120+ more*Quotes generated for Insurify users from Illinois within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 2, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users from Illinois within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 2, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
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7+ years writing insurance and personal finance content
Contributor to top media, including USA Today
A passionate personal finance advocate, Sarah’s writing has graced the pages of many of the personal finance and insurance industries’ top web publications.
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.
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25 years teaching risk management and insurance course
Former commercial lines underwriter
David is the managing director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center. He has been quoted by The New York Times and CNN.
Updated
Approximately 1 in 3 Illinois drivers lease or finance their vehicle, according to Insurify data. If you have an auto loan, gap insurance offers a financial backstop after an accident.
Gap insurance pays the difference between your insurance payout and any remaining loan or lease balance if you total your car. Without gap coverage, you’ll likely have to pay the remaining loan balance out of pocket, even if you no longer have the vehicle.
Here’s what you need to know about gap insurance in Illinois.
Illinois doesn’t require drivers to have gap insurance.
Nearly 33% of Illinois drivers finance or lease their cars.
Auto-Owners offers the cheapest gap insurance rates for Illinois drivers, adding an average of $2 per month to a full-coverage policy.
The best gap insurance company for you will vary based on your situation. But for Illinois drivers, some insurers offer better options than others.
The table below highlights a few of the best car insurance companies in Illinois for gap coverage.
Gap Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $2 | Affordability |
| Erie Insurance | $3 | Customer service |
| USAA | $3 | Veterans |
| User Reviews | 4.3 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 8.2 /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. | $41/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. | $74/mo |
Auto-Owners's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.5 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.4 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the friendly service and quick claims process but dislike the constant rate increases and perceived inflexibility in pricing.
Auto-Owners offers Illinois drivers one of the most affordable gap insurance policies. With dozens of agents across the Prairie State, you can easily get coverage. But you’ll need to finalize your policy with an agent, and the company has mixed customer reviews.
Affordable gap insurance rates
Local agents throughout Illinois
Extensive coverage options
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the North Central region
Must finalize policy with an agent
Poor Trustpilot rating
| User Reviews | 4.4 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 8.4 /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. | $68/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. | $122/mo |
Erie Insurance's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.2 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.7 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.0 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.7 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and quick claim handling but are dissatisfied with the unexpected and unexplained rate increases. Some also found the policy details hard to understand.
Erie Insurance offers gap insurance in Illinois under the name Auto Security. Erie ranks No. 1 for customer satisfaction in the North Central region and has some of the most affordable gap insurance rates. Erie also offers new-car replacement, which can help you get a new vehicle after you total yours.
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the North Central region
Affordable rates in Illinois
New-car replacement available
Not the cheapest insurer for some drivers
Offers fewer discounts than some competitors
Must buy policy through an agent
| User Reviews | 4.9 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 9.1 /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. | $72/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. | $130/mo |
USAA's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.9 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.9 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 4.9 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 4.9 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s reliable customer service and claim handling but express concerns about high rates and frequent price increases. Some also find the insurer’s security protocols and communication methods frustrating.
For the more than 470,000 veterans living in the Land of Lincoln, USAA offers dependable auto insurance. While USAA doesn’t have traditional gap insurance, it offers car replacement assistance.
With car replacement assistance, USAA will pay 20% more than your vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV). You can use this money to help you pay off your remaining loan balance or make a down payment on a new car.
Affordable rates in Illinois
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the North Central region
Interest-free replacement car assistance
Replacement car assistance not available for leased vehicles
Limited to veterans, military members, and family members
No physical locations in Illinois
Guaranteed asset protection — or gap insurance — is optional insurance that covers the difference between your vehicle’s ACV and your loan balance if you total your car.[1]
Here’s how a gap insurance policy works after an accident:
Your insurer totals your vehicle. During the claims process, the insurance company uses a formula to determine if repair costs exceed your car’s ACV, minus its salvage value. If repairs are more than the ACV, the insurer declares the vehicle a total loss.
The insurer pays the ACV. If you have a full-coverage policy, you’ll receive payment for the vehicle’s ACV, minus your deductible.
Gap insurance pays out. If you have gap insurance, your insurer will pay off your remaining loan or lease balance.
