Illinois car insurance laws

Illinois requires that drivers carry at least 25/50/20.

These limits are in place to ease the financial burden for drivers who cause an accident and for the victims. The at-fault driver knows their insurer will cover medical expenses and property damage up to a certain amount, and victims can more readily access funds to pay for accident costs.

However, coverage limits are very low and will not cover expenses from a serious accident. To be better protected, Illinois drivers should consider increasing liability limits and adding coverage, such as collision and comprehensive.

Illinois car insurance requirements

Illinois requires the following coverage:

Liability. There are two parts to liability coverage. First, bodily injury liability pays medical costs associated with an accident, such as doctor visits, surgery, and prescriptions. Second, property damage liability covers repairing or replacing items such as vehicles, fences, or buildings.

Illinois liability minimums are 25/50/20.

The average cost of a minimum coverage policy is $421. However, Geico has the lowest minimum car insurance rates, averaging $298.

The table below shows the top insurers' average rates for minimum coverage in Illinois.

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Geico$298$25
Auto-Owners$318$26
Erie Insurance$320$27
Country Financial$341$28
State Farm$410$34
Travelers$415$35
Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$461$38
Progressive$536$45
Allstate$640$53
USAA$482$40

Illinois car insurance cost for minimum coverage limits

On average, state minimum car insurance costs $421. Car insurance rates for minimum coverage vary by company and driver. The table below shows average rates for drivers with minimum coverage in Illinois.

The cheapest company for minimum coverage in Illinois is Geico at an average rate of $298 annually.

State minimum coverage limit25/50/20
Average annual premium$421
Average monthly premium$35

Are the Illinois minimum coverage requirements changing in 2025?

Illinois car insurance requirements will not change in 2025. You do not need to make any changes if you have minimum coverage. If mandatory coverage changes in the future, your insurer will inform you, along with any rate changes.

Why do limits change?

"Several states have minimum requirements of property damage of $10,000-$25,000," says Zack Pope, agency manager at David Pope Insurance in Missouri. "[Given] the current values of vehicles, that's extremely antiquated values of coverage and a main reason that I personally do not offer less than 100/300/100 to customers. It is significantly easier to see a car on the road that is valued at $100,000 than it has been in the past."

What does minimum car insurance cover in Illinois?

Illinois requires drivers to carry at least a minimum amount of car insurance to help offset accident costs.

Illinois drivers are required to carry liability coverage. Bodily injury liability helps pay for injuries you cause to others in an accident. Property damage liability covers items damaged in an accident, such as another vehicle, fence, or other property.

PEOPLE ASK:

Is Illinois minimum car insurance enough?

It may not be. Even a moderately serious accident could exceed the state minimum limits of 25/50/20, and minimum coverage may not cover all accident costs. Furthermore, state minimums do not cover your vehicle; you need to add comprehensive and collision coverage.

How much car insurance is enough in Illinois?

Car insurance isn't one size fits all. The amount of coverage you need depends on your assets, net worth and risk level.

For example, if you are financially stable and can afford to pay out of pocket for medical costs and repairs, you may keep insurance limits low. However, you may be sued for the cost difference if you have a sizeable net worth and don't carry enough insurance to cover expenses.

Additionally, if you drive very little or have a short commute, your chances of causing an accident are relatively low. Also, you may choose to skip coverages such as collision and comprehensive if your car isn't worth much, or you can afford to pay for a new vehicle if yours is damaged. However, if you have a loan or lease you will be required to carry this coverage by your lender.

Consider your financial situation when determining how much car insurance you need.

Illinois penalties for driving without car insurance

Since Illinois requires its drivers to carry car insurance, failing to do so has consequences. Although you may be tempted to skip coverage to save money, you'll wind up paying heavily in the long run.

Failing to carry Illinois car insurance has penalties including those listed below. Keep in mind that repeated infractions have more severe penalties, such as jail time.

Fines$500
Other penaltiesRegistration suspension
Jail timeNo

Illinois minimum coverage cost by age group

Younger drivers pay for more car insurance because they lack experience behind the wheel. Fortunately, rates decrease as drivers age.

The table below breaks down the cost of car insurance for various age groups. Erie Insurance has the best rates for teens with minimum coverage averaging $677. Geico offers the cheapest coverage for adults at $310.

