Illinois Car Insurance 101 (Compare Costs & Companies)

Looking for the best car insurance in Illinois? Our Illinois car insurance 101 guide will go over what the best coverages are for Illinois drivers, how to save on Illinois auto insurance, and much more.

Once you’ve read through our guide on how to find affordable car insurance in Illinois, enter your ZIP code in our free quote comparison box. It will compare rates from companies in your area to help you find cheap Illinois car insurance.

Illinois Car Insurance Coverage and Rates

Are you looking for the perfect car insurance coverage?

There’s a lot of conflicting information out there, and it can take hours of slogging through it all to find what you’re looking for. Well, you’re in luck. We’re going to break down car insurance and help you be better informed in your search.

We’ll be covering demographics and laws that affect your rate. We’ll also be going over the minimum requirements for Illinois and much more.

No matter where you’re driving, it’s important to have the right insurance coverage for your vehicle. So, grab yourself a slice of your favorite deep-dish pizza, make sure to bring a napkin, and let’s get into it.

What is Illinois’ car culture?

The Prairie State is a land of two driving extremes. On the one hand, nearly 75 percent of the state’s total land area is farmland, so there are a lot of rural roads. On the other hand, the state is home to Chicago, which is the third-most congested city in the United States.

Illinois is where the Mother Road starts. U.S. Route 66 is the most famous road in America and is a huge part of American culture. It’s been romanticized for its sense of adventure and is home to many festivals and events.

Check out the video for some things you can do along Route 66.

Illinoisans are certainly proud of the state’s history of Route 66, but they tend to take a utilitarian approach when it comes to their vehicles. It’s a necessary part of life in the rural areas of the state, but that’s about where it begins and ends.

While those who live in rural areas depend on their vehicles, many Chicagoans choose to rely on the city’s extensive public transportation system. That said, there are many city dwellers who still choose to own and operate a car around the Windy City.

No matter where you’re driving in the Land of Lincoln, you’re going to need to know what Illinois’ minimum insurance coverage requirements are.

Let’s dive right in.

How much coverage is required for Illinois’ minimum coverage?

Do you know how much coverage you’re required to have as a driver in Illinois? Do you know why you need it?

Illinois is an at-fault state. If you cause the accident, you’re going to have to pay for all damages.

Illinois follows a fault-based system when determining responsibility for car accidents. This means the person who is found at fault for the accident is then financially responsible for any damages incurred by all parties.

That’s why it’s so important to carry at least the state-required minimum liability insurance. It covers you in the event that you cause an accident. Sure, you could drive around without insurance, but it’s always a gamble.

If you end up causing an accident, you’re likely to incur major bills from it. Without insurance, that’s going to all come from your bank account.

So, what’s the bottom line? Illinois requires you to carry at least the following minimum liability insurance for accidents you may cause.

• $25,000 for the injury or death of one individual
• $50,000 total for all injuries or deaths in an accident
• $20,000 for damage to the property of another person in an accident

You may have heard this referred to as the 25/50/20 rule, and you’re required by Illinois law to carry at least this amount of insurance.

Even if your vehicle is registered in another state, you must have this level of coverage — at least.

Luckily for Illinoisans, every liability insurance policy that is sold in the state automatically includes uninsured driver’s coverage. With the state ranking 18th in the country for uninsured drivers — 13.7 percent of drivers on the roads don’t have insurance — that’s something great to have.

So, that’s it, right? Wrong.

While you aren’t going to be fined if you only have the minimum coverage, you are responsible for paying damages to your own car and self out of pocket. The more insurance you have, the more financial padding you’ll have in the event of an accident.

What are forms of financial responsibility in Illinois?

What is a form of financial responsibility? A fancy way of saying you’ll need to show proof of insurance.

In Illinois, it’s not only illegal to drive without insurance — but it’s also illegal to drive without proof of insurance. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you’ll likely have to pay a fine of at least $500. If you’re driving with a suspended registration, you’ll owe at least $1,000.

What if you don’t have a printed insurance card?

Illinois allows drivers to show electronic proof of insurance if they are pulled over.

