Car Insurance in Illinois vs. Arizona: Costs, Laws and Resources


Updated: October 3, 2024

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If you’re considering moving from Illinois to Arizona, you’ll need to comply with each state’s different car insurance requirements. Both states have similar coverage requirements but with different limits: Whereas Arizona requires $30,000 body injury liability per accident, Illinois requires $50,000. Illinois also requires uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in its minimum coverage policies.

MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance laws, requirements and costs in Illinois vs. Arizona to help you find the best and cheapest car insurance companies.

Car Insurance Laws in Illinois vs. Arizona

Illinois car insurance laws require more coverages and higher limits compared to car insurance laws in Arizona. For instance, Illinois’ minimum car insurance requirements include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which is not required in Arizona. Also, whereas liability coverage should at least be 25/50/20 in Illinois, Arizona’s is lower at 25/50/15.

Despite requiring more coverages, the average cost of car insurance in Illinois is less than Arizona. On average, Illinois drivers spend $582 per year, while Arizona drivers spend $649. Besides coverage amount, additional factors, like population density and frequency of accidents, impact the cost of car insurance premiums.

MINIMUM CAR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS IN ILLINOIS AND ARIZONA

Illinois Requirements

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident

Arizona Requirements

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $15,000 property damage liability per accident

Car Insurance Resources for Illinois and Arizona

 

MoneyGeek analyzed the cost of car insurance in Illinois vs. Arizona to help you find companies with the cheapest policies and best service. We also provided resources where you can get quotes and compare prices in the two states.

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MoneyGeek identified the factors that influence car insurance costs in Illinois versus costs in Arizona.

How Are Car Insurance Laws Enforced in Illinois and Arizona

Both Illinois and Arizona are tort or “at-fault” states. This means that drivers who are to blame for an accident are the ones who must shoulder the associated expenses. The at-fault driver’s insurance company pays for property damages, medical costs and other related expenses through the negligent driver’s liability insurance coverages.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Illinois vs. Arizona

To get the most affordable policies that are best suited for your needs and budget, you’ll need to shop around and compare rates.

Based on our extensive research, we found that the cheapest policies with minimum coverage in Illinois and Arizona are from:

  • Cheapest in Illinois: GEICO ($366 per year)
  • Cheapest in Arizona: GEICO ($366 per year)

Although the two states have different minimum coverage requirements, the same provider offers the cheapest premium, at the same rate, in both states.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Illinois
Company
Annual Rate

1.

GEICO

$366

2.

Mercury

$367

3.

Country Financial

$385

4.

USAA

$411

5.

State Farm

$454

6.

Erie

$459

7.

Allstate

$562

8.

American Family

$566

9.

Travelers

$603

10.

Progressive

$620

11.

AAA

$751

12.

Nationwide

$780

13.

Farmers

$799

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Arizona
Company
Annual Rate

1.

GEICO

$366

2.

USAA

$383

3.

Progressive

$506

4.

CSAA

$540

5.

Country Financial

$571

6.

Nationwide

$607

7.

Hartford

$609

8.

State Farm

$619

9.

Travelers

$630

10.

Mercury

$657

11.

Esurance

$692

12.

Allstate

$699

13.

American Family

$783

14.

Farmers

$820

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THE CHEAPEST COMPANY FOR YOU MAY DIFFER

GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance policies in Illinois and Arizona at an average cost of $366 per year. But keep in mind that this rate is for minimum coverage insurance only. Your actual costs will differ based on your location, selected coverage level, age, driving history and more.

Browse through MoneyGeek’s recommendations to find the cheapest options in the two states.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Illinois vs. Arizona

Your coverage level also determines the cost of your car insurance in Illinois vs. Arizona, with minimum coverage policies being cheaper than full coverage policies. But for both types of coverages, premiums in Illinois tend to be more affordable compared to premiums in Arizona.

In Illinois and Arizona, the average cost of a minimum coverage policy is $582 and $649 per year, respectively. But drivers who opt for full coverage insurance will pay around $1,134 in Illinois and $1,284 in Arizona on an annual basis.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Illinois vs. Arizona
Driver
Illinois Annual Premium
Arizona Annual Premium

Minimum Coverage

$582

$649

Full Coverage

$1,134

$1,284

Adding a Young Driver

$3,642

$3,231

Drivers With a Violation

$1,452

$1,583

Drivers With Poor Credit

$2,077

$2,495

Why Are Car Insurance Rates More Expensive in Illinois vs. Arizona?

