The best car insurance companies are financially strong and have a wide range of coverage options and discounts. NerdWallet's editorial team evaluated 34 insurers to find the highest-rated companies in Illinois. We also look for details or perks that make one insurer stand out from the rest.
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Best car insurance companies in Illinois
Here’s our list of the best auto insurance companies in Illinois, plus what makes them stand out from the competition.
Average rates are specific to Illinois and based on NerdWallet’s June 2025 analysis. Read our methodology.
Best Overall pick
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.- Received fewer customer complaints than expected for auto insurance.
- Lots of coverage options for auto insurance.
- One of the largest insurance providers in the nation.
- Scored below average in a 2024 J.D. Power auto claim satisfaction study.
$125 per month on average for full coverage
$45 per month on average for liability coverage
Why Travelers is the best overall pick in Illinois
Travelers earned the highest score out of 34 eligible car insurance companies in Illinois, based on NerdWallet’s evaluations of each insurer’s coverage options, discounts and financial strength.
Pros
- Two accident forgiveness plans available for eligible drivers.
- Offers bonus coverages like gap insurance and new car replacement.
Cons
- Claims satisfaction rating is below average, according to a J.D. Power study.
» Read the full review: Travelers auto insurance review
Best for customer satisfaction
Acuity
- Few consumer complaints.
- Offers many coverage options.
- Not available in all states.
- Doesn't sell rideshare insurance.
Rates for Acuity weren’t available in Illinois, according to NerdWallet’s June 2025 analysis.
Why Acuity is the best option for customer satisfaction in Illinois
Nationally, Acuity had the fewest customer complaints to state regulators relative to insurers of its size, which makes it one of the top picks in states where it’s available.
Pros
- Offers gap insurance and vehicle replacement coverage.
- Reimburses eligible drivers for vet bills if a dog or cat is injured in an accident.
Cons
- Limited discount options available.
Best for discounts
Farmers
One of the country's largest insurers, Farmers offers a long list of discounts and plenty of ways to customize your coverage.- Fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
- Lots of discounts available.
- Doesn’t offer car insurance in all states.
$327 per month on average for full coverage
$121 per month on average for liability coverage
Why Farmers is the top pick for discounts in Illinois
Our comparison showed that Farmers offers the largest number of discounts among top-rated insurance companies in Illinois. Farmers also has additional ways to save, such as lower deductibles for safe drivers.
Pros
- Accident forgiveness for every 3 years drivers are accident-free.
- Offers custom parts and equipment coverage for drivers with full coverage.
- Eligible safe drivers can benefit from a diminishing deductible program.
Cons
- May be more expensive than other companies for some drivers.
» Read the full review: Farmers auto insurance review
best for mobile app users
State Farm
With generous coverage and discounts for good driving habits, State Farm is a popular insurer with fewer complaints compared to other large competitors.- Numerous discounts offered, including two programs — one for safe driving and the other for young drivers.
- Generous rental car and travel expenses coverage.
- Above average customer satisfaction rating for buying auto insurance among large insurers, according to J.D. Power.
- Doesn't offer gap insurance.
$168 per month on average for full coverage
$36 per month on average for liability coverage
Why State Farm has the best mobile apps for Illinois drivers
Unlike some top insurers, State Farm lets drivers make payments, start claims and manage policies in the State Farm app, which is rated highly by drivers on both Apple and Android devices.
Pros
- Rental car coverage pays for meals, lodging and transportation if drivers are stranded 50+ miles from home.
- Steer Clear Driver program provides training for drivers under age 25, and may include a discount.
- Offers rideshare insurance.
Cons
- Doesn’t offer gap insurance.
- May be more expensive than other companies for some drivers.
» Read the full review: State Farm auto insurance review
Best for military drivers
USAA
USAA offers insurance to active military, veterans and their families only.- High customer satisfaction ratings.
- One-stop shop for insurance as well as banking and investing products.
- Policies available in all states and Washington, D.C.
- Available to active military, veterans and their families only.
$151 per month on average for full coverage
$47 per month on average for liability coverage
Why USAA is the best for Illinois drivers with military connections
USAA consistently scores among the top insurance companies in the nation, according to NerdWallet’s reviews. It’s only available to military members, veterans and their families.