So make sure to save your insurance card to your phone’s files, or take a screenshot. That’s perfectly acceptable to show to an officer if proof of insurance is requested.

How much percentage of income are premiums in Illinois?

Do you know how much of your disposable income goes toward your car insurance?

Illinois’ disposable income is consistently higher than the national average, but they end up paying a smaller percentage of their disposable income — only about 2 percent — on car insurance.

In 2014, the national average premiums were 11 percent higher than those in Illinois, but the disposable income was about 4 percent less. Overall, Illinoisans got more bang for their buck than other parts of the country.

Neighbors in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana pay a little less, but those in Kentucky and Missouri pay a higher percentage of their income for their car insurance.

Use the calculator below to see how much of your income you’re paying for automotive insurance.

CalculatorPro

What are the core coverages in Illinois?

Take a look at the table below to see the average premiums from 2012 to 2016.

Every year, Illinois’ combined premiums are about 13 percent lower than the national average.

This data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is based upon the state minimum.

What additional liability is available in Illinois?

You know what the basic liability insurance requirements are for Illinois, but why settle for basic?

Uninsured motorist coverage is automatically covered on all liability insurance policies purchased in Illinois. What happens if you get an underinsured motorist?

Purchasing additional coverage can help you avoid a massive bill if you get in an accident and the other person’s policy won’t fully cover the bill.

A loss ratio shows a company’s financial strength by comparing the amount collected in premiums to how much they paid out in claims. For example, if a company’s loss ratio is 70 percent, that means they paid $70 in claims for every $100 it earned in premiums.

• A loss ratio under 40 percent is probably too low, which means the company is collecting more premiums than it needs for the claims it’s getting.
• A loss ratio of over 75 percent is probably too high. In this case, the company isn’t collecting enough premiums for the claims it’s receiving. That’s a sign that a rate increase may be coming in the future.

Why would you want to pay for more insurance though? It’s already a big expense.

Despite liability insurance being required by the state, 13.7 percent of motorists in Illinois are uninsured. Chances are, you’ll be passing dozens on your morning commute every day.

This is where additional liability insurance can help you. If you’re involved in an accident, this can help with your expenses if the other person can’t cover the costs.

What add-ons, endorsements, and riders are available in Illinois?

Are you interested in even more insurance? There are many options out there, whether you have a hotrod or want roadside assistance.

• Guaranteed auto protection (GAP)
• Personal umbrella policy (PUP)
• Rental reimbursement insurance
• Emergency roadside assistance
• Mechanical breakdown insurance
• Non-owner car insurance
• Modified car insurance coverage
• Classic car insurance
• Pay-as-you-drive or usage-based insurance

So, we’ve gone over the different types of coverage you can have, but how are these rates determined?

Does gender and age affect my car insurance in Illinois?

Whether it seems fair or not, car insurance rates are partly based on your age, marital status, and gender. Yes, that’s legal in Illinois.

Take a look below to see the average rates by demographic for the top 10 companies in the state.

Young drivers may pay an arm and a leg for car insurance, but it does get better with age.

Young drivers may want to stay away from Allstate and Illinois Farmers Insurance Company. A 17-year-old male will pay an average of $11,112.80 with Allstate, but Safeco is less than half at an average of $5,140.83. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old female could pay anywhere from $4,229.18 to $10,514.80 on average with these companies.

Males pay more than females regardless of how old they are, but the rates do go down across the board with age. So if you’re a teenage driver just starting out, remember that you’ll get there. As long as you keep a good driving record and credit history, your rates will slowly decrease.

Safeco and State Farm have great rates for 25- and 35-year-olds, and they’re the best two options for married 60-year-olds.

This data is based upon actually purchased coverage by the population of the state and includes rates for high-risk drivers, as well as those who choose to buy more insurance than the state-required minimum. These rates also include other types of coverage such as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, PIP, and MedPay.

What are the cheapest rates by ZIP code in Illinois?

So, you decided to move to the big city of Chicago and suddenly your car insurance went up. What’s up with that?

Where you live helps determine how much you’ll pay. That’s because your premiums are partly determined by your neighbors. Insurance companies look at factors such as vandalism, the number of vehicle thefts, and fraudulent claims.

