Fact CheckedNerdWallet’s editorial team collected data on 22 auto insurers in Illinois and scored them for a variety of factors, including customer experience, online features and discounts. We chose GEICO for the top spot in Illinois, but plenty of other car insurance companies also earned high ratings.
Our March 2026 picks for the best car insurance companies in Illinois are:
Category winner | NerdWallet star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall: GEICO | |
Best budget pick: Travelers | |
Best claims service: Amica | |
Best for coverage add-ons: Progressive | |
Best regional pick: Erie |
For our list of the best car insurance companies in Illinois, we only considered insurers that achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies may change.
NerdWallet’s editorial team considers these factors when choosing the best auto insurance companies:
Financial strength: We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims.
Consumer experience: These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the NAIC. We also look at survey data from J.D. Power’s yearly national and regional studies.
Digital ease of use: This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes the quality of information offered online, mobile app scores based on user ratings, and whether a user can start and track a claim, or get a quote online.
Ways to save: We look at the kinds of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
You can read our full auto insurance methodology to learn more.
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Thorough rating guidelines for evaluating auto insurance companies.
More than 120 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 130 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
You can trust the prices we show because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in a state where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.
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Best overall for car insurance: GEICO
Full coverage
$181 /month
Liability only
$50 /month
With nationwide availability and a raft of discounts, GEICO is a popular, and often affordable, choice for car insurance.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why GEICO is our top pick for most drivers: GEICO brings strong financial stability and an impressive array of online features that could make it more convenient to get insured and manage your coverage. For one, you can get quotes online and start a policy without needing to speak with an agent.
You can also download the GEICO app and use it to call roadside assistance, get an estimate for your car’s damage after a crash and track your vehicle’s maintenance schedule. Plus, the app has been well rated by Android and iOS users.
We found that GEICO often has rates that are close to average in Illinois for good drivers. Relatively low rates and a wide selection of discounts could make GEICO a good pick for wallet-conscious shoppers.
Don’t pick GEICO if: You want to strengthen a basic policy with optional coverage. GEICO offers a couple of add-ons, including equipment breakdown coverage, but other insurers may have more.
How much is GEICO car insurance in Illinois? The average cost of car insurance from GEICO for someone with a clean driving record in Illinois is $181 per month, or $2,169 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $2,458 per year.
» Read the full review: GEICO auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $2,169 $595 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,791 $774 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,759 $991 One DUI, good credit $5,740 $1,370 Clean driving record, poor credit $3,194 $697
Best for shopping on a budget: Travelers
Full coverage
$124 /month
Liability only
$46 /month
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, & WI.
Why cost-conscious shoppers might like Travelers best: According to our rates analysis, Travelers typically has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Illinois. Travelers may even offer cheaper than average rates for drivers with a recent accident, speeding ticket or DUI on their record.
Additionally, Travelers offers a great set of discounts. Travelers’ low rates and discounts could encourage drivers to upgrade their policy with helpful add-ons like gap insurance, new car replacement and the choice between two accident forgiveness plans.
Don’t pick Travelers if: You value an insurer’s customer experience score the most. Travelers earns fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size. But it was rated lower than average on the J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study and takes last place in the North Central portion of the regional Auto Insurance Study.
How much is Travelers car insurance in Illinois? The average cost of car insurance from Travelers for someone with a clean driving record in Illinois is $124 per month, or $1,490 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $2,458 per year.
» Read the full review: Travelers auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,490 $551 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,078 $744 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,189 $794 One DUI, good credit $2,788 $1,007 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,638 $945
Best if you need to make a claim: Amica
Low consumer complaints and a wide variety of policy perks and discounts make Amica a top-rated choice for good drivers.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why Amica's customer satisfaction stands out: The process of making a claim could go more smoothly at Amica compared to other insurers. Amica receives fewer complaints than expected for its size. It was also rated better than average on the J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study, which measures how customers feel about their insurer’s claims process.
