Cheapest car insurance in Illinois for a bad driving record

Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA), Travelers, Progressive provides affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers with bad driving record in Illinois.

Traffic infractions, accidents and DUIs wind up on your driving record, meaning youâ??ll pay higher car insurance rates in addition to any fines assessed. While most violations only affect your insurance rates for a few years, a DUI may affect rates for a decade and never be removed from your record.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$979$1,576
Travelers$1,119$1,681
Progressive$1,412$2,031
Erie Insurance$1,489$2,069
GEICO$1,178$2,355
State Farm$1,633$2,626
Auto-Owners$1,426$2,870
Allstate$2,742$3,952
USAA$1,745$2,648

How much is high-risk car insurance in Illinois?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In Illinois, high-risk car insurance costs $2,409 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $1,576 annually from Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA).

Although you may be labeled high-risk for many reasons, some factors raise rates more than others. For example, multiple speeding tickets may significantly raise car insurance rates, but so can a single ticket for excessive speed in a school zone.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in Illinois, IL is $2,429
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$979$1,258
Travelers$1,119$1,673
Auto-Owners$1,426$1,825
State Farm$1,633$1,881
Erie Insurance$1,489$2,015
GEICO$1,178$2,039
Progressive$1,412$2,238
Allstate$2,742$5,071
Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in Illinois?

Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.

Cheapest car insurance in Illinois with a DUI

Although many insurance companies provide coverage after a DUI, Progressive offers the most affordable rate at $1,728 a year.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious traffic violation that damages your driving record. It can raise auto insurance premiums for nearly 10 years, on top of fines and other penalties. Multiple DUIs drive rates even higher, but consistent safe driving over time can gradually lead to lower premiums.

The table below compares average car insurance premiums in Illinois for drivers with a clean record versus those with a DUI.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
Progressive$1,412$1,728
State Farm$1,633$1,741
Travelers$1,119$1,759
Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$979$2,090
Erie Insurance$1,489$2,382
GEICO$1,178$2,657
Auto-Owners$1,426$2,738
Allstate$2,742$4,343
USAA$1,745$3,727

Cheapest car insurance in Illinois with multiple tickets

For drivers with multiple tickets, Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA) offers the lowest premiums, averaging $1,223 per year or $102 per month.

A single ticket can raise your car insurance premiums, but multiple tickets will push them even higher. Repeatedly violating speed limits and other traffic laws signals risky behavior, increasing the likelihood that insurers will have to pay claims.

This table shows drivers in Illinois how much having multiple tickets can raise their insurance premiums.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$979$1,223
Travelers$1,119$1,607
Erie Insurance$1,489$1,648
State Farm$1,633$1,741
Progressive$1,412$1,981
GEICO$1,178$2,119
Auto-Owners$1,426$2,292
Allstate$2,742$3,630
USAA$1,745$2,227

Cheapest car insurance in Illinois with a reckless driving conviction

Erie Insurance offers the most affordable rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions, averaging $1,648 per year.

Engaging in driving behaviors that put others at risk can lead to a reckless driving charge. A conviction for reckless driving results in higher car insurance rates.

The table below compares car insurance premiums for drivers with a clean record and those with a reckless driving conviction.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for reckless driving
Erie Insurance$1,489$1,648
State Farm$1,633$1,741
Travelers$1,119$1,759
Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$979$2,090
Progressive$1,412$2,116
GEICO$1,178$2,657
Auto-Owners$1,426$2,738
Allstate$2,742$4,343
USAA$1,745$2,491

Cheapest car insurance in Illinois with bad credit

The cheapest Illinois insurer for bad credit is Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA), with rates averaging $1,614 annually or $135 monthly. Fortunately, drivers with bad credit can still find affordable auto insurance.

Although unrelated to your performance behind the wheel, your credit score also impacts car insurance rates and can put you in the high-risk category. To an insurance company, high-risk means more likely to file a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing., and statistically, drivers with a low credit score fit that description.

Check out the table below to see how your credit score affects Illinois car insurance.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual premium for bad credit
Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$979$1,614
Travelers$1,119$1,745
Progressive$1,412$2,398
GEICO$1,178$2,461
Erie Insurance$1,489$3,437
Allstate$2,742$4,137
Auto-Owners$1,426$4,291
State Farm$1,633$7,048
USAA$1,745$2,989

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Illinois

Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA) offers the lowest rates after an accident, averaging $1,258 per year. Travelers is another budget-friendly option, with rates around $1,626 a year.

Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.

This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for one at-fault accidentAnnual premium for multiple accident
Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$979$1,258$1,533
Travelers$1,119$1,626$2,092
Auto-Owners$1,426$1,825$2,172
State Farm$1,633$1,881$1,881
Erie Insurance$1,489$2,015$2,871
GEICO$1,178$2,039$3,159
Progressive$1,412$2,238$3,190
Allstate$2,742$5,071$7,040
USAA$1,745$2,662$4,131

Cheapest car insurance in Illinois by city

In Illinois, the lowest car insurance rates are found in Bloomington, averaging $2,079 annually. On the other hand, Chicago has the highest rates at $3,064 a year.

Where you live in Illinois matters, too. If you're in an area with heavy traffic or a high rate of vehicle theft, your premiums will rise to reflect the increased likelihood of claims.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Bloomington$1,331$2,079
Mount Carmel$1,455$2,217
Crystal Lake$1,419$2,240
Decatur$1,482$2,325
Aurora$1,476$2,328
Arlington Heights$1,484$2,351
Elgin$1,502$2,380
Crest Hill$1,554$2,449
Joliet$1,574$2,488
Des Plaines$1,696$2,698
Chicago$1,930$3,064

How to reduce car insurance rates in Illinois for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in Illinois is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

Where you live in Illinois also affects car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a high-traffic or high-theft area, rates will increase because your vehicle is more likely to be damaged or stolen.

  • Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
  • Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
  • Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
  • Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
  • Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

PEOPLE ASK:

How long are you considered a high-risk driver in Illinois?

Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in California depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.

Illinois car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're a high-risk driver in Illinois, you might need to file an SR-22. This is a form that your car insurance company sends in to show you have the required minimum insurance coverage. The court will let you know how long you need to keep the SR-22.

An SR-22 isn't a type of insurance; it's just a form. You don't need special coverage, but your rates might be higher because you're considered high-risk. Also, not all insurance companies offer coverage for high-risk drivers or handle SR-22 filings.

Methodology

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170+

insurance companies analyzed

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34,000+

ZIP codes examined

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$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

All base rate averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

  • Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident
  • Property damage liability of $100,000 per incident
  • Comprehensive and collision deductibles of $500
  • 40-year-old driver
  • Honda Accord LX
  • Good credit
  • A clean driving record
  • 12-mile commute, 10,000 annual mileage

Our data is then adjusted to reflect the rate increase from this base rate for the following infractions and issue:

  • DUI
  • Reckless driving
  • Multiple speeding tickets
  • Bad credit
  • One at-fault accident over $2,000
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