Check the table below to see how rates are near where you live. The first table will show you the top 25 most expensive ZIP codes in Illinois.

It probably comes as no surprise that a ZIP code in Chicago tops the list. In fact, every single one of the top 25 most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Illinois are in Chicago and its suburbs.

Here are the least expensive ZIP codes in the Prairie State.

For the most part, the cheapest ZIP codes in Illinois are rural areas. Kewanee’s ZIP code, 61443, is the cheapest in the state at $2,792.51.

So you’ve seen how ZIP codes affect your rate, but what about your city?

What are the cheapest rates by city in Illinois?

Your city determines how much you’ll pay.

The most expensive car insurance rates are in Harvey, which suffers from high levels of poverty and crime. That’s certainly a factor that helps contribute to this high average.

What about the cheapest options in the state? Look over the table below.

The cheapest city in Illinois is Kewanee, which is a rural town of fewer than 13,000 residents.

With average rates ranging from $2,792.51 to nearly double that at $5,437.22, you can tell that your location is a big factor for determining how much you’ll pay.

Best Illinois Car Insurance Companies

There are a lot of options out there for car insurance, so how can you choose the best one? We’re going to try to make it a little easier for you.

Let’s go over some of the best (and worst) options in The Land of Lincoln for customer service, financial strength, and more.

What are the financial ratings of the largest car insurance companies in Illinois?

A.M. Best Ratings are created to show the financial ratings for the largest car insurance companies. We’ve compiled the ratings here in this table.

Remember when we said loss ratios show the financial strength of an insurance company?

Most of these companies are looking strong with loss ratios between 40 percent and 75 percent. USAA — which is only available for military personnel and their families — is edging past the ideal range, and Geico is pretty close. If they get much higher, there may be bill increases coming.

State Farm, Geico, and USAA have the best A.M. ratings. State Farm seems to be doing well with the largest market share, an A++ A.M. rating, and a solid loss ratio.

Which car insurance companies have the best ratings in Illinois?

Do you enjoy sitting in a long queue waiting on the next representative, only to get a rude person on the other line who can’t be bothered to help? Of course not! Having a friendly customer service representative who’s qualified and capable of helping you can make all the difference in the world.

J.D. Power ranks companies based on customer service satisfaction.

The Power Circle Ratings are on a scale of one to five, with five being best and one being worst. The following data table encompasses the 2019 North Central region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The highest-ranked companies in the region are USAA and Westfield, followed by IN Farm Bureau and Erie Insurance.

Which car insurance companies have the most complaints in Illinois?

On the flip side of that, let’s look at company complaints. The lower the rating, the fewer complaints they had in relation to customers.

USAA and Progressive have the highest complaint ratios.

What are the cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois?

Have a look at the table below to see the average rates for the top 10 companies in Illinois. The state’s average is $3,270.95, so you can see how they compare in price.

Safeco and State Farm have the best rates in the state. If your biggest concern is the price, you may want to stay away from Allstate and Illinois Farmers insurance Co.

Does my commute affect my car insurance rate in Illinois?

If you started an Audible account just for your work commute, you might want to check out this section.

Many insurers will charge you more if you have a longer commute.

This table shows the difference in premiums for short commutes versus longer ones.

As you can see, some companies don’t charge any more for longer drives, though Travelers charges about $200 more for a longer drive, and USAA increases about $155 more.

Can coverage level change my car insurance rate with companies in Illinois?

Are you considering sticking with a low-coverage plan to save some money? You may want to take a look at the information below.

For just $14 more, Nationwide provides a much higher coverage plan. American Family’s high coverage insurance is only about $100 more. More insurance coverage means you have a bigger cushion if you fall. A couple hundred dollars now can save you thousands in the long run.

How does my credit history affect my car insurance rate with companies in Illinois?

What other things can affect how much you’ll pay for car insurance? Automotive insurance companies don’t look at just your location and commute rate. We’ll be frank with you. They also look at your credit history, and it can have a huge impact on your rates.

According to Experian, the average credit score for the nation was 703 in 2019.

Illinois’ average credit score was 709.

