auto insurance, Direct Auto is great for those who need SR-22 certifications or who are considered to be high-risk drivers.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    High-risk drivers, like those with a DUI or multiple at-fault accidents on their record
  • pro
    Active military members
  • pro
    Those who want to pay their bills online
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Those who value high customer satisfaction ratings
  • con
    Drivers looking for the cheapest car insurance company

Discounts

There are many ways to save with Direct Auto:

Discount Eligible customers Maximum savings
Affinity Active members of organizations that partner with Direct Auto 5%
Driver education Drivers who complete qualifying accident prevention courses 10%
Good student Unmarried, full-time students that are on the honor roll or rank in the upper 20% of their class 10%
Homeowner People who own homes, townhomes, or condos and keep their cars there 15%
Military Active servicemembers who provide copies of their current orders 25%
Multi-car Customers with more than one vehicle on their policy 25%
Multi-policy People that bundle their car insurance with other policies, like motorcycle or commercial auto insurance 10%
Payment Customers who set up automatic payments, pay their policies in full or go paperless 9%
Safe driver Policyholders that have been accident- and violation-free for the past 36 months 10%
Senior citizen Customers 55 years old or older who have successfully completed motor vehicle accident prevention courses 10%
Welcome back People who have previously purchased policies with Direct Auto 6%
Vehicle equipment Those with vehicles equipped with an anti-theft system or other safety features 10%

Local and Online Customer Service Options

Direct Auto supports both in-person and online customer service options, so you’ll have no problem getting in touch with a representative for anything you need. If you live in Chicago, you can visit one of the four different Direct Auto locations in the city. Otherwise, all Illinois residents can reach customer service in the following ways:

  • Toll-free phone number: 1-877-463-4732
  • Hours of operation:
    • Monday through Friday: 8 a.m – 8 p.m CT
    • Saturday: 10 a.m – 4 p.m CT
    • Sunday: Closed
  • Online contact form: https://www.directauto.com/emailus

Flexible Payment Options

With Direct Auto, you can customize your payment plan to fit how and when you wish to pay for your policy. Here are the different ways you can choose to pay for your insurance:

  • Online: Enter your credit, debit, or checking account information, and you can pay your bills without logging in.
  • By phone: Call 1-877-GO-DIRECT to pay your bills over the phone.
  • MyAccount insurance portal: Set up your MyAccount portal to make payments each month or set up AutoPay.
  • In person: Pay your bills with cash at the nearest Direct Auto location.
  • Mobile app: Make payments anytime with a credit card or electronic check through the Direct Auto mobile app.
3. Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Illinois - USAA

What We Like Most:

  • Cheapest rates for teens on a family policy or on their own
  • Special discount for teens transitioning off their parents’ policy
  • Strong customer service and claims process

USAA provides some of the most affordable insurance policies for its customer base, which includes active-duty military members, veterans, and their families. Customers have saved an average of $725 annually with USAA, thanks to its expansive list of discounts.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Good students and their parents
  • pro
    Those with more than five years of a good driving record
  • pro
    Drivers of vehicles that are fewer than three model years old
  • pro
    Children of USAA policyholders
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Non-military members
  • con
    Non-USAA members

Competitive Rates

USAA offers some of the cheapest rates we’ve seen. For instance, the average annual cost for a USAA policy issued in Illinois was $1,668 as of 2020, and nationally, USAA customers saved an average of $725 per year by switching companies.4 As the largest insurer of military members, USAA policyholders can achieve such low rates through the following ways:

Discount Amount Eligibility
Bundling 10% Those who bundle auto with property insurance policies
Vehicle storage 60% Policyholders who store their cars due to deployment or any other reason
Legacy 10% People whose parents held USAA insurance policies
SafePilot program 10% for participation

Up to 30% for safe driving

Drivers who track their habits behind the wheel (phone handling, braking, speed, mileage, etc.) and demonstrate safe driving through the SafePilot safe driving telematics-based program

Strong Customer Satisfaction Ratings

USAA has maintained above-average customer satisfaction ratings from third-party organizations such as J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). USAA’s superior ratings indicate its level of trustworthiness, reliability, and history of responding to complaints in a timely manner.

Organization Rating
BBB (A through F) A+
J.D. Power (out of 1,000) 884

Usage-Based Insurance

As of March 2023, Illinois residents are eligible for USAA’s usage-based insurance (UBI) through its company Noblr. If you have low annual mileage and drive safely, you could save a significant amount on your premium with Noblr’s telematic-based mobile app. Rated 3.8 out of 5 stars on both Google Play and the App Store, the Noblr app measures the following behaviors to calculate your potential savings:

TIP:

Consider switching to USAA’s usage-based insurance if you drive less than 10,000 miles per year.

