Car insurance for high risk drivers in Illinois

Drivers with multiple tickets, at-fault accidents or a DUI may have a challenging time finding low rates for car insurance. In addition, reckless or high-risk driving in Illinois could lead to your license being suspended, restricted or revoked. Illinois high-risk auto insurance is an alternative coverage option when traditional vehicle insurance is no longer available or affordable.

High-risk car insurance rates in Illinois

The cost of your Illinois vehicle insurance depends on your driving record, vehicle and level of coverage, as well as some other various factors. Illinois high-risk auto insurance is often more expensive than traditional coverage. Each car insurance company has its own threshold of risk when pricing your vehicle insurance. One carrier may provide affordable insurance for a driver with speeding tickets but hike premiums sharply after an accident or claim.

Car insurance rates after a speeding ticket

Getting a speeding ticket could increase your car insurance rates slightly or significantly, depending on the carrier and the severity of your ticket. There is no formula to determine which insurance company will be cheaper after a speeding ticket. However, Bankrate’s analysis found Travelers, Geico and State Farm to be the most affordable carriers on average.

Rates after an accident

In Illinois, being held responsible for a car accident will typically raise your premiums more than a speeding ticket. When it comes to high-risk auto insurance, Illinois rates vary immensely from one insurance company to the next.

Travelers car insurance may start out as the cheapest coverage for safe drivers, but a single accident could increase your premiums an average of 78%. Meanwhile, Geico’s rates increase 59%, on average, after an accident. Finally, State Farm rates increase an average of 35% after an accident.

Rates after a DUI

Driving under the influence may be the most dangerous risk a driver could take both financially and safety-wise.

Here’s how getting a DUI in Illinois can impact auto insurance rates.

Drivers convicted of a DUI in Illinois will also need to ask their insurance company to file a certificate of financial responsibility (SR-22) with the DMV to legally drive.

Insurance rates for teen drivers

Car insurance premiums for parents who add teen drivers to their policies in Illinois are higher than average.

*16-year-old on their parent’s policy

Getting quotes from numerous carriers is one of the best ways to find the cheapest car insurance.

Who is a high-risk driver?

High-risk drivers come in all ages and experience levels. Insurance companies consider drivers with a DUI conviction or with more than one accident or moving violation to be high-risk. Teens are also typically considered high-risk due to their lack of experience.

Causing accidents, getting tickets and driving under the influence will all likely add points to your license. Once you reach a certain number of points, your license may be suspended.

How to lower your rate if you’re a high-risk driver

High-risk drivers face limited carrier options and costlier premiums. One way to offset the limited options is by finding ways to reduce the cost of coverage:

• Shop around to find the cheapest coverage based on your current needs.
• Take advantage of as many discounts as possible, such as low mileage, student driver or multi-line discounts.
• Increase your comprehensive and collision deductibles to the highest amount you can afford.

Saving as little as 5-10% on your car insurance could translate to hundreds of dollars over time.

Frequently asked questions

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is a form filed by your insurance company with the DMV on your behalf. It’s a certificate of financial responsibility that confirms you have the minimum amount of car insurance required to drive.

Do I need extra auto insurance if I’m a high-risk driver?

All Illinois drivers are required to have liability insurance with minimums of $25,000 in bodily injury and death per person, $50,000 total per accident and $20,000 in property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required.

What happens if I drive without insurance in Illinois?

Illinois requires drivers to carry at least the state’s minimum levels of car insurance. Driving without insurance in Illinois is illegal. If you are caught driving without coverage, you could be fined, have your license suspended and see your vehicle impounded. In addition to these penalties, if you cause an accident without insurance, you will be responsible for paying for the damages and injuries you caused out of pocket.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2021 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverages that meet each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Incident: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.