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Illinois car insurance costs dropped 9% in 2025, falling from an annual rate of $2,028 in January to $1,855 in December.
Recent legislation in Illinois could further lower car insurance rates in 2026.
In Illinois, 15% of drivers don’t have car insurance. The state ranks No. 17 in the U.S. for number of uninsured drivers, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Average Illinois car insurance rates fell steadily throughout 2025, from $2,028 in January to $1,855 in December. Here are four of the main factors affecting average auto insurance costs in the state.
Illinois experiences frequent severe weather, creating hazardous driving conditions. Every county in Illinois is at risk of severe storms, which can cause tornadoes and hail damage.[1]
Many counties in Illinois also have a high risk of flooding, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.[2] Severe weather events can increase the number of car insurance claims, so insurers typically increase rates in those areas.
Drivers in Illinois logged more than 106 billion miles in traffic in 2025, and more than 30 billion miles came from Cook County alone.[3] Chicago-area interstates are among the most congested in Illinois, and more than 300,000 vehicles travel on Interstate 90 every day. Heavy traffic congestion increases the risk of collisions, which insurers factor into your premiums.
Illinois ranks No. 17 in the country for the number of uninsured drivers, according to the Insurance Information Institute.[4] More than 15% of Illinois drivers don’t have car insurance. Insurers charge higher premiums in areas with more uninsured drivers because it increases the total claims cost.
Until recently, Illinois was one of only two states without a process to challenge auto insurance rates. In 2024, car insurance rates for Illinois drivers increased by 18%, which was higher than in most states.[5]
Recent legislation would allow the Illinois Department of Insurance to reject unfair rate increases and order insurers to pay rebates to overcharged drivers. It would also require insurers to provide 30 days’ notice before increasing a driver’s premium by more than 10% at renewal.
Compare rates starting at an average of $40 per month
Illinois car insurance rates were relatively flat through 2021 and 2022, hovering around an average of $1,200 annually. In 2023, average annual premiums peaked at $2,088 in September 2024, a 74% increase over the previous two years.
The following graph shows how the average cost of car insurance in Illinois has changed over the past five years.
State Name | 2021-07 | 2021-08 | 2021-09 | 2021-10 | 2021-11 | 2021-12 | 2022-01 | 2022-02 | 2022-03 | 2022-04 | 2022-05 | 2022-06 | 2022-07 | 2022-08 | 2022-09 | 2022-10 | 2022-11 | 2022-12 | 2023-01 | 2023-02 | 2023-03 | 2023-04 | 2023-05 | 2023-06 | 2023-07 | 2023-08 | 2023-09 | 2023-10 | 2023-11 | 2023-12 | 2024-01 | 2024-02 | 2024-03 | 2024-04 | 2024-05 | 2024-06 | 2024-07 | 2024-08 | 2024-09 | 2024-10 | 2024-11 | 2024-12 | 2025-01 | 2025-02 | 2025-03 | 2025-04 | 2025-05 | 2025-06 | 2025-07 | 2025-08 | 2025-09 | 2025-10 | 2025-11 | 2025-12 | 2026-01 | 2026-02 | 2026-03 | 2026-04 | 2026-05 | 2026-06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1,184 | 1,179 | 1,181 | 1,178 | 1,179 | 1,184 | 1,190 | 1,184 | 1,187 | 1,192 | 1,195 | 1,197 | 1,200 | 1,202 | 1,205 | 1,206 | 1,214 | 1,217 | 1,231 | 1,253 | 1,276 | 1,301 | 1,347 | 1,372 | 1,410 | 1,460 | 1,527 | 1,592 | 1,633 | 1,671 | 1,722 | 1,782 | 1,848 | 1,896 | 1,958 | 2,003 | 2,037 | 2,074 | 2,088 | 2,060 | 2,046 | 2,042 | 2,035 | 2,052 | 2,031 | 2,029 | 2,019 | 1,989 | 1,942 | 1,906 | 1,872 | 1,845 | 1,844 | 1,853 | 1,859 | 1,864 | 1,885 | 1,899 | 1,912 | 1,930 |
| United States | 1,553 | 1,555 | 1,557 | 1,562 | 1,564 | 1,566 | 1,568 | 1,572 | 1,577 | 1,591 | 1,602 | 1,608 | 1,612 | 1,618 | 1,624 | 1,632 | 1,640 | 1,650 | 1,666 | 1,689 | 1,719 | 1,758 | 1,802 | 1,850 | 1,887 | 1,919 | 1,956 | 1,983 | 2,006 | 2,036 | 2,076 | 2,128 | 2,194 | 2,240 | 2,300 | 2,343 | 2,370 | 2,391 | 2,387 | 2,374 | 2,370 | 2,363 | 2,353 | 2,367 | 2,367 | 2,366 | 2,356 | 2,342 | 2,317 | 2,285 | 2,257 | 2,228 | 2,214 | 2,221 | 2,222 | 2,224 | 2,232 | 2,238 | 2,236 | 2,237 |
Auto insurance costs in Illinois vary significantly from city to city, largely due to local factors like traffic density, theft rates, and population size.
