Situated along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Macon County, Decatur is known for its year-round water activities such as swimming, fishing, and water skiing. It’s less populated and has fewer car thefts than other nearby Illinois cities.1 This could be why Decatur’s average car insurance rates are cheaper than the national average and similar to Illinois’ average rates.
The average cost of car insurance in Decatur is $73 per month for liability only and $131 per month for full coverage.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Decatur
If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance in Decatur, consider your budget, driving record, and car insurance coverage needs. It’s a good idea to compare multiple auto insurance companies simultaneously to see where you can get a good deal.
To make your search for the right coverage a bit easier, here are some of the best car insurance companies in Decatur and why they stand out.
Best insurer for low-mileage drivers: Mile Auto
Best insurer for military members and veterans: USAA
Best insurer for young drivers: State Farm
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Decatur
It’s not only important to do your research before buying a policy, but it’s important to take steps to get the cheapest rates possible for you.
Here are some tips to help you find the best car insurance coverage and cheapest Decatur car insurance rates:
Shop around. Get quotes from at least three car insurers to zero in on the right policy for your unique situation. Compare different rates, coverage options, and company reviews. You can use an independent insurance agent in Decatur or an online quote-comparison platform.
Look for discounts. Most car insurance agencies offer discounts that can lower the cost of your auto policy and help you secure the best insurance. The good student discount, loyalty discount, and anti-theft device discount are some popular discounts.
Bundle insurance. If you pair your auto insurance with homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance with the same company, you can usually save some money on your car insurance costs.
Consider usage-based insurance. Usage-based insurance is worth exploring if you’re an infrequent driver. You’ll only pay for the miles you drive plus a monthly base rate.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Decatur: Progressive
To drive legally in Decatur and other cities in Illinois, you must purchase at least liability car insurance, which helps pay for the other party’s property damage and medical expenses after an at-fault accident.
Compared to other types of car insurance, liability coverage tends to be the cheapest. The most affordable car insurer for a liability-only policy in Decatur is Progressive, at $42 per month.
The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for liability-only coverage in Decatur.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Decatur: Auto-Owners
Full-coverage car insurance is typically optional in Decatur and usually consists of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages. It can provide you with additional protection and peace of mind for vehicle damages in various situations. Also, if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender will likely require it.
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Decatur is $131 per month. The table below shows the lowest rates for full-coverage auto insurance policies in Decatur.
Car insurance requirements in Illinois
Because Illinois is an at-fault — or tort — state, you have to cover the property damage and injury costs of the other driver and passengers if you’re responsible for a car accident. After you purchase at least the minimum-required liability insurance, be sure to keep your policy handy while you drive. Otherwise, you might face legal and financial consequences for not showing proof of insurance.
Here are the car insurance requirements in Illinois:2
You might want to go beyond the minimum Illinois car insurance requirements and purchase additional coverage that can protect you in certain situations.
Here are a few insurance coverages to consider:
Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
At-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and DUI convictions are a few examples of incidents that can increase car insurance premiums. Auto insurance companies consider drivers with these types of incidents on their driving records as high-risk drivers and, in turn, charge more to mitigate the risk. The best way to avoid costly premiums and lock in the lowest price is to maintain a clean record.
Here are the average car insurance quotes in Decatur based on driving history.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Progressive
Illinois takes speeding seriously. The state police measure driver speed through a variety of devices, like hand-held radar, moving radar, and pacing devices.3 Because speeding can make it a challenge to react safely and avoid an accident, Decatur drivers who speed typically face higher car insurance rates.
The average cost of car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Decatur is $88 per month for liability insurance.
Here are the cheapest auto insurers in Decatur for drivers with a speeding ticket.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners
After a serious or fatal accident, the City of Decatur Police Department turns to the Fatal Accident Investigation Team (FAIT) to perform an investigation. If you cause an accident in the city, car insurance companies will likely consider you a high-risk driver and charge you higher premiums as a result.
Decatur drivers with an accident on their records pay an average of $96 per month for liability car insurance.
Here’s a look at the most affordable insurance for Decatur drivers with at-fault accidents on their records.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners
In 2021, the Illinois Secretary of State recorded more than 21,000 DUI arrests.4 A DUI conviction in Illinois usually leads to fines, jail time, and a license suspension.
To reinstate your license after a DUI, you may also need to file an SR-22 insurance form with the state, per the state of Illinois, and can expect higher premiums or difficulty securing coverage.
Drivers with DUIs pay an average of $118 per month for car insurance in Decatur. This table shows the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with a DUI in Decatur.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Auto-Owners
Age-related physical and mental impairments can make it more difficult for seniors in Decatur to drive safely and avoid accidents.5 That’s why average premiums usually decrease around age 35 and pick back up again around age 70.
Senior drivers in Decatur pay an average of $61 per month for car insurance, but here are the cheapest car insurance companies in the city.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Auto-Owners
Compared to older drivers, teens and young drivers have less driving experience and limited knowledge. For this reason, car insurance companies usually charge them higher rates.
To save on an auto policy, teens can stay on their parents’ insurance or lock in student-specific discounts. In Decatur, teen drivers pay an average of $154 per month for car insurance.
Here’s a look at the average monthly car insurance quotes for young adults and teen drivers in Decatur.
Decatur car insurance quotes by credit tier
Insurance companies believe that drivers with good to excellent credit are less risky and usually file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit. Because of this, some car insurers consider credit scores to help them determine premiums.
While some states ban the use of credit scores in determining premiums, Illinois allows companies to do so.6 The chart below shows that Decatur drivers with excellent credit pay $100 per month, on average, while drivers with poor credit pay an average of $178 per month.
Is car insurance more expensive in Decatur?
Overall car insurance premiums for Decatur drivers are cheaper than the national average of $144 per month.
Rates can vary by ZIP code and city within Illinois due to factors like population, crime rates, weather conditions, and the number of uninsured drivers.6 For example, Chicago has notoriously expensive car insurance premiums, especially compared to smaller cities like Decatur.
More cities in Illinois
Here’s a look at the average quotes for coverage in other Illinois cities compared to Decatur.