Best car insurance in Illinois for 2025

Why Geico made our list: Adding discounts is one of the easiest ways to save on car insurance. Geico offers some of the cheapest average premiums for full and minimum coverage and an extensive list of discounts to choose from, many of which can be stacked together to get even more savings. Geico also won the 2025 Bankrate Award for Best auto insurance company for high-risk drivers, who typically pay higher-than-average rates. However, Geico’s policies are relatively basic. If you prioritize policy personalization, you may want to consider other providers.

Who Geico may be good for: Geico may be a good fit for drivers with an at-fault accident, ticket or other driving infraction. But safe drivers can also save with Geico, thanks to its cheap average car insurance rates and long list of potential discounts.

Why Auto-Owners made our list: Auto-Owners offers customizable auto coverage through a statewide network of local, independent agents. The company won not just one, but two 2025 Bankrate Awards: Best budget auto insurance company and Best auto insurance company for young drivers. Auto-Owners offers below-average rates for Illinois drivers plus potential discounts for paid-in-full, multi-policy, students and more.

So if you’re looking to save and have a younger driver on your policy, you may want to get a quote and see if it’s right for you. To get an Auto-Owners insurance policy, you must work with an agent in your area as online policy purchasing is not available. Auto-Owners offers standard auto insurance coverage types plus several endorsements, including diminished value coverage and gap insurance. 

Who Auto-Owners may be good for: Young drivers and those on a budget may find Auto-Owners offers the best car insurance in Illinois for the price. It might also be an ideal fit for drivers needing optional coverage types like gap insurance or the Auto-Owners Personal Automobile Plus Package, which bundles ten extra coverage types.

Why Travelers made our list: In addition to reasonable average rates, Travelers offers a range of endorsements for policyholders, such as new car replacement and ridesharing coverage. Travelers offers two accident forgiveness options, one of which may gain you credit toward your deductible. Travelers may particularly appeal to hybrid or electric vehicle drivers, as it offers a potential discount for these green vehicles. You might also save with Travelers if you buy a new car, get an early quote or own your home. However, Travelers scored below average in the North Central region of the 2024 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, so if customer service is your top priority, it might not be a good fit.

Who Travelers may be good for: Illinois drivers looking to protect their future rates in case of an accident should consider getting a quote from Travelers with an accident forgiveness endorsement. The insurer also offers some decent options for hybrid or electric vehicle owners.

Why Erie made our list: With the highest customer satisfaction rating in the North Central region of the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, you may want to request a quote from Erie if you’re looking for a car insurance company that provides excellent service. Additionally, AM Best granted Erie an A+ (Superior) rating for financial stability, which indicates strong historical performance in paying out claims. Although Erie earned a third place ranking from J.D. Power in the 2024 Digital Experience Survey in the shopping category, it scored below average for service, so it may not be the best choice for those who prefer to manage their policy digitally through the website or a mobile app.

Who Erie may be good for: Erie may be a great fit for Illinois drivers who prioritize customer service, want pet injury coverage or need customizable coverage.

Why Mercury made our list: Along with offering affordable average premiums, Mercury may also be a good choice for rideshare drivers. Not all Illinois car insurance companies offer rideshare insurance, but Mercury may be able to provide this coverage for less than a dollar a day. Mercury was not scored in the North Central region of the 2024 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, and its results in the 2024 J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study were poor. Mercury does have some fairly unique discounts for budget-conscious shoppers, including potential savings for low-mileage drivers, safety features and bundling.

Who Mercury may be good for: Rideshare drivers and those looking for customizable coverage who qualify for its unique discount opportunities may want to consider getting a quote from Mercury.