The area with the highest credit score was the Bloomington-Normal area, with an average credit score of 722.

• Good credit (670+) – $2,583.89
• Fair credit (580–669) – $3,004.69 (5 to 9 percent increase)
• Poor credit (300–579) – $4,224.29 (25 to 163 percent increase)

Geico heavily penalizes drivers with poor credit, with an average increase of 163 percent more than those with good credit, but State Farm is right behind them with premiums that shoot up 115 percent.

Farmers and Progressive have the smallest increases, with only about 25 to 27 percent more. If you’re working on improving your credit, you may want to check with them.

Credit rating is important, but there is something that can be just as impactful.

How does my driving record change my rates with car insurance companies in Illinois?

Car insurance companies look at your driving record. It makes sense, right? They want to make sure you are a safe driver and won’t engage in dangerous behavior.

The table below shows average rates for drivers who have speeding, accident, or DUI violations.

Your rates will go up:

• 19 to 70 percent for one accident
• 9 to 31 percent for one speeding violation
• 9 to 97 percent for one DUI

Allstate increases their rates the most for speeding and one-accident violations. USAA and Geico will charge most for getting a DUI on your license.

How do you keep your rates from increasing? The biggest way is to stay safe and keep a clean record.

Which car insurance companies are the largest in Illinois?

If you look at the largest car insurance companies in Illinois, you’ll probably recognize most of these names. Some of these put a lot of money into marketing, and you’ve probably had one of their jingles stuck in your head for days.

These are the largest car insurance companies in Illinois ranked by market share.

State Farm is easily the biggest insurer in Illinois. Allstate and Country Insurance sit in second and third place.

How many car insurance companies are available in Illinois?

Those were the biggest insurers, but are they the only ones? Definitely not.

There are 1,051 options for automotive insurance in Illinois. While domestic insurers were formed under the laws of Illinois, foreign insurers are based elsewhere in the United States.

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.

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Illinois Laws

Researching state laws can get overwhelming. There’s a lot of information out there, and a lot of it is buried under a ton of technical jargon that you have to trudge through first.

We’re going to break down what you need to know and help you learn the basics.

What are the car insurance laws in Illinois?

Whether you’re new to driving or just brushing up on the basics, we have some information for you. We’ll be touching on specific insurance types, how laws are determined, fraud, and more.

First, how are state laws for insurance determined in Illinois?

How Illinois State Laws for Insurance Are Determined

According to the NAIC, Illinois uses a system called “no file.” Basically, the company isn’t required to file rates or forms. However, the companies have to maintain all records of relevant information that was used in developing these rates and forms. If the commissioner ever requests this information, they have to turn it over.

The state determines what kind of tort law will apply in the state, as well as what the minimum liability requirements will be. Seat belt laws, speed limits, and drunk-driving laws are also determined by the state.

Windshield Coverage

Illinois doesn’t have any laws unique to windshields.

You can choose to get an OEM replacement, but you may have to pay the difference. If aftermarket parts are used to replace your windshield, the insurance company will have to inform you in writing.

High-Risk Insurance

What is SR-22 insurance? You can watch the video below for a brief explanation.

If a driver is required to get SR-22 insurance, they’ll have to keep it for at least three years. This is often because the driver had their driving privileges suspended upon conviction for certain court or insurance-related violations.

As an alternative to SR-22 insurance, Illinois allows an individual to deposit $70,000 in cash or securities with the State Treasurer, file a surety bond, or file a real estate bond.

Low-Cost Insurance

We’ve gone over the car insurance requirements for Illinois, and sometimes it can be pricey.

New Jersey, Hawaii, and California all offer state-sponsored programs to help with the costs of insurance for families who may need it. Illinois does not have such a program.

There are ways to save money, though. You can keep a little more of your income by shopping around or seeing if you qualify for additional discounts.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Illinois

Insurance fraud is classified as a crime in the United States.

The FBI estimates the total cost of insurance fraud is over $40 billion a year. Between $5.6 billion and $7.7 billion of this comes directly from fraudulent automotive claims.