Check rates from Illinois’ best insurers, starting at an average of $74 per month
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Illinois is $162 per month. Drivers can add gap insurance to a full-coverage policy for an average of $4 more per month.
Auto-Owners, COUNTRY Financial, Safeco, and Erie offer the most affordable gap insurance rates. But the amount you’ll pay varies based on your insurer and policy.
Gap insurance pays the difference between your auto loan balance and your car’s ACV. Although Illinois doesn’t require gap insurance, it makes sense for many drivers.
For example, let’s say you finance a $50,000 vehicle. Six months later, your car insurance company totals it after an accident. Your insurer pays out your car’s ACV, which is $40,000. But you still owe $45,000 on the loan. If you have gap insurance, it would cover the $5,000 difference. Without it, you’d have to pay the remaining loan balance out of pocket.
The table below takes a closer look at what gap insurance covers and doesn’t cover after a total loss.
What It Covers | What It Doesn’t Cover |
|---|---|
| Remaining loan balance | Your deductible |
| Lease payoff gap | Vehicle repairs or medical expenses |
| Theft-related payoff gap | Unpaid fees or interest for your auto loan or lease |
| Negative equity |
Full-coverage policies don’t automatically include gap insurance. Typically, full coverage includes only liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. If you want gap insurance, you need to add it to your auto insurance policy.
If you might struggle to pay off a remaining auto loan balance after an accident, you should consider buying both full coverage and gap insurance.
The table below highlights what full coverage and gap insurance policies cover.
Coverage Feature | Full Coverage | Gap Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Covers repairs? | Yes | No |
| Covers the loan gap? | No | Yes |
| Covers car theft or total? | Yes | Yes |
| Required by state law? | No | No |
| Ends when the car is paid off? | No | Yes |
The state of Illinois doesn’t require drivers to have gap insurance.[2] But it may make sense for some drivers. Here are a few situations where you should consider buying gap coverage:
You lease or finance a new car.
Your lender requires gap insurance.
You made a down payment of less than 20%.
You have negative trade-in equity.
Your vehicle depreciates quickly.
If you owe significantly more on your auto loan balance than your vehicle’s current value, gap insurance might be a good idea. That’s especially true if you have to purchase another vehicle after an accident. Keep in mind that luxury cars can depreciate quickly, making gap insurance a more important consideration.
That said, here are a few situations when you may not need gap insurance:
You made a large down payment.
You own your vehicle outright.
You plan to pay off your car quickly.
Your remaining loan balance is less than your car’s ACV.
Compare quotes and get the coverage you need at the best price
You can buy gap insurance from several places, including auto insurers, car dealerships, and lenders. It may be more convenient to get coverage through a car dealership or lender, but it’s often cheaper to buy it through your auto insurance company.
The table below compares the pros and cons of ways to buy gap insurance.
Gap Insurance Source | Pros | Cons | Add-On or Stand-Alone? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car dealership |
|
| Stand-alone |
| Auto insurance company |
|
| Add-on |
| Bank |
|
| Stand-alone |
| Credit union |
|
| Stand-alone |
| Online insurer |
|
| Stand-alone or add-on |
If you still have questions about gap insurance in Illinois, the following answers may help.
No. Illinois doesn’t require drivers to have gap insurance. But you may want to consider adding it if you finance your vehicle or buy a car that depreciates quickly.
In Illinois, gap insurance covers the difference between your remaining auto loan balance and your vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV) after you total it. Without gap insurance, you’d have to pay your loan balance out of pocket.
Illinois drivers pay an average of $4 per month for gap insurance. You typically need to add gap insurance to a full-coverage policy. Full coverage costs an average of $162 per month in Illinois.
New car insurance legislation passed by the Illinois Senate in May 2026 requires insurers to provide at least 30 days’ notice before increasing premiums by more than 10%.[3] The state intends for this new law to protect Illinois drivers from excessive rate hikes.
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:
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7+ years writing insurance and personal finance content
Contributor to top media, including USA Today
A passionate personal finance advocate, Sarah’s writing has graced the pages of many of the personal finance and insurance industries’ top web publications.
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.
25 years teaching risk management and insurance course
Former commercial lines underwriter
David is the managing director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center. He has been quoted by The New York Times and CNN.
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.
