5 Best Car Insurance Companies in Illinois for 2022
With more than 8.5 million licensed drivers in the state, having the best car insurance is paramount for Illinois drivers. In 2020, Illinois implemented more than a dozen new driving laws, including several related to distracted driving.
These new laws bring hope for increased alertness among Illinois drivers. The reality is that accidents happen, and drivers can protect themselves and their vehicles by finding the right car insurance company.
Always compare companies when searching for the right car insurance. You can do that by obtaining quotes from several insurers via the comparison tool below.
We’ve researched several data points to bring you the top insurers in Illinois. Keep reading to learn more about the best insurance companies in Illinois for 2022.
Where to Get the Best Car Insurance in Illinois
- Best for Customer service: Allstate
- Best for Customization: Progressive
- Best for Coverage Add-Ons: Liberty Mutual
- Best for Digital Tools: Esurance
- Best for Discounts: American Family
Compare Auto Insurance Companies in Illinois
Best for Customer Service: Allstate
Allstate is known for its top-notch customer service. Along with 24/7 phone support, you can also get help through local agents, and digitally through online account access and Allstate’s mobile app.
Allstate also makes filing an insurance claim a breeze through its handy digital tools. You can start the claim process before leaving the scene of the incident. Allstate lets you file claims online or through the mobile app, submitting photos of vehicle damage if needed.
Allstate’s app makes it easy to track your claim throughout the process, too.
Statewide Average Premium in Illinois:
The average premium for Illinois drivers through Allstate is $60 per month. This is significantly lower than the statewide average across all insurers. The average auto insurance premium in Illinois is $558 for a six-month policy, or $93 a month.
Keep in mind the amount will vary based on the city you live in and your driver profile.
Coverage Options:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability
- Medical payments
- Uninsured motorists
- Underinsured motorists
- Sound system
- Roadside assistance
- Personal injury protection
- Personal umbrella
- Rental reimbursement
Discounts:
- Antilock brake discount
- Antitheft device discount
- Multiple policy discount
- Early signing discount
- Responsible payer discount
- Smart student discount
- New-car discount
- EZ pay plan discount
- Allstate eSmart discount
- Pay-in-full discount
- Safe driving club discount
Customer Satisfaction Rating: 830
The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study is the gold standard in measuring customer satisfaction in every region of the U.S. Some states are large enough to count as their own region. Illinois falls under the North Central region along with Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
In 2020, Allstate ranked ninth (a score of 830 out of 1,000) in customer satisfaction in the North Central region, slightly above the regional average.
Financial Strength Rating: A+
The Allstate Insurance Co. received an A+ (superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, a trusted credit rating agency. Financial strength ratings measure an insurance company’s ability to meet contractual obligations.
Best for Customization: Progressive
Over 20 million Americans trust Progressive with their car insurance needs. This is in part due to the ability to customize your insurance coverage through the insurance company. Progressive’s Name Your Price Tool lets you say how much you want to pay, and then the company shows you coverage options that fit your budget.
Progressive is also known for its plethora of discounts. There are discounts for almost every driver, from discounts for bundling with other insurance products to discounts for being a good driver. Progressive’s Snapshot program personalizes your rates based on how well you drive.
Statewide Average Premium in Illinois:
The average premium for Illinois drivers through Progressive is $39 per month. This is significantly lower than the statewide average across all insurers.
Coverage Options:
- Liability coverage
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Uninsured motorist
- Underinsured motorist
- Medical payments
- Loan/lease payoff
- Rental car reimbursement
- Custom parts and equipment value
- Ride-hailing coverage
- Roadside assistance
- Deductible savings bank
Discounts:
- Multipolicy discount
- Multicar discount
- Continuous insurance discount
- Safe driver discount
- Teen driver discount
- Good student discount
- Distant student discount
- Homeowner discount
- Online quote discount
- Sign online discount
- Paperless discount
- Pay-in-full discount
- Automatic payment discount
Customer Satisfaction Rating: 824
Progressive ranked 15th (a score of 824 out of 1,000) in customer satisfaction in the North Central region of the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
Financial Strength Rating: A+
Progressive received an A+ (superior) financial strength rating from credit rating agency AM Best. A+ is the highest rating possible from AM Best and signifies that Progressive is known for holding up its end of the deal with its customers.
Best for Coverage Add-Ons: Liberty Mutual
While Liberty Mutual’s rates are higher than average, it offers tons of valuable add-on coverages to meet various insurance needs. There’s special coverage for rental cars, teachers, gap coverage and more. There’s extra coverage for almost everyone.
Liberty Mutual is also a top choice because of its annual policies. Most insurers base rates on six-month periods. Liberty Mutual locks in your rates for 12 months.
Statewide Average Premium in Illinois:
The average premium for Illinois drivers through Liberty Mutual is $146 per month. This is significantly higher than the statewide average across all insurers.
Coverage Options:
- Liability coverage
- Personal injury protection
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage
- Medical payments
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Liberty Mutual Deductible Fund
- Lifetime repair guarantee
- New car replacement
- Better car replacement
- Towing and labor (24-hour roadside assistance)
- Gap coverage
- Original parts replacement
- Teachers car insurance
- Insurance for driving in Mexico
- Uninsured motorist
- Rental car reimbursement
Discounts:
- Homeowner discount
- Military discount
- Early shopper discount
- Good student discount
- Student-away-at-school discount
- Advanced safety features discount
- Alternative energy discount
- Antitheft device discount
- Accident-free discount
- Violation-free discount
- RightTrack discount
- Multipolicy discount
- Multicar discount
- Preferred payment discount
- Pay-in-full discount
- Online purchase discount
- Paperless policy discount
Customer Satisfaction Rating: 816
Liberty Mutual ranked 18th (a score of 816 out of 1,000) in customer satisfaction in the North Central Region of the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
Financial Strength Rating: A
Liberty Mutual received an A (excellent) financial strength rating from credit rating agency AM Best. An A rating is the second-highest rating you can receive from AM Best.