If you think that fraud doesn’t affect you just because you don’t commit it, think again. Each American household pays anywhere from $400 to $700 more each year because of fraudulent claims. That’s why fraud is such a big deal. It’s a problem that affects your bank account.

There are a few ways to report fraud if you see or hear something:

• Calling National Fraud Information at 1-800-835-6422
• Using the online fraud reporting system
• Contact the Illinois Department of Insurance

Illinois Department of Insurance
Consumer Services Division
320 W. Washington St.
4th Floor
Springfield, IL 62767.
(217) 782-4515.

Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to report an accident from the time of the qualifying event.

In Illinois, you have two to three years to file a personal injury claim, depending on the circumstances. If the accident results in property damage, you have five years to file a property damage claim.

That being said, the Illinois Department of Transportation requires motorists to file a report within 10 days if the damage exceeds $500.

It isn’t something you should procrastinate on, so make those claims as soon as you can.

Illinois-Specific Laws

Illinois has a few regulations that are specific to the state.

For one, Illinois provides a self-insurance option. Individuals or corporations can qualify for this if they own at least 26 vehicles. To file for this, you just have to file an application with the Department of Insurance and pay $200 for the application fee.

You must be able to prove that you can handle the same number of claims that a regular auto insurance company could cover through its policies. For the most part, they keep it pretty standard.

What are the vehicle licensing laws in Illinois?

Each state has its own unique licensing laws. These include seat belt laws, speed limits, renewal procedures, and more.

First, we’ll discuss REAL IDs.

REAL ID

By now, you probably know that you need to get a REAL ID. The video below will tell you a little bit about getting a REAL ID in Illinois.

Illinois is compliant with the REAL ID Act. Federal agencies can accept REAL IDs at federal facilities and nuclear power plants. Beginning October 1, 2020, Illinois residents will be required to have a REAL ID to fly domestically.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

If you are caught driving without insurance, you’ll likely be facing these penalties:

• First offense – fine of at least $500; license plate suspended until $100 reinstatement fee is paid and proof of insurance is provided
• Second offense – fine of at least $1,000; license plate suspended for four months and until $100 reinstatement fee is paid and proof of insurance is provided

Make sure you’re always carrying proof of your insurance.

Illinois also sends questionnaires out randomly. If you receive one of these, you must provide the name of your insurance policy and your policy number. This is one way they fight the uninsured driver rate.

Teen Driver Laws

Illinois teens can get a driver’s permit when they turn 15 years old.

After entering the intermediate stage, drivers must reach the requirements to get a full license.

Illinois has focused on teen driver safety since 2008, and it has succeeded in decreasing the teen driver fatality rate.

Older Driver License Renewal Procedures

What about older drivers?

Your age determines how often you’ll have to renew your driver’s license.

If you’re 75 years or older, these are your renewal procedure:

• 80 and under – every four years
• 81–86 – every two years
• 87 and older – every year

You’ll have to provide proof of adequate vision during every renewal once you turn 75, which you’ll have to do in person at the DMV. Renewal applicants must pass a road test once they turn 75.

New Residents

So you’re moving to the Land of Lincoln? Congratulations! If you’re planning to get around the state without public transportation, you’ll need an Illinois driver’s license.

You can exchange your out-of-state driver’s license for an Illinois one within 90 days of moving to the state. You have just 30 days to register your vehicle. You’ll have to go to the DMV — which is called an official Secretary of State facility in Illinois — to get your new license.

License Renewal Procedures

Illinois requires people who are 80 years old and younger to renew their licenses every four years.

You’ll have to provide adequate proof of vision when you renew in person, but luckily you only have to do that every other renewal. You can renew online or by mail the other times.

Illinois will eventually offer a non-binary option for gender on its driver’s license, but it won’t be available until 2024.

Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS)

Reckless driving in Illinois is defined as purposefully disregarding the safety of other people and property while driving.

Any reckless driving incident that involves injuries is a felony. You can be fined up to $25,000 and face five years in prison if convicted of reckless driving.

If you drive recklessly in a way that causes a death, that can be considered a vehicular homicide. This carries with it penalties up to 28 years in prison and $25,000. Any driver convicted of vehicular homicide will have their license suspended for at least two years.