Besides a reputation for offering a quality customer experience, Amica has a handful of ways for drivers to improve a basic policy. You may choose to add gap insurance, new car replacement, rideshare insurance or any of the other coverage Amica offers to a basic policy.
Don’t pick Amica if: You haven’t compared car insurance quotes from other insurers. We don’t have rates from Amica in Illinois, though we have found that it can be more expensive than average in other states.
» Read the full review: Amica auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $3,167 $1,089 One speeding ticket, good credit $4,114 $1,372 One at-fault crash, good credit $3,957 $1,505 One DUI, good credit $11,783 $3,661 Clean driving record, poor credit $9,541 $1,854
Best for coverage options: Progressive
Full coverage
$150 /month
Liability only
$64 /month
Progressive offers a variety of discounts and insurance products to cater to most people, though there’s room for improvement when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why drivers looking for more coverage might like Progressive: Some of the options that Progressive offers include gap insurance, custom parts coverage, insurance for your car’s mechanical systems and accident forgiveness. Some new and long-time policyholders may qualify for accident forgiveness without paying extra.
And Progressive’s lower-than-average rates could make its many coverage options more affordable for drivers in Illinois who need more car insurance and want to build up a basic policy with extra coverage.
Don’t pick Progressive if: A company’s customer experience is the most important factor to you. Progressive gets fewer complaints than expected for its size, but it fared poorly on the J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study and in the North Central segment of the regional Auto Insurance Study.
How much is Progressive car insurance in Illinois? The average cost of car insurance from Progressive for someone with a clean driving record in Illinois is $150 per month, or $1,795 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $2,458 per year.
» Read the full review: Progressive auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,795 $773 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,463 $852 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,625 $925 One DUI, good credit $2,308 $818 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,963 $1,446
Best regional car insurance company: Erie
Full coverage
$150 /month
Liability only
$31 /month
The company is popular with consumers but operates in only 12 states and Washington, D.C.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Available in: DC, IL, IN, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WI, & WV.
Why we chose Erie as the best regional insurer: Erie offers car insurance in just 12 states and Washington, D.C. It stands out as a small insurer for its decent selection of coverage options and relatively low rates. Plus, Erie is the best insurer for overall customer satisfaction in the North Central region on the J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study.
Erie offers optional coverage including new and better car replacement, rideshare insurance, and a diminishing deductible. If you get a full coverage policy, it may also come with personal property coverage, lockout services and glass coverage. Finally, you could qualify for accident forgiveness once you’ve been a customer of Erie’s for three years.
We found that car insurance from Erie may cost less than average in Illinois, even after a past driving violation.
Don’t pick Erie if: You want to get insurance from a digital-first carrier. Erie has received poor ratings from Android users for its app. Other insurers offer a fully digital claims service, but Erie doesn’t.
How much is Erie car insurance in Illinois? The average cost of car insurance from Erie for someone with a clean driving record in Illinois is $150 per month, or $1,795 per year for full coverage. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $2,458 per year.
» Read the full review: Erie auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,795 $377 One speeding ticket, good credit $1,987 $417 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,604 $629 One DUI, good credit $3,205 $839 Clean driving record, poor credit $4,114 $811
All of the top-rated insurance companies in Illinois
No single insurance company is the best choice for car insurance for every driver. It doesn’t matter how highly they’re rated — some insurers simply won’t be right for you if they don’t offer the coverage you need. Your vehicle, age, location and driving record further influence which insurer is your best fit.
Of all of the top-rated car insurance companies in Illinois, here are the ones we think could be good matches for certain drivers.
Category winner | NerdWallet star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall: GEICO | |
Best budget pick: Travelers | |
Best claims service: Amica | |
Best for coverage add-ons: Progressive | |
Best regional pick: Erie | |
Best for bundling home and auto: State Farm | |
Best for usage-based insurance: Nationwide | |
Best for new cars: Shelter | |
Best for military families: USAA* | |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families. | |
Here is the full list of car insurance companies reviewed by NerdWallet. Not all insurers offer policies in every state, however.
