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5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Updated
Insurers almost always require you to make a deposit when you buy a car insurance policy in Illinois. While you might see insurers advertising “zero-down” auto insurance policies, true no-deposit car insurance doesn’t exist in Illinois or in any other state.
That said, many insurers require only the first month’s premium rather than a separate deposit. To get the cheapest coverage in Illinois, focus on finding the lowest possible deposit.
The table below shows some of the cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois.
Insurance Company | Monthly Rate | Estimated First Payment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $41 | $41 | Discounts |
| State Farm | $45 | $45 | Low rates |
| Progressive | $62 | $62 | Coverage options |
| COUNTRY Financial | $62 | $62 | Customer satisfaction |
| Direct Auto | $64 | $64 | High-risk drivers |
Compare rates in the Prairie State, starting at an average of $41 per month
| User Reviews | 4.1 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.3 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $45/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $80/mo |
State Farm's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.1 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.7 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.
State Farm is one of the top insurers for cheap car insurance in Illinois. The company has some of the lowest average rates in the state, so you can lock in coverage with a very small deposit. State Farm also offers a variety of discounts for additional savings. Plus, it offers many optional coverages, including roadside assistance.
Cheap premiums in Illinois
Good selection of car insurance discounts
High J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the North Central region
Defensive driving course discount available only to senior drivers
Accident forgiveness not available
Gap insurance not available
The following table shows the average monthly car insurance premium and the estimated first month’s payment in Illinois for different drivers.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Rate | Estimated First Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $83 | $83 |
| One speeding ticket | $108 | $108 |
| One at-fault accident | $115 | $115 |
| One DUI | $122 | $122 |
| Teen driver | $165 | $165 |
| Senior driver | $69 | $69 |
| Driver with an SR-22 | $100 | $100 |
The average car insurance premium in Illinois is $162 per month for full coverage and $83 per month for liability-only coverage. Average rates in Illinois are cheaper than the U.S. national average.
Where you live affects your car insurance rates, and your rate typically determines your down payment. Rockford, Peoria, and Springfield have some of the lowest average rates in Illinois. But Chicago and Cicero have some of the highest premiums in the state.
Many other factors also influence your rate and down payment, including your driving record. Illinois drivers with a clean record often pay a lower deposit than people with speeding tickets or accidents on their record.[1] Young drivers also usually pay a higher deposit than older drivers with more experience.[2]
You can get the lowest car insurance deposit in Illinois by choosing the right coverage, payment frequency, and insurance company. Here are some tips for getting the lowest monthly payment in the Prairie State:
Choose a minimum coverage policy. A state-minimum coverage policy will likely have the lowest deposit. But keep in mind that liability-only car insurance in Illinois provides limited protection if you get into an accident.
Ask about discounts. Many insurers offer various discounts, including those for safe driving habits and enrolling in auto pay. Discounts lower your overall premium, which can reduce the amount you have to pay up front.
Increase your deductible. Choosing a higher deductible typically lowers your monthly premium. But it could end up costing you in the long run because you’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim.
Shop around. Your deposit can vary significantly depending on the insurer. To find the lowest deposit, shop around and compare quotes from several of the best car insurance companies in Illinois.
Check rates from top insurers in Illinois and save money in minutes
Illinois requires drivers to have a minimum amount of car insurance to register their vehicles and legally drive.[3] Illinois is a fault state, which means the at-fault driver in a crash is responsible for compensating the other person for their damages and losses.
The table below shows the minimum car insurance requirements in Illinois.
Coverage Type | Illinois Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability insurance | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury liability insurance | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability insurance | $20,000 per accident |
Many car insurance experts recommend purchasing higher limits than the state-minimum coverage. If you don’t have enough coverage, you could face legal issues and high out-of-pocket costs if you cause an accident.
Most Illinois drivers can also benefit from a full-coverage insurance policy. Full coverage typically includes liability insurance, plus collision and comprehensive coverage.
Illinois auto insurance premiums are consistently lower than the U.S. average, and rates are down 7.2% year over year in the state, according to Insurify data. That means Illinois also tends to have cheaper insurance deposits.
But car insurance deposits in Illinois can vary based on a variety of factors, including:
State insurance laws: Illinois doesn’t require very high minimum coverage amounts or personal injury protection (PIP), which can lead to larger initial deposits in other states.
Risk factors: Illinois experiences severe weather and has a relatively high number of uninsured drivers, which can affect average premiums.[4]
Coverage level: The coverage level you choose affects your deposit. In general, minimum coverage requires a lower deposit than full coverage.
Credit score: Illinois car insurance companies can use credit-based insurance scores to calculate rates. Drivers with good credit usually pay lower deposits than people with bad credit.[5]
Here’s some additional information that can help you find very cheap car insurance with a low deposit in Illinois.
Auto-Owners has the cheapest car insurance in Illinois, with an average monthly premium of $41. How much you pay for coverage depends on various factors, including your ZIP code, age, and driving record.
Yes. You can find car insurance with a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction on your record in Illinois, but you’ll probably pay a much higher premium. Shopping around and comparing quotes can help you find the cheapest auto insurance in Illinois with a DUI.
The average full-coverage car insurance premium in Illinois is $162 per month. But your rates depend on many factors, such as your vehicle, age, deductible, and driving record.
To find very cheap car insurance with no deposit in Illinois, shop around and compare quotes. You can also opt for less coverage, bundle policies, and look for discounts. Eligible drivers, including some high-risk drivers, may qualify for the ILIAP, the state-sponsored insurance program.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