What are the rules of the road in Illinois?

You need to know the rules of the road if you’ll be driving in Illinois. Let’s go over seat belt and car seat laws, ridesharing, vehicle automation, speed limits, and more.

First, let’s look at Illinois’ fault system.

Fault Versus No-Fault

When it comes to auto accidents, states fall into two categories. Some are no-fault states, in which no blame is assigned for accidents. In those states, no blame is assigned, and each driver’s insurance company automatically covers any expenses.

Illinois is an at-fault car accident state.

So the person who is found at fault is then responsible for all bills related to the accident for them and the other driver.

Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws

All passengers who are 16 years old or older must use a seat belt.

Younger passengers need to have appropriate car seats while in the car.

Any child 7 years or younger must be in a car seat, and there are other restrictions, as shown above.

Here is an informative video on how to pick the correct car seat for your child.

Children rely on you to keep them safe, so make sure to follow these guidelines which are here to minimize injuries.

There is no state law regarding riding in the bed of a pickup truck, so passengers are permitted to do so.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

States have different rules about moving over into the right lane.

In Illinois, you should only use the left lane for passing vehicles or when you are about to turn left.

Illinois requires drivers to move over for stationary emergency vehicles with flashing lights. So if you see EMS, tow trucks, or recovery vehicles, make sure to move away from the far-right lane. If it’s not safe to move over, slow to a safe speed.

This law also applies to disabled vehicles.

Speed Limits

Between 2009 and 2018, there were 4,055 speeding-related fatalities in Illinois. The IIHS lists the general speed limits for each road type.

Always observe posted speed limits.

Ridesharing

Taxi services such as Lyft and Uber are considered ridesharing. If your side hustle is picking up bar-hoppers in Chicago, you need ridesharing insurance.

Not every insurer offers this, but if you need ridesharing insurance, try calling any of these providers listed below.

• Allstate
• Erie
• Farmers
• Geico
• Mercury
• MetLife
• Metromile
• Safeco
• USAA

Next, we’ll talk about something else that is relatively new.

Automation on the Road

Vehicle automation has been making huge strides in the last few years. With this progress, states have had to consider how much they will allow on their roads.

Check out this video for more about self-driving cars.

What about Illinois-specific laws on the subject?

Right now, self-driving vehicles are only allowed on Illinois roads for testing.

What are the safety laws in Illinois?

There’s nothing more important for your driving experience than safety. While causing an accident because of an error in judgment may be bad, it’s still forgivable. Causing one because you were reading a text or under the influence is not.

The Mythbusters tested this, and you can see for yourself that texting and driving is a huge distraction that contributes to automobile accidents.

Let’s touch on DUI, marijuana, and distracted driving laws.

DUI Laws

In 2017, there were 349 alcohol-related fatalities in Illinois.

According to Responsibility.org, 37 percent of all fatalities involved alcohol.

You’re considered to be driving under the influence when you drive with a BAC over 0.08 percent.

What is a look-back period? A look-back period is the length of time that a DUI offense will stay on your driving record. Illinois’ is 10 years.

After your first offense, you must complete substance abuse treatment and carry high-risk insurance for three years. Habitual offenders can see substantial jail time and hefty fines.

Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws

In 2019, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed a bill into law that will allow recreational use of marijuana in the state. Illinois has legalized both medical and recreational marijuana use.

However, driving while impaired by the use of cannabis is still illegal under Illinois law.

The legal limit for THC in the bloodstream is five nanograms or more per milliliter of whole blood. A driver can be convicted of a DUI for driving while impaired by marijuana.

After the first offense, convicted drivers must complete a substance abuse program and carry SR-22 insurance for three years.

Distracted Driving Laws

Illinois is very strict with distracted driver laws.

All drivers are banned from texting and driving. There is a handheld ban in effect for all drivers, regardless of age.

Drivers under 19 years old who have a learner’s or intermediate license may not talk on a cellphone while driving at all.

Talking on phones is prohibited when in work or school zones or within 500 feet of an emergency zone. School bus drivers can’t talk on a cellphone while driving, except in times of emergency.