Additionally, females and males pay different rates. The average rate for a 40-year-old female is $422, and the average rate for a 40-year-old male is $420, a difference of $2.

Male
AgeCompanyMale annual premiumMale monthly premium
16Erie Insurance$807$67
16Country Financial$1,102$92
16Auto-Owners$1,430$119
16State Farm$1,814$151
16Geico$1,846$154
16Progressive$1,963$164
16Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$2,364$197
16Allstate$3,222$269
16Travelers$3,272$273
16USAA$2,507$209
17Erie Insurance$760$63
17Country Financial$926$77
17Geico$987$82
17Auto-Owners$1,266$106
17State Farm$1,569$131
17Travelers$1,608$134
17Progressive$1,717$143
17Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$2,164$180
17Allstate$2,458$205
17USAA$1,747$146
18Erie Insurance$700$58
18Country Financial$803$67
18Geico$917$76
18Auto-Owners$1,106$92
18Travelers$1,263$105
18State Farm$1,342$112
18Progressive$1,428$119
18Allstate$1,806$151
18Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$1,940$162
18USAA$1,467$122
19Erie Insurance$659$55
19Geico$741$62
19Auto-Owners$926$77
19Travelers$988$82
19Progressive$1,051$88
19State Farm$1,148$96
19Country Financial$1,176$98
19Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$1,459$122
19Allstate$1,505$125
19USAA$1,171$98
20Geico$572$48
20Erie Insurance$611$51
20Country Financial$652$54
20Auto-Owners$779$65
20Travelers$826$69
20Progressive$937$78
20State Farm$987$82
20Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$1,254$105
20Allstate$1,277$106
20USAA$1,019$85
21Geico$435$36
21Erie Insurance$586$49
21Country Financial$604$50
21Auto-Owners$665$55
21Travelers$690$58
21Progressive$813$68
21State Farm$830$69
21Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$866$72
21Allstate$1,045$87
21USAA$780$65
22Geico$388$32
22Erie Insurance$530$44
22Country Financial$565$47
22Auto-Owners$581$48
22Travelers$624$52
22State Farm$739$62
22Progressive$755$63
22Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$756$63
22Allstate$946$79
22USAA$712$59
23Geico$355$30
23Erie Insurance$498$42
23Auto-Owners$502$42
23Country Financial$531$44
23Travelers$566$47
23State Farm$643$54
23Progressive$695$58
23Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$757$63
23Allstate$891$74
23USAA$676$56
24Geico$332$28
24Erie Insurance$415$35
24Auto-Owners$444$37
24Country Financial$502$42
24Travelers$533$44
24State Farm$561$47
24Progressive$662$55
24Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$723$60
24Allstate$844$70
24USAA$646$54
25Geico$312$26
25Erie Insurance$400$33
25Auto-Owners$410$34
25Travelers$467$39
25Country Financial$476$40
25State Farm$494$41
25Progressive$588$49
25Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$607$51
25Allstate$796$66
25USAA$606$51
30Geico$301$25
30Auto-Owners$317$26
30Erie Insurance$340$28
30Country Financial$378$32
30State Farm$406$34
30Travelers$457$38
30Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$510$43
30Progressive$548$46
30Allstate$670$56
30USAA$506$42
35Geico$288$24
35Erie Insurance$318$27
35Auto-Owners$319$27
35Country Financial$355$30
35State Farm$403$34
35Travelers$456$38
35Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$488$41
35Progressive$530$44
35Allstate$651$54
35USAA$490$41
40Geico$277$23
40Erie Insurance$312$26
40Auto-Owners$318$27
40Country Financial$348$29
40State Farm$410$34
40Travelers$422$35
40Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$480$40
40Progressive$524$44
40Allstate$640$53
40USAA$478$40
45Geico$277$23
45Erie Insurance$303$25
45Auto-Owners$313$26
45Country Financial$343$29
45State Farm$413$34
45Travelers$422$35
45Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$446$37
45Progressive$524$44
45Allstate$640$53
45USAA$470$39
50Geico$267$22
50Erie Insurance$296$25
50Auto-Owners$304$25
50Country Financial$336$28
50State Farm$406$34
50Travelers$422$35
50Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$444$37
50Progressive$509$42
50Allstate$629$52
50USAA$461$38
55Geico$275$23
55Erie Insurance$290$24
55Auto-Owners$300$25
55Country Financial$331$28
55State Farm$397$33
55Travelers$400$33
55Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$401$33
55Progressive$515$43
55Allstate$607$51
55USAA$453$38
60Geico$286$24
60Erie Insurance$297$25
60Auto-Owners$306$26
60Country Financial$331$28
60State Farm$387$32
60Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$398$33
60Travelers$406$34
60Progressive$514$43
60Allstate$614$51
60USAA$462$39
65Geico$275$23
65Erie Insurance$315$26
65Auto-Owners$331$28
65Country Financial$345$29
65State Farm$387$32
65Travelers$442$37
65Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$461$38
65Progressive$533$44
65Allstate$622$52
65USAA$478$40
70Geico$296$25
70Erie Insurance$346$29
70Country Financial$380$32
70Auto-Owners$383$32
70State Farm$410$34
70Travelers$473$39
70Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$520$43
70Progressive$563$47
70Allstate$674$56
70USAA$517$43
75Geico$317$26
75Erie Insurance$405$34
75Country Financial$445$37
75Auto-Owners$452$38
75State Farm$455$38
75Travelers$530$44
75Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$547$46
75Progressive$628$52
75Allstate$805$67
75USAA$573$48
AgeCompanyFemale annual premiumFemale monthly premium
16Erie Insurance$684$57
16Country Financial$1,033$86
16Auto-Owners$963$80
16State Farm$1,427$119
16Geico$1,987$166
16Progressive$1,790$149
16Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$2,063$172
16Allstate$3,196$266
16Travelers$2,433$203
16USAA$2,476$206
17Erie Insurance$637$53
17Country Financial$868$72
17Geico$1,083$90
17Auto-Owners$911$76
17State Farm$1,231$103
17Travelers$1,241$103
17Progressive$1,559$130
17Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$1,954$163
17Allstate$2,440$203
17USAA$1,719$143
18Erie Insurance$602$50
18Country Financial$755$63
18Geico$999$83
18Auto-Owners$860$72
18Travelers$996$83
18State Farm$1,066$89
18Progressive$1,334$111
18Allstate$1,798$150
18Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$1,693$141
18USAA$1,422$119
19Erie Insurance$570$48
19Geico$816$68
19Auto-Owners$774$65
19Travelers$801$67
19Progressive$1,004$84
19State Farm$923$77
19Country Financial$1,106$92
19Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$1,295$108
19Allstate$1,487$124
19USAA$1,112$93
20Geico$634$53
20Erie Insurance$542$45
20Country Financial$614$51
20Auto-Owners$695$58
20Travelers$691$58
20Progressive$914$76
20State Farm$811$68
20Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$1,085$90
20Allstate$1,266$106
20USAA$994$83
21Geico$503$42
21Erie Insurance$519$43
21Country Financial$570$48
21Auto-Owners$627$52
21Travelers$597$50
21Progressive$802$67
21State Farm$697$58
21Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$778$65
21Allstate$1,041$87
21USAA$763$64
22Geico$442$37
22Erie Insurance$489$41
22Country Financial$534$45
22Auto-Owners$583$49
22Travelers$553$46
22State Farm$634$53
22Progressive$766$64
22Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$711$59
22Allstate$941$78
22USAA$699$58
23Geico$422$35
23Erie Insurance$482$40
23Auto-Owners$533$44
23Country Financial$503$42
23Travelers$527$44
23State Farm$558$47
23Progressive$702$59
23Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$679$57
23Allstate$887$74
23USAA$670$56
24Geico$402$34
24Erie Insurance$459$38
24Auto-Owners$495$41
24Country Financial$476$40
24Travelers$517$43
24State Farm$506$42
24Progressive$664$55
24Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$624$52
24Allstate$841$70
24USAA$645$54
25Geico$371$31
25Erie Insurance$440$37
25Auto-Owners$462$39
25Travelers$453$38
25Country Financial$452$38
25State Farm$455$38
25Progressive$610$51
25Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$536$45
25Allstate$791$66
25USAA$610$51
30Geico$362$30
30Auto-Owners$317$26
30Erie Insurance$371$31
30Country Financial$362$30
30State Farm$406$34
30Travelers$442$37
30Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$478$40
30Progressive$572$48
30Allstate$670$56
30USAA$514$43
35Geico$346$29
35Erie Insurance$340$28
35Auto-Owners$319$27
35Country Financial$340$28
35State Farm$403$34
35Travelers$439$37
35Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$465$39
35Progressive$556$46
35Allstate$651$54
35USAA$498$42
40Geico$319$27
40Erie Insurance$327$27
40Auto-Owners$318$27
40Country Financial$333$28
40State Farm$410$34
40Travelers$407$34
40Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$442$37
40Progressive$547$46
40Allstate$641$53
40USAA$486$41
45Geico$319$27
45Erie Insurance$309$26
45Auto-Owners$313$26
45Country Financial$329$27
45State Farm$413$34
45Travelers$407$34
45Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$420$35
45Progressive$546$46
45Allstate$640$53
45USAA$478$40
50Geico$316$26
50Erie Insurance$290$24
50Auto-Owners$304$25
50Country Financial$323$27
50State Farm$406$34
50Travelers$407$34
50Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$420$35
50Progressive$525$44
50Allstate$631$53
50USAA$471$39
55Geico$325$27
55Erie Insurance$275$23
55Auto-Owners$300$25
55Country Financial$317$26
55State Farm$397$33
55Travelers$386$32
55Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$390$33
55Progressive$519$43
55Allstate$607$51
55USAA$462$39
60Geico$326$27
60Erie Insurance$275$23
60Auto-Owners$306$26
60Country Financial$317$26
60State Farm$387$32
60Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$389$32
60Travelers$391$33
60Progressive$521$43
60Allstate$614$51
60USAA$472$39
65Geico$315$26
65Erie Insurance$287$24
65Auto-Owners$331$28
65Country Financial$331$28
65State Farm$387$32
65Travelers$425$35
65Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$452$38
65Progressive$550$46
65Allstate$622$52
65USAA$489$41
70Geico$332$28
70Erie Insurance$318$27
70Country Financial$364$30
70Auto-Owners$383$32
70State Farm$410$34
70Travelers$448$37
70Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$511$43
70Progressive$570$48
70Allstate$675$56
70USAA$527$44
75Geico$359$30
75Erie Insurance$374$31
75Country Financial$427$36
75Auto-Owners$452$38
75State Farm$455$38
75Travelers$488$41
75Auto Club Group - ACG (AAA)$535$45
75Progressive$602$50
75Allstate$802$67
75USAA$584$49