A host of different variables contribute to the cost of your car insurance, so it’s impossible to pin price differences on a single factor.

Generally, car insurance rates in Illinois and Arizona are comparable, with policies in Arizona costing slightly more than in Illinois, despite Illinois’ additional coverages and higher minimum coverage limits. This is likely caused by Arizona’s higher rates of vehicle theft and increased frequency of natural disasters, which could translate to increased risk.

Car Insurance Costs by City in Illinois vs. Arizona

Car insurance rates can also vary greatly depending on your city.MoneyGeek identified the cities offering the cheapest and most expensive minimum coverage policies in the two states.

In Illinois, the cheapest car insurance policies are offered in Peoria at $419 per year, while the most expensive policies can be found in Chicago at $582 per year. As for Arizona, residents in Tucson have the cheapest annual car insurance rates at $578, compared to Glendale and Phoenix, which both tie for the cities with the most expensive car insurance, with a rate of $713 per year.

Since car insurance requirements do not vary within a state, this does not affect the cost of your annual rate. Instead, rates are usually driven by population density, with denser, urban areas having higher car insurance rates than their less dense, rural counterparts.

Car Insurance Costs by City in Illinois
City
Average Annual Rate

Chicago

$582

Elgin

$481

Joliet

$483

Naperville

$461

Peoria

$419

Rockford

$438

Springfield

$424

Car Insurance Costs by City in Arizona
City
Average Annual Rate

Chandler

$614

Gilbert

$615

Glendale

$713

Mesa

$623

Peoria

$657

Phoenix

$713

Scottsdale

$609

Surprise

$597

Moving Between Illinois and Arizona? What to Know

When moving from Illinois to Arizona or vice versa, you’ll need to update your driver’s license, registration and car insurance policy.

You have the option to stay with your current insurer if it provides adequate coverage, but your premiums may change to reflect the risks and coverage requirements in your new state.

If you’re looking for another insurer, use MoneyGeek’s resources to find the option that best fits your driving profile.

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    Use MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculators for Illinois and Arizona

    Auto insurance premiums can vary greatly depending on a host of factors. Use MoneyGeek’s Illinois car insurance calculator and Arizona car insurance calculator to get a personalized quote quickly and conveniently. Just input your age, gender, driving history, vehicle type, credit score and liability coverage.

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    Learn about car insurance for high-risk drivers in Illinois and Arizona

    High risk drivers have a greater chance of getting into an accident and filing a claim. This is why they tend to pay higher premiums, and may be denied coverage by certain insurers. Severe violations require the filing of SR-22 in Illinois and SR-22 in Arizona.

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    Figure out your options for temporary car insurance in Illinois and Arizona

    Most car insurance policies last for a minimum of six months. But if you plan to move states for only a short period, MoneyGeek has found that a cheaper alternative is to get temporary car insurance in Illinois or temporary car insurance in Arizona.

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    If you’re a low-income driver, see if Illinois or Arizona offer car insurance programs

    Neither Illinois nor Arizona offers government car insurance programs to assist low income drivers. However, MoneyGeek provided resources for low income drivers in Illinois and low income drivers in Arizona to get the best rates and help save on costs.

FAQs About Illinois and Arizona Car Insurance

Car insurance laws, requirements and costs in Illinois and Arizona differ. MoneyGeek answered some of the most frequently asked questions about car insurance in Illinois vs. Arizona to help you find the right company and policy for your needs and budget.

How do car insurance laws and requirements differ in Illinois and Arizona?

Are the cheapest car insurance companies different in Illinois and Arizona?

Methodology

To calculate average car insurance rates by company and across Illinois and Arizona, MoneyGeek collaborated with Quadrant Information Services to collect auto insurance quotes from both locations. We used a sample profile for a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record and minimum coverage unless modified by criteria like coverage level, age, driving offenses and credit score. Learn more about how costs are calculated in our MoneyGeek car insurance methodology.

Minimum car insurance requirements by state were sourced from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the respective state.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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