Driving in Illinois

A lot of thought goes into what insurance rates will be, and it’s not just about the individual. There are also state-specific factors that go into this.

Let’s talk a little about vehicle theft, road fatalities, EMS response time, and more.

How many vehicle thefts occur in Illinois?

Each state has different vehicles that end up on the most-stolen list. Check out the cars in Illinois below. The model year listed is just the most-stolen year model. The total number of stolen vehicles includes all model years.

Is your vehicle one of the top-stolen vehicles? Dodge Caravans are the most-stolen vehicle in Illinois.

The next list comes from the FBI and shows the number of thefts for the top 25 cities.

No surprise: Chicago takes the top spot by leaps and bounds with over 11,000 car thefts in 2017.

How Much Auto Insurance Costs in Illinois

Find affordable car insurance rates tailored to your location in key Illinois cities such as Chicago, Aurora, and Peoria. Discover the perfect insurance plan for your budget. Join us as we unravel the details of auto insurance costs in Bellwood, Galesburg, and beyond. Drive confidently with the right coverage at the right price in Illinois!

How many road fatalities occur in Illinois?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regularly publishes data about vehicle crashes and what causes them.

It’s not easy to think about how many people lose their lives on the road, but it’s important to know the causes so that drivers can be mindful of the risks and do their best to navigate them safely.

Most Fatal Highway in Illinois

The deadliest highway in Illinois was determined by calculating the fatal crash rate based upon the total number of road fatalities.

According to geotab.com, U.S. Route 45 is the deadliest highway in the Prairie State.

It runs from Antioch to Metropolis, going through the congested traffic of Chicago’s suburbs.

Let’s move onto the nitty-gritty and look into road fatalities and their causes.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition

Sometimes, it seems like people drive crazier when the weather is bad.

Eight percent of fatalities on the road occur when it’s raining.

About half of all fatal crashes happen in broad daylight, and that makes sense. More people are traveling on the roads during this time. Twenty-seven percent occur at night when visibility decreases.

Fatalities (All Crashes) by County

Take a look below to see fatalities in Illinois, broken down by county. This information comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Cook County has had the most fatalities every year from 2014 to 2018. Will County and Lake County have consistently been within the top five in the state each year. Here are the total fatalities for these three counties over five years

• Cook County – 1,294
• Will County – 274
• Lake County – 203

Cook County is easily the largest county in Illinois. Home to Chicago, the county has over five million residents. The second-largest county is DuPage, with a population of under one million, so it makes sense that Cook County has the highest number.

Traffic Fatalities

Normally, more traffic fatalities happen in rural areas than in urban areas. This is because there are fewer emergency medical services, so they have a slower response rate.

This isn’t the case in Illinois, though.

Fifty-nine percent of fatalities from 2009 to 2018 were in urban areas, with fully 25 percent of the state’s fatalities coming from Chicago’s Cook County.

Fatalities by Person Type

Let’s take a look at fatalities by person type. This breaks it down by cars, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and more.

The largest share of fatalities occurred in a single car, followed by pedestrians and motorcyclists.

Fatalities by Crash Type

No two car crashes are the same. Some involve speeding or drunk driving, while others involve roadway departures or large trucks. This table shows fatalities by crash type.

Most of these involved a single-vehicle crash.

Five-Year Trend for the Top 10 Counties

Here is the five-year fatality trend for the largest 10 counties in Illinois.

Fifty-four percent of total traffic fatalities from 2014 to 2018 occurred in these 10 counties. Five percent of the total were in Cook County alone.

Fatalities Involving Speeding by Count

There were 4,055 speeding-related fatalities in the 10-year period from 2009 to 2018 in Illinois.

Cook County is the top county for total fatalities every year.

However, the counties with the highest fatality rates per 100,000 population were all rural. Each county that topped the fatalities per 100,000 people all had census counts of less than 12,000 residents in 2017.

When there’s less traffic around, sometimes people take advantage of it and speed. However, you can see that it’s not safe regardless.

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver by County

With 3,148 drunk-driving offenses between 2009 and 2018, it’s a leading cause of vehicle fatalities in the Prairie State.