4. Best Auto Insurance Bundles in Illinois - State Farm

What We Like Most:

  • Multiple discounts for safe driving, including one specifically for young drivers
  • Local agents
  • Discounts for multiple cars

Not only does State Farm offer some of the most affordable insurance rates in the industry, but it also provides a comprehensive range of insurance products to meet the diverse needs of its customers. Specifically, State Farm is renowned for its bundling options, which enable customers to combine their auto insurance with other insurance products, such as home and life insurance, to access savings.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    People who want the convenience of a mobile app
  • pro
    Those who enjoy working with a local agent
  • pro
    Safe drivers
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    People with a bad driving record
  • con
    Those who lease or finance their car (limited gap insurance available)

Insurance Products

As one of the largest auto insurance providers in the industry, State Farm offers multiple kinds of insurance policies beyond auto. If you own a home or other property, you could save up to 24 percent by buying more than one policy from State Farm. Here is a list of the insurance policies you can choose from:

Bundle Average annual savings
Auto and home $1,127
Auto and condo Varies
Auto and renters $722
Auto and life Varies

Steer Clear Safe Driving Program

State Farm offers extra savings for drivers that participate in its safe driving program, Steer Clear.

Eligibility Program requirements Maximum discount iOS rating  (out of 5 stars) Android rating (out of 5 stars)
  • Under 25 years old
  • Valid driver’s license
  • 3 years of accident- and violation-free driving
  • Program certification
  • Course training modules, including lessons, quizzes, videos, and driving scenarios
  • 5 hours of driving practice in at least 10 trips
15% 4.7 4.4

Vintage and Classic Car Coverage

State Farm distinguishes itself by providing coverage for vintage and classic cars, which not all auto insurers offer. If you drive a classic car (10 to 24 years old ) or an antique car (25 years old or older), your State Farm agent can help you determine an agreed value for your vehicle and then use this value, along with your preferred deductible amount, to calculate your monthly premium.

Classic car coverage is different from regular car insurance in a few ways. Firstly, repairing classic cars requires skilled labor along with specific and often hard-to-find or special-order parts. Additionally, it is more difficult to determine the value of classic cars compared to regular cars, as classic cars’ values appreciate over time rather than depreciate.

Methodology

Our process for selecting the top auto insurance providers is based on a three-pronged approach:

  • Company information: Our analysis involves evaluating various aspects of an insurance company, including the coverage plans and discounts it offers. Additionally, we consider feedback from customers and third-party organizations, such as AM Best, the Better Business Bureau, J.D. Powder, Moody’s, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Standard & Poor’s, to assess a company’s customer satisfaction and financial strength.
  • Proprietary data: AutoInsurance.com has been facilitating connections between individuals and insurance companies for more than two decades. Throughout this time, we have accumulated millions of data points related to policy sign-ups. Our analysis of this data helps us to identify which companies had the most success with drivers in Illinois. We recognize that not all providers are suitable for every customer, and by specifying each company’s target demographic, we direct customers to insurers that are most likely to meet their needs.
  • Institutional knowledge: With more than 20 years of experience covering the auto insurance industry, we have acquired a wealth of institutional knowledge about each insurance provider, including its strengths and weaknesses. Our team consults with Paul Ford, the president of insurance at Centerfield, AutoInsurance.com’s parent company. Paul brings with him almost 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, having held leadership roles at companies such as Canadian Access, Insolgic, Capital One Insurance Services, NetQuote, Bankrate, and Datalot. Leveraging Paul’s extensive expertise in car insurance allows us to assist customers in finding the best policy for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is car insurance in Illinois cheaper compared to other states?

Car insurance in Illinois is cheaper compared to other states. As of 2020, the average cost for car insurance in Illinois was $915 per year, 14 percent less than the national average of $1,047 per year, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

How much is car insurance for a 16-year-old in Illinois?

The average rate for full coverage car insurance for a 16-year-old in Illinois is $6,131 per year, or $2,585 per year for minimum coverage. These rates are slightly lower than the average annual rates for 16-year-olds across the country, at $6,613 for full coverage insurance and $2,733 for minimum requirements coverage.

Compare rates from multiple providers, like Country Financial and State Farm, to see what you will pay.

What car insurance is required in Illinois?

Illinois car insurance requirements are as follows:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability coverage: $20,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
  • Underinsured motorist bodily injury insurance: Required if you purchase higher limits of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UIM); limit is the difference between the UIM and liability limits of the driver at fault in an accident

What are the fines for not having car insurance in Illinois?

According to the Illinois Secretary of State, operating an uninsured vehicle can result in a traffic citation and a minimum fine of $500 if convicted. Your license plate will be suspended until you’ve proved to the state that you’ve purchased the minimum coverage. Then, you’ll have to pay a $100 reinstatement fee before you can drive again. For repeat offenders, the suspension will last four months.

Citations

  1. 2022 Cost Containment Annual Report to the General Assembly. Illinois Department of Insurance. (2022, Jul 1).
    https://idoi.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/insurance/sites/insurance/companies/documents/cc-annualrpt22.pdf

  2. AM Best Ratings. AM Best. (2023).
    https://ratings.ambest.com/CompanyProfile.aspx

  3. Allstate Insurance Business Profile. Better Business Bureau. (2023).
    https://www.bbb.org/us/il/northbrook/profile/insurance-companies/allstate-insurance-0654-12014144

  4. Illinois Car Insurance. USAA. (2023).
    https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/illinois-car-insurance?akredirect=true