What to know about car insurance in Illinois
For the most part, car insurance works the same in Illinois as in most other states. While car insurance is pretty straightforward in Illinois, it may still help to have an idea of the coverage you need and how your policy will cover you.
Illinois is an at-fault state, meaning that the insurance of the driver who was responsible for an accident helps pay for the injuries and property damage they caused. Illinois requires drivers to have :
Bodily injury liability insurance. This coverage helps pay medical-related costs for a driver (and their passengers) that you injure in a crash. A basic policy in Illinois pays up to $25,000 for each person you injure, up to $50,000 per accident.
Property damage liability insurance. This type of insurance covers the property damage that you cause to other drivers’ stuff, including their car. The basic limit in Illinois is $20,000 per accident.
Uninsured motorist coverage. If you’re involved in a crash with someone who doesn’t have insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage will help pay for your injuries.
We recommend getting more than the minimum amount of insurance that Illinois requires. A basic policy could leave you without enough insurance to cover the injuries that happen in a serious accident, and you’d be responsible for paying the rest yourself.
It’s also a good idea to have comprehensive and collision coverage. These help pay for damage to your own car after most types of damage, including thefts and accidents that are your fault.
The average cost of car insurance in Illinois is $2,458, but it depends on how much coverage you have and your driving record, as well as other details like your age, where you live, your car and your insurance company.
If you’re interested in seeing what you might pay for car insurance in your area of Illinois, you could estimate your insurance costs by using our calculator. Just enter some basic information about yourself and see what you could pay.
Estimate full coverage rates by ZIP codeEnter your ZIP code to find the average monthly car insurance rate for your area. Rates are for policies that include full coverage for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.
Average monthly car insurance rate in your ZIP code:
$0If you have been turned down for car insurance because of your driving record, you may need to get a policy through the Illinois Auto Insurance Plan . This is an association made up of Illinois’ car insurance companies. State law requires insurance companies in this group to offer coverage to drivers.
How to get the best auto insurance in Illinois
There are many more insurance companies in Illinois than the ones we’ve called out here. If you’re still not sure which one is right for you, or you want to do some research on your own, you can follow these steps to find the best car insurance in Illinois for you.
Understand the coverage you need. Car insurance is already expensive. While NerdWallet recommends getting more insurance than what Illinois requires, you don’t want to pay more than you have to, or for coverage you don’t need.
Know the type of company that you’re looking for. Some insurers are best suited to drivers looking for cheap rates; others are better for drivers who want robust coverage options or consistently reliable service. Having a handle on what you prefer can help you decide on the right insurer.
Consider other factors. One particular detail can greatly influence which insurer is the best for you. Your list of top companies may change if you work from home and almost never drive, want to bundle policies, or need coverage for a new driver in your family.
Shop around at least once a year. The cost of car insurance changes regularly. Before you buy a policy, shop around and compare rates from a few car insurance companies to be sure that yours is still the best choice for your budget.
Don’t shy away from smaller insurers. A small, regional insurance company in Illinois may line up best with your coverage needs and budget. An agent or broker could help you find local insurance companies in your area.
We nerd out on car insurance
Our goal is to give you what you need to make smart decisions about your car insurance.
Here’s why you can trust NerdWallet:
We do our homework. We regularly evaluate and review many of the insurance companies we write about. And all of our content is fact-checked before publication. This means the star ratings you see on our reviews are accurate and up-to-date.
We analyze the data. We update our average car insurance rates every month. To do that, we analyze more than 500 million rates from across the country. These rates are provided by Quadrant Information Services.
We are unbiased. NerdWallet’s content is never influenced by our business partners and advertisers. Learn more about how we write in our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Accessed Feb 27, 2026.
- 2.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Accessed Feb 27, 2026.
- 3.Illinois Department of Insurance. Auto Insurance Shopping Guide. Accessed Mar 30, 2026.
- 4.AIPSO. Illinois Auto Insurance Plan. Accessed Mar 30, 2026.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:
Financial strength (30%).
Consumer complaints (30%).
Ease of use (20%).
Affordability (20%).
The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