Once again, the largest county in the state — Cook County — is the top for total alcohol-related fatalities every year. Each county with the highest rate per 100,000 residents was rural and had populations under 17,000 each.

Teen Drinking and Driving

While drunk driving is already an irresponsible offense, it’s much worse when teenagers do it. Illinois had seven arrests in 2016 for underage drinking.

There were 0.7 underage drinking-related fatalities out of every 100,000 people in 2016.

For reference, the national average is 1.2 fatalities per 100,000 population. Illinois ranks low at 49th in the United States for underage drinking fatalities, but even one is too many.

EMS Response Time

Location can be crucial in an emergency. Even if you live in a city, response time varies. Ambulances may be good at weaving around traffic, but congestion can cause critical delays that can be the difference between life and death.

Despite a much faster EMS arrival time to the site of the crash, it took an average of two minutes longer to get to the hospital from the initial accident in urban areas.

As we covered earlier, a quarter of fatalities in Illinois occur within Cook County alone. With Chicago being the third-most congested city in the country, the number of fatalities goes up.

What is transportation like in Illinois?

We’ve gone over things that affect your insurance costs, state laws, and fatality rates — but what’s it like to be a driver on the roads of Illinois? What kind of information do insurance companies look at?

Car Ownership

The national trend for most households is to own two cars. Illinois is no different.

According to datausa.io, 41.2 percent of households in Illinois own two cars.

Though higher than the national average, Illinois sees 22.7 percent just owning one vehicle. This is partly because of the extensive public transportation system in the Chicago area.

Commute Time

Employees in Illinois have a longer commute time than the average American. It’s also longer than any neighboring state.

Expect an average of 27.9 minutes. The national commute averages less at 25.7 minutes.

About 3.1 percent of drivers have a super commute. A super commute just means you’re driving in excess of 90 minutes. You may want to check out the top podcast charts before putting your car in drive if you’re doing this every day.

Commuter Transportation

In 2018, most Illinoisans drove alone to work, with 72.7 percent of people choosing this option. After that, 9.4 percent use the public transportation system, which is a pretty strong number. Another 8.25 percent chose to carpool.

Traffic Congestion in Illinois

As we mentioned earlier, 75 percent of Illinois’ land area is farmland. At worst, you can get stuck behind a tractor that turns a leisurely drive into a mildly irritating one. However, the Prairie State is also home to Chicago, and that is a whole other ballgame.

The video below talks a little about how bad Chicago’s traffic has gotten in recent years.

Chicago is the third-most congested city in the United States and the 23rd-most congested in the world.

The average driver spent 138 hours waiting in traffic in 2018.

These are the average speeds for drivers sitting in Chicago traffic.

• 23.04 mph in peak hours
• 42.11 mph in off-peak hours
• 51.1 mph during the best traffic conditions over a 24-hour period

In 2018, time lost from congestion cost the average driver $1,920.

Per TomTom, the 24/7 congestion level was 28 percent.

The morning congestion level is normally 42 percent, but the evening commute is worse at 58 percent.

Over time, this adds up to a lot of time lost. If you’re traveling during the worst congestion hours, you’ll be spending an additional 13 minutes in the morning and 17 on your way home. That’s an extra 30 minutes per day.

Assuming you work five days a week, that’s an extra 130 hours a year staring at the car in front of you.

Highways and non-highways experience roughly the same congestion levels, at 29 and 28 percent, respectively.

Let’s look at a few terms:

• Traffic index – a number based on a combination of time consumed in traffic during a job commute, dissatisfaction at the time taken, CO₂ consumption while sitting in traffic, and overall areas that can be improved within the traffic system
• Time index – the average number of minutes needed to go one way
• Inefficiency index – how efficient traffic is at getting to its destination, i.e. highly efficient when people drive a car instead of slower public transport

Chicago’s traffic index is 183.50. That’s high, but compare it to Detroit’s 243.45 traffic index (America’s most congested city). Chicago’s time index is 40.9, and its inefficiency index is 193.84.

And there you have it. We’ve gone over all of the basics, and we hope you feel better prepared to choose the best insurer for your needs.

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