Best for Digital Tools: Esurance
Esurance is an online-only insurance company fully backed by parent company Allstate. Because it exists online, Esurance has made a name for itself by providing a pain-free digital experience for its customers. From its highly rated mobile app to online account access, Esurance delivers.
You can easily view your policy, file and track claims, pay your bill, retrieve your insurance ID card and contact roadside assistance, all from your mobile phone.
Statewide Average Premium in Illinois:
The average premium for Illinois drivers through Esurance is $58 per month. This is significantly lower than the statewide average across all insurers.
Coverage Options:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car
- Loan/lease gap insurance
- Medical payments
- Personal injury protection
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Uninsured motorist
- Underinsured motorist
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage
Discounts:
- Antilock brake discount
- Antitheft device discount
- Multiple policy discount
- Early signing discount
- Responsible payer discount
- Smart student discount
- New-car discount
- EZ pay plan discount
- DriveSense mobile app discount
- Pay-in-full discount
- Safe driving club discount
Customer Satisfaction Rating: 820
Esurance ranked 16th (a score of 820 out of 1,000) in customer satisfaction in the North Central Region of the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
Financial Strength Rating: A+
Esurance received an A+ (superior) financial strength rating from credit rating agency AM Best. Much of its financial stability and ability to meet contractual obligations is because it falls under the Allstate umbrella of companies.
Best for Discounts: American Family
American Family Insurance rates are higher than the state average, but the company makes up for it by offering a laundry list of potential discounts for customers. Like other insurers, American Family offers discounts for bundling insurance products, safe driving and insuring more than one vehicle. You can also get discounts for being a loyal customer, switching over from a competitor or if you are a low-mileage driver.
Young drivers also save with American Family. The insurance company offers a handful of discounts specifically for individuals younger than25. There’s even a discount for younger drivers if their parents are American Family customers.
Statewide Average Premium in Illinois:
The average premium for Illinois drivers through American Family is $129 per month. This is higher than the statewide average across all insurers.
Coverage Options:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Property damage liability
- Bodily injury liability
- Medical expense
- Personal injury protection
- Gap coverage
- Uninsured motorist
- Underinsured motorist
- Rental reimbursement
- Emergency road service
- Accidental death and dismemberment
Discounts:
- Auto safety equipment discount
- Away-at-school discount
- Loyalty discount
- Defensive driver discount
- Early-bird discount
- Generational discount
- Good driving discount
- Good student discount
- KnowYourDrive discount
- Low-mileage discount
- Multiproduct discount
- Multicar discount
- Steer-into-savings discount
- Teen safe driver discount
- Young volunteer discount
Customer Satisfaction Rating: 827
American Family ranked 14th (a score of 827 out of 1,000) in customer satisfaction in the North Central Region of the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
Financial Strength Rating: A
American Family Insurance received an A (excellent) financial strength rating from credit rating agency AM Best. This marks 18 years in a row the insurance company has achieved at least an A rating through AM Best.
How We Chose the Best Car Insurance Options in Illinois
We considered several factors when rating the best car insurance companies in Illinois.
The average Illinois rates are well below the national average, but it’s always good to research companies that offer competitive pricing.
We compared the average insurance premiums of individual insurers against the state average. We also weighed important items like coverage, features, discounts, customer satisfaction and financial stability to determine the state’s best insurance companies.
What You Need to Know About Illinois Required Coverage
The state of Illinois requires all motor vehicle owners to carry at least the following minimum amounts of auto liability insurance coverage:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $20,000 property damage liability per accident
Your auto lender may also require you to carry physical damage insurance coverage.
What If I Can’t Afford Insurance in Illinois?
Unfortunately, Illinois doesn’t sponsor any programs for low-income drivers who can’t afford the minimum auto insurance requirements. There is an Illinois Auto Insurance Plan, but it’s specifically for people who don’t qualify for standard coverage through insurers because of their driving record.
You can lower your insurance costs by asking for discounts, maintaining a good driving record, improving your credit and choosing a vehicle that costs less to insure.
What If You’re a High-Risk Driver in Illinois?
Illinois offers a state-sponsored auto insurance program for high-risk drivers who don’t qualify for insurance coverage because of their driving record. To be eligible for the Illinois Auto Insurance Plan, you must:
- Be turned down for auto insurance from other auto insurers
- Have a valid driver’s license (or be eligible to get one)
- Have no outstanding debts from prior insurance coverage during the past 36 months
- Have a vehicle that’s considered safe to drive
Keep in mind that insurance premiums through state-sponsored programs may be higher than you would find at other auto insurance companies. As you maintain a good driving record, you should eventually qualify for insurance through another vendor.
What Are Illinois’ Laws Regarding Noninsurance?
There are several possible outcomes if you drive a car without insurance in Illinois. If you are caught driving without insurance in Illinois, you could face:
- License plate suspension
- $500-plus fine for driving uninsured
Illinois drivers are also subject to a fine of $1,000 or more if caught driving a vehicle while its license plates are suspended for a previous violation.
If your license plates are suspended, you will need to prove you purchased liability insurance before they are reinstated. Also, there is a $100 fee to get your license plates reinstated.
Final Thoughts
When shopping for car insurance, take time to research and gather quotes from several insurance companies. Your rates are determined by several factors, including where you live, the vehicle you drive and your driving history.
Take things like deductibles, available discounts, customer service and digital tools into consideration when choosing an insurer. Determine your insurance needs and then find a company that fits.