Illinois minimum coverage cost by city

Champaign drivers pay the least for minimum coverage in Illinois at $421. However, Chicago pay the most at $565.

Car insurance rates vary by city. For example, drivers in larger cities with a high traffic volume or vehicle theft rate pay higher rates.

The table below shows average minimum coverage rates for cities in Illinois.

CityAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Champaign$421$35
Springfield$433$36
Peoria$442$37
Rockford$454$38
Naperville$474$40
Elgin$481$40
Aurora$482$40
Joliet$503$42
Waukegan$507$42
Chicago$565$47

Optional car insurance coverage in Illinois

Illinois requires drivers to carry car insurance to pay for injuries and damages caused to others. However, drivers don't have to carry coverage for their vehicle unless required by a loan or lease.

Drivers may choose optional coverages such as:

  • Collision. Collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle if you cause an accident.
  • Comprehensive. This coverage pays for damages to your car unrelated to an accident, such as fire, flood, falling debris, and hail.
  • Rental car coverage. This pays for a rental car if your vehicle is being repaired for a covered claim and usually has time and cost limits.
  • Roadside assistance. If you run out of gas, need a tire changed, or have a dead battery roadside assistance will send someone to help.
  • Gap. Gap coverage pays the difference between what you owe on a car loan and the vehicle's value.

Insurance.com commissioned state minimum car insurance rates from Quadrant Information Systems based on a 40-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving history, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX. Rates are based on all coverages required by law at minimum coverage limits. Rates were also fielded for various additional age groups. State laws were gathered from state DMV and insurance department websites.

Illinois car insurance laws and requirements: FAQs

Is it mandatory to have car insurance in Illinois?

Yes, Illinois requires that you carry at least the minimum mandatory coverage. Necessary coverage includes 25/50/20.

Will my bare minimum car insurance cover me in another state?

Yes, your car insurance covers claims in another state, even if the minimums are higher in the other state.

What happens if I drive without car insurance in Illinois?

If you're caught driving without car insurance in Illinois, you may face fines, a driver's license suspension, having your vehicle impounded, and increased car insurance rates. Additionally, you may face jail time, especially for multiple violations.

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