Illinois auto insurance

Illinois auto insurance shopping guide

A total of 295,604 crashes occurred on Illinois roads in 2021. About 801 crashes happened per day, with an average of more than nine injuries every hour and over three deaths every day. Illinois auto insurance is one of the best ways to protect your family from the financial burdens that can result from a serious car accident.

Illinois driving conditions

Larger cities, such as Chicago, Peoria, Champaign, Bloomington and Rock Island, have a variety of public transportation options. However, downstate Illinois is largely rural, with residents of small towns needing a car to travel for work, school, shopping, medical care and other tasks. 

Over two-thirds of all Illinois traffic crashes happen between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7:59 p.m. Of these crashes, 63.5% happen on urban roads, with the highest accident rates occurring between 12 p.m. and 7:59 p.m. 

While accident frequency tends to peak during the workday commute, fatal crashes spike on the weekends, with Sunday being the worst day of the week. These crashes also tend to occur later in the day, with the highest number happening between 8:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. Saturday tends to have the most injury crashes, while Monday has the fewest. 

Deer are a factor in 4.9% of all Illinois crashes. More than 70% of deer crashes happen on rural roads and 62.3% happen when it is dark out. 

Types of Illinois auto insurance coverage

Cost-conscious Illinois drivers can choose to purchase only the minimum coverage that Illinois law requires. However, this may put some drivers at financial risk if a serious accident happens.

Liability Coverage

This required coverage comes in two types:

•       Bodily Injury: This coverage pays for injuries to other people that you are legally liable for due to the negligent operation of your motor vehicle. It does not cover injuries to you or your family members. 

•       Property Damage: This coverage pays for damage you cause to someone else's vehicle or property while operating your motor vehicle. It does not cover damage to your vehicle or your property.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist

These required coverages work the same way as liability coverage, except that it covers you and your family members when someone else causes an accident and they either do not have enough insurance to pay for all of your damages (underinsured) or they have no insurance at all (uninsured). 

Collision Coverage

This optional coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if a collision with another object, such as a vehicle, damages it. You can use your Collision Coverage no matter who caused the accident, but you must pay your deductible in most cases. 

Comprehensive Coverage

This optional coverage pays for damages to your vehicle that result from anything other than a collision. Examples include weather related causes like flood and hail, animals, theft, fire and vandalism. Your policy may exclude some causes of loss, and a deductible usually applies.

Personal Injury Protection

This optional coverage pays for medical expenses and lost wages that result from a car accident. It applies to the driver and passengers of your vehicle, and you can use this coverage even if the driver of your vehicle caused the accident.

Illinois minimum insurance requirements

Illinois law requires all drivers to purchase and carry proof of auto insurance to legally operate a vehicle on Illinois roads. Illinois drivers’ policies must meet the following requirements:

•       $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in Bodily Injury Liability Coverage.

•       $20,000 per accident in Property Damage Liability Coverage.

•       $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage.

•       $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage.

While in some states Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist coverages are optional, Illinois law requires all drivers to purchase the minimum levels. 

Average cost of Illinois auto insurance

Illinois drivers pay an average of $175 per month for auto insurance, making it the  20^th least expensive state for average auto insurance premiums. Nationwide, drivers pay an average of $235 per month.

Rates vary based on several factors, including the company you purchase your policy from. Shopping around can save you hundreds of dollars per year. You can easily compare multiple auto insurance companies by requesting Illinois auto insurance quotes with VIU by HUB.

Factors that affect Illinois auto insurance rates

Driving history is the top factor that affects your rates. Drivers with speeding tickets or serious traffic violations, such as DUIs or reckless driving incidents, tend to pay the highest rates. 

Credit

Illinois auto insurers may also use your credit score as a factor to determine your rates. Drivers with good to excellent credit will usually pay less for auto insurance than drivers with poor credit. Drivers with excellent credit pay an average of $145 per month, compared to $175 per month for drivers with good credit, $190 for drivers with average credit and $295 per month for drivers with poor credit.

Location

Where you live in Illinois can also affect your Illinois auto insurance quotes. Drivers who live in larger cities with higher crime rates tend to pay higher premiums. Some of the most expensive cities include Champaign, Chicago, Skokie and East St. Louis. Less expensive locations include Decatur, Palatine and Aurora. 

Age

Because younger drivers typically have less experience and tend to cause more accidents, they usually pay more for auto insurance. Teenagers pay the highest rates in the state. Drivers in their 20s pay an average of $165 per month, and rates gradually decline for people in their 60s before they start rising again for drivers older than 80.

This information is intended for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.

Sources:

Illinois Department of Transportation