Pros
- Accident forgiveness available after 5 years of accident-free driving.
- Offers military-minded discounts for things like storing your car on base.
- Consistently one of the most affordable insurers across the country.
Cons
- Not available to most drivers.
» Read the full review: USAA auto insurance review
Best regional pick
Shelter
Shelter sells a range of insurance products and offers many discounts, but products aren't available in all states.- Fewer complaints than similarly sized companies.
- Many discounts available.
- User-friendly website and mobile app that allow online claims and bill payments.
- Not offered in every state.
- Some discounts may be not be available depending on where you live.
Rates for Shelter weren’t available in Illinois, according to NerdWallet’s June 2025 analysis.
Why Shelter is the best regional option for drivers in Illinois
Smaller or regional insurers can be a great fit, particularly if you want to work directly with a local agent. Shelter has the best customer satisfaction scores for car insurance companies in the central United States, according to a 2024 survey by J.D. Power.
Pros
- Specializes in coverage for drivers in the Midwest and central United States.
- Offers a wide variety of car insurance discounts.
- Sells policies for many types of insurance, such as home, farm, renters and life.
Cons
- Does not offer rideshare insurance.
» Read the full review: Shelter auto insurance review
Best auto insurance companies in Illinois: Honorable mentions
If you’re looking for additional options, here’s a list of the other top car insurance companies that earned a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher. Each of these companies could be a good choice, depending on your driving history and insurance needs.
Company | Star rating |
|---|---|
Looking for the lowest auto insurance rates in your state? Travelers has the cheapest average full coverage rate in Illinois. To find other low-cost options, check out NerdWallet’s list of the cheapest car insurance in Illinois.
Minimum auto insurance limits required in Illinois
Illinois law requires residents to carry liability insurance, including uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI), in the following amounts:
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$50,000 bodily injury liability per incident.
$20,000 property damage liability per incident.
$25,000 UMBI per person.
$50,000 UMBI per incident.
Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits.
Uninsured motorist coverage will cover expenses from injuries or damage after an accident with a driver who doesn’t have car insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage will cover the same expenses if you’re hit by a driver with some car insurance, but not enough to cover all costs from the crash.
Personal injury protection will cover your medical bills and expenses if you’re injured in a car crash, up to your policy limits, no matter whose fault it was. Depending on your state, PIP may also pay for:
Lost wages if you’re unable to work due to injuries from an accident.
Services you can no longer perform, like house cleaning or child care, because of your injuries.
Funeral costs if an accident-related injury leads to death.
A small death benefit as a cash payout.
Even though this will be enough to drive legally, you may want more than the minimum requirements. Imagine causing a crash and totaling another person’s car, for instance. The damages could easily top your $20,000 liability limit, and the remaining balance would have to come out of your pocket.
The Illinois secretary of state randomly selects registered vehicles and requires their owners to prove they have insurance via questionnaire. Residents who fail to fill out the form or who report they don’t have insurance will have their license plates suspended.
Check out NerdWallet’s guide to car insurance requirements by state to learn more about coverage options for your policy in the Land of Lincoln.
Article sources
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. 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Accessed May 28, 2025.
Methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for 35-year-old men and women for all ZIP codes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Unless otherwise stated, our analysis was based on our base driver profile, which has the following characteristics and coverage levels:
35 years old
Single. Male or female.
2022 Toyota Camry LE
12,000 annual miles driven.
Good driving record and credit
No moving violations.
"Good driving" discount applied.
Good credit-based insurance score.
Bodily injury liability coverage
$100,000 per person. $300,000 per crash.
Property damage liability coverage
$50,000 per crash.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage
$100,000 per person. $300,000 per crash.
Collision coverage
With a $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage
With a $1,000 deductible.
- See characteristics for other driver profiles
For all other driver profiles, we used the same assumptions, with the following exceptions:
We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor,” as reported to the insurer, to see rates for drivers with poor credit. These rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
For young drivers, we considered 20-year-olds with good credit and no driving violations.
For millennial drivers, we considered 40-year-olds with good credit and no driving violations.
For senior drivers, we considered 70-year-olds with good credit and no driving violations.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider. Sample drivers had the minimum required coverage by law in each state. Some policies include additional coverage at the insurer’s discretion.
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.
