What is the minimum car insurance required in Illinois?

Illinois requires 25/50/20 + UM/UIM — $25K BI per person, $50K BI per accident, $20K property damage, plus mandatory uninsured motorist coverage. Additional required coverage: Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) required. Driving without minimum coverage results in license suspension, fines of $500+, and personal liability for any damages. The minimum is the legal floor — most drivers benefit from higher liability limits because state minimums often don't fully cover damages from a serious accident.

What is the average cost of car insurance in Illinois?

Illinois drivers pay an average of $198/month ($2,376/year) for full coverage and $56/month ($667/year) for minimum coverage. Your specific quote depends on your age, driving record, credit (where allowed), vehicle, and ZIP code — averages are useful for comparison but always quote 3+ carriers for your real rate.

Which car insurance company is cheapest in Illinois?

For minimum coverage, Erie is cheapest at $42/month ($504/year average). Note: Erie regional to IL/OH/PA/IN; Travelers cheapest national carrier (26% below state avg) For full coverage, Liberty Mutual averages $130/month ($1,559/year).

How can I lower my car insurance in Illinois?

Five proven tactics: (1) Quote 3+ carriers — switching saves the average driver $300–$500/year. (2) Bundle auto + home for 10–25% off (State Farm leads at 22–23%, ~$1,010/yr avg savings). (3) Increase your deductible from $500 to $1,000 — saves 15–30%. (4) Use telematics — Progressive Snapshot saves safe drivers $322/yr avg, up to 30% off. (5) Stack discounts — multi-vehicle, good driver, paperless, autopay, and pay-annually compound to 30%+ off baseline. In Illinois specifically, allows credit-based insurance pricing.

Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Illinois?

Yes — Illinois requires uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage by law. Roughly 12–25% of drivers nationally are uninsured (varies by state). UM coverage pays your medical bills and car repairs if you're hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. It typically costs $5–$15/month and is one of the highest-ROI coverages you can add.

Downtown Chicago Illinois skyline along Lake Michigan during daytime

Verified May 1, 2026·47,000+ readers·Independent rankings

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Quick Answer — Illinois

Minimum coverage required: 25/50/20 + UM/UIM — $25K BI per person, $50K BI per accident, $20K property damage, plus mandatory uninsured motorist coverage
Avg full coverage cost: $198/month ($2,376/year)
Cheapest carrier (minimum): Erie — $42/mo avg
Cheapest carrier (full coverage): Liberty Mutual — $130/mo avg

What's special about car insurance in Illinois

UM/UIM coverage is mandatory (not optional like in many states)
Allows credit-based insurance pricing
Chicago metro pays significantly more than downstate IL — theft and traffic density drive rates up
Erie Insurance (regional carrier) is consistently cheapest for IL residents who qualify for membership

Illinois car insurance at a glance

Feature	Detail	Monthly	Annual
Minimum coverage required	25/50/20 + UM/UIM — $25K BI per person, $50K BI per accident, $20K property damage, plus mandatory uninsured motorist coverage	—	—
Avg minimum coverage cost	$56/mo	$667/yr	—
Avg full coverage cost	$198/mo	$2,376/yr	—
Cheapest carrier (minimum)	ErieBest	$42/mo	$504/yr
Cheapest carrier (full coverage)	Liberty MutualBest	$130/mo	$1,559/yr

Which carrier should Illinois drivers pick?

Match your situation to the right carrier. Illinois-specific pricing varies by carrier, but the patterns below hold for most drivers.

You want the absolute cheapest minimum coverageErieCheapest in Illinois at $42/mo. Erie regional to IL/OH/PA/IN; Travelers cheapest national carrier (26% below state avg)
You want full coverage at the lowest priceLiberty Mutual$130/mo full coverage in Illinois.
You qualify for USAA (military / veteran / family)USAAUSAA is almost always cheapest for eligible members in any state — quote them first.
You bundle auto + homeState Farm23% bundle discount = avg $1,010/yr savings — highest in industry.
You drive defensively + would let an app monitorProgressive (Snapshot)Avg $322/yr savings for safe drivers. Up to 30% off baseline.
You have a high-risk record (DUI, accidents, tickets)ProgressiveSpecialty pricing for non-standard drivers — beats GEICO/State Farm in this tier.

Verified by the WalletGrower Editorial Team — current as of July 2026. We update rates, bonuses, fees, and product details regularly against each provider's published disclosures. Vendors can change offers between our update cycles, so we always recommend confirming the current published rate or bonus on the provider's site before signing up or applying.

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Methodology & sources

All Illinois data on this page was WebSearch-verified May 2026 against the Illinois insurance commissioner / DMV and at least one of the following 2026 carrier analyses:

Caveat: Real quotes vary by ZIP code, age, driving record, credit (where allowed), vehicle, and coverage level. The averages cited are useful for cross-carrier comparison but your actual quote will differ — sometimes by hundreds of dollars in either direction. Always quote 3+ carriers before deciding.