Chicago residents and those in nearby suburbs tend to pay the highest premiums, due to the city’s heavier traffic congestion. Bloomington drivers pay some of the lowest average rates, thanks to the city’s low population density.
The table below shows average rates for cities across Illinois.
City | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| Aurora | $122 |
| Belleville | $141 |
| Berwyn | $136 |
| Bloomington | $103 |
| Champaign | $108 |
| Chicago | $170 |
| Chicago Heights | $159 |
| Cicero | $159 |
| Crest Hill | $120 |
| Decatur | $109 |
| Des Plaines | $128 |
| Elgin | $122 |
| Evanston | $126 |
| Joliet | $128 |
| Moline | $106 |
| Naperville | $113 |
| Peoria | $119 |
| Rockford | $117 |
| Schaumburg | $122 |
| Skokie | $139 |
| Springfield | $125 |
| Waukegan | $121 |
| Wheeling | $121 |
Chicago: Heavy congestion and a high auto theft rate push the city’s auto insurance premiums above the state average.
Chicago Heights: Chicago Heights’ close proximity to Chicago and high local crime rates drive up average premiums in the city.
Cicero: Cicero’s dense population and proximity to Chicago make car insurance more expensive.
Belleville: Belleville’s average car insurance rates are higher due to its proximity to St. Louis.
Skokie: Skokie has similar traffic and theft-related risks as nearby Chicago, which increases premiums.
Get rates from top insurers in Illinois and save money in minutes
You don’t have control over every factor that affects your premiums. But you can still find cheap car insurance in Illinois. Here are five ways you can lower your rates:
Complete a defensive driving course. Many Illinois insurers offer discounts for completing an approved defensive driving course. Recent legislation will expand access to this discount for drivers aged 55 or older.
Ask about discounts. Most insurers offer a discount for bundling your auto and homeowners insurance. Insurance companies may also offer discounts for safe drivers and good students.
Maintain a clean driving record. Keeping your driving record clean is one of the best ways to lower your premium. High-risk drivers with a history of accidents, speeding tickets, and driving under the influence (DUI) convictions usually pay the highest rates.
Increase your deductible. Higher deductibles can lower your monthly payment. Just make sure you can afford the extra out-of-pocket cost if you file a claim.
Compare car insurance quotes. Car insurance costs can vary significantly across insurers, even for the same coverage. Shopping around and comparing quotes can help you find the lowest price for your car insurance.
Below, we answered some common questions about why car insurance is so expensive in Illinois.
Auto-Owners has the cheapest car insurance in Illinois, with liability policies averaging $40 per month. But how much you pay for insurance depends on several factors, like your ZIP code, age, and driving record.
In May 2026, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 714, which gives state regulators the power to review and challenge auto insurance rate hikes. An independent study found that Illinois drivers often pay higher auto insurance premiums based on factors such as credit history, age, marital status, and ZIP code. The bill is awaiting the governor’s signature.
It depends. In Illinois, the overall average monthly rate for car insurance is $121. But the exact amount you pay for coverage depends on several factors, like your driving history, coverage choices, and ZIP code.
You can face a $500 fine and license and vehicle registration suspension for driving without car insurance in Illinois. Illinois requires all drivers to have at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, and $20,000 of property damage liability coverage.
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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6 years experience in personal finance writing
Featured on Credit Karma and Insider
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
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