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


Updated: October 3, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Requirements for car insurance will vary if you move from Illinois to Wisconsin or vice versa. For example, Illinois and Wisconsin have the same coverage limits for bodily injury liability, but different coverage limits for property damage. Illinois also requires uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which is not required in Wisconsin.

MoneyGeek compared car insurance in Illinois vs. Wisconsin by analyzing costs, finding the cheapest companies and looking into state requirements and laws.

Car Insurance Laws in Illinois vs. Wisconsin

Illinois and Wisconsin have the same coverage requirements except for differing property damage liability limits. Car insurance laws in Illinois require liability coverage of 25/50/20, while car insurance laws in Wisconsin require liability coverage of 25/50/10. Illinois also requires an additional coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists as part of its minimum coverage policies.

The average cost of a minimum coverage policy in Illinois is $582 per year while it is $496 per year in Wisconsin. The more expensive minimum coverage in Illinois can be attributed to the state’s higher property damage liability limit and additional uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

MINIMUM CAR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS IN ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN

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

Wisconsin Requirements

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $10,000 property damage liability per accident

Car Insurance Resources for Illinois and Wisconsin

 

MoneyGeek researched different car insurance providers to find the cheapest companies that offer the best services. We did the heavy lifting, so you can easily compare car insurance quotes and rates in Illinois vs. Wisconsin.

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How Are Car Insurance Laws Enforced in Illinois and Wisconsin?

Illinois and Wisconsin are tort states or “at-fault” states. In a tort state, the driver who caused the accident pays for the damages or the expenses incurred by the injured party. The expenses are often taken from the liability insurance coverage of the at-fault driver.

The at-fault driver will only have to pay for damages when the fault has been proven. In some cases, this occurs after a lawsuit, although states have different ways of executing these rules.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Illinois vs. Wisconsin

The cheapest company for minimum coverage in Illinois and Wisconsin is GEICO with the following rates:

  • Cheapest in Illinois: GEICO ($366 per year)
  • Cheapest in Wisconsin: GEICO ($311 per year)

In Wisconsin, eligible drivers can receive an even cheaper policy from USAA at an average cost of $201 per year. However, only current or former members of the U.S. military and their families are eligible to be USAA members.

While GEICO is the cheapest company in both states, the cost of their policies is different. This shows how car insurance cost can vary within providers on a state by state basis.

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 Wisconsin
Company
Annual Rate

1.

USAA

$201

2.

GEICO

$311

3.

AAA

$316

4.

Erie

$343

5.

State Farm

$373

6.

Progressive

$406

7.

Acuity

$409

8.

Travelers

$488

9.

American Family

$543

10.

Nationwide

$606

11.

Farmers

$637

12.

Allstate

$809

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THE CHEAPEST COMPANY FOR YOU MAY DIFFER

GEICO is the cheapest insurer in Illinois and Wisconsin at $366 and $311 per year, respectively. Take note, however, that these prices are for a minimum coverage policy. Location, coverage levels, driving history and other factors affect the price of car insurance. MoneyGeek can help you find the cheapest options:

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Illinois vs. Wisconsin

Regardless of coverage amount, the average cost of car insurance is higher in Illinois than Wisconsin. The average annual cost of minimum coverage in Illinois and Wisconsin is $582 and $496, respectively. For a full coverage policy, the average annual cost is $1,134 in Illinois and $933 in Wisconsin.

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

Minimum Coverage

$582

$496

Full Coverage

$1,134

$933

Adding a Young Driver

$3,642

$2,348

Drivers With a Violation

$1,452

$1,231

Drivers With Poor Credit

$2,077

$1,625

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

Car insurance prices vary due to several factors, so cost differences cannot be attributed to a single reason. In addition to coverage limit requirements, population density also impacts the cost of car insurance in an area.

The denser the population is an area, the more likely accidents are to occur. Illinois has a higher population density than Wisconsin which contributes to its higher car insurance rates.

Car Insurance Costs by City in Illinois vs. Wisconsin

The cost of car insurance also varies by city. In Illinois, you’ll find the cheapest minimum liability insurance in Peoria, with policies costing an average of $419 per year. Chicago drivers will pay the most expensive policies in the state, at an average of $582 per year. As for Wisconsin, you can get the cheapest minimum liability insurance in Green Bay for $338 per year and the most expensive in Milwaukee at $582 per year.

Car insurance requirements do not affect the cost of car insurance in a particular city because they are consistent in the entire state. The most significant contributor to cost is most likely the population density of an area.

Car Insurance Costs by City in Illinois
City
Average Annual Rate

Aurora

$458

Chicago

$582

Elgin

$481

Joliet

$483

Naperville

$461

Peoria

$419

Rockford

$438

Springfield

$424

Car Insurance Costs by City in Wisconsin
City
Average Annual Rate

Green Bay

$338

Madison

$382

Milwaukee

$582

Moving Between Illinois and Wisconsin? What to Know

Whether you’re moving from Illinois to Wisconsin or vice versa, you are required to transfer your driver’s license and registration. You can also stay with your current insurer if it offers car insurance in the state you’re moving to, but your rates may change depending on your new state’s laws and requirements.

If you need help finding a new insurer, MoneyGeek provided resources to guide you to the best company for your driving background:

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    Use MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculators for Illinois and Wisconsin

    MoneyGeek’s Illinois car insurance calculator and Wisconsin car insurance calculator will help you get an estimate of how much your policy will cost.

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

    High-risk drivers may either have more expensive car insurance policies or face rejection from insurers. In Illinois and Wisconsin, high-risk drivers — or drivers with severe violations — are required to file an SR-22.

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

    Temporary car insurance may be a better option for those who are not permanently moving to a new state. Most policies have a minimum of six months, but you may be able to find a shorter three-month policy depending on the state. Consider looking for temporary car insurance in Illinois or temporary car insurance in Wisconsin to know if this option works well for you.

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

    MoneyGeek has resources to help low-income drivers in Illinois and low-income drivers in Wisconsin save money when buying car insurance policies.

FAQs About Illinois and Wisconsin Car Insurance

Car insurance in Illinois vs. Wisconsin differ from each other in terms of prices, state requirements and laws. Below, MoneyGeek answered the frequently asked questions about car insurance in Illinois and Wisconsin.

How do car insurance laws and requirements differ in Illinois and Wisconsin?
Are the cheapest car insurance companies different in Illinois and Wisconsin?

Methodology

To calculate average car insurance rates by company and across Illinois and Wisconsin, 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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