Drivers in Rockford, Illinois, pay an overall average of $112 per month for car insurance, which is a bit less than the Illinois state average of $117 per month. Set on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is an industrial hub whose economy has diversified in recent years. New road-construction projects have revitalized the downtown area, increasing traffic, which could have an effect on car insurance costs.
However, the average car insurance rate in Rockford is well below the national average. Learn how to compare quotes and find the cheapest car insurance in Rockford, Illinois.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Rockford
The best car insurance policy for you will depend on your specific driver profile. Your age, gender, marital status, driving history, credit score, and vehicle model are just a few factors that affect your car insurance needs.
The three car insurance companies below offer some of the most affordable rates in Rockford and will appeal to a wide range of drivers.
Best insurer for cheap rates: Auto-Owners
Best insurer for low-mileage drivers: Mile Auto
Best insurer for young drivers: State Farm
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Rockford
Rockford drivers already pay fairly affordable car insurance rates, but they can save even more with the following strategies:
Raise your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket after an accident. Drivers with high deductibles generally pay lower monthly premiums. Just make sure you can afford to pay your deductible amount out of pocket if you need to file a claim.
Choose a safe car. Insurers consider cars with strong safety records to be less likely to lead to pricey claims. Picking a safe car is a good idea if you want the lowest rates.
Bundle home and auto insurance. Insurance companies prefer when customers buy all their insurance products in the same place. Purchasing another policy — such as home insurance, renters insurance, or life insurance — from your auto insurer can lower your insurance costs.
Practice safe driving. Drivers with multiple traffic accidents pay higher rates, on average. Residents in Rockford can avoid costly medical bills and save on their auto insurance policy when they practice safe driving habits.
Shop around. Different companies offer different rates on auto insurance. The best way to find affordable rates is to receive online quotes from at least three car insurance companies and compare them side by side.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Rockford: Progressive
Liability-only insurance covers the other driver’s vehicle repairs and medical bills after an accident. Liability-only insurance won’t cover your own repairs or medical expenses, which is why these policies are typically cheaper than full coverage.
The average liability car insurance rate in Rockford is $78 per month. Liability-only insurance is a good choice for people who drive used or low-value cars. Here are the cheapest liability-only insurance options in Rockford.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Rockford: Auto-Owners
Full-coverage car insurance includes collision coverage and comprehensive coverage in addition to liability insurance. Collision coverage pays for damage to your own car after an accident, while comprehensive coverage pays for damage caused by a non-collision event, such as severe weather, vandalism, or theft.
Full coverage is more robust than liability-only insurance and is often more expensive. These policies are well-suited for drivers of new cars, high-value cars, or financed vehicles. Drivers in Rockford pay an average of $146 per month for full-coverage insurance. Here are the cheapest full-coverage car insurance companies in the city.
Car insurance requirements in Illinois
Drivers in Illinois must carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, outlined in the table below.1 Illinois is an at-fault state, which means the driver who causes an accident is responsible for all medical bills, repairs, and property damage.
Drivers can exceed the minimum car insurance requirements by purchasing the following optional insurance coverages:2
Cheapest car insurance for Rockford drivers with an incident
Drivers who have speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or driving under the influence in their driving history pay higher car insurance rates, on average. Car insurance companies see drivers with traffic violations on their driving records as more likely to file claims in the future, so they charge them higher monthly premiums to offset these risks.
A Rockford driver’s rate increase after an incident will depend on the severity of the incident and whether it was a first offense or a repeat offense. In fact, the average cost of liability coverage for a Rockford driver with incidents on their records is $92 per month, compared to $78 for drivers with clean records. You can still find affordable auto insurance coverage after an incident if you shop around and seek out discounts.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Progressive
The Illinois State Police website notes that one-third of all fatal crashes are caused by speeding — which is why excessive speeding comes with fines of up to $2,500 in Illinois.2 3 Drivers with speeding tickets pay higher average rates, though the rate increase varies by insurer. For instance, Progressive says rates go up by an average of about 15% for speeding.
Rockford drivers who have received a citation for speeding pay a monthly average of $94 for liability-only insurance and $176 per month for full coverage. Here are the best deals on car insurance for drivers in Rockford with a speeding ticket.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners
Getting in a car accident will usually raise your car insurance rates. Your rate increase will vary based on the severity of the claim and the company you work with. Accidents typically stay on your record for three years.4
While an accident is on your driving record, you’ll pay an average of $192 per month for full coverage and $103 per month for a liability policy in Rockford. You can lower your rates by practicing safe driving habits, which can earn you a good driver discount at most companies.
The table below shows the best monthly rates on insurance coverage for Rockford drivers with an accident in their driving history.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners
Illinois drivers who receive a DUI will lose their license for a minimum of one year after a first offense.5 Drivers with DUIs also pay higher car insurance rates, on average — and they might even receive a non-renewal notice from their insurer.
Rockford drivers with a DUI may see their car insurance premiums increase to $235 per month for full coverage and $126 per month for liability coverage. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies in the Rockford area for drivers with a DUI.
Cheapest car insurance for Rockford seniors: Auto-Owners
Your age is a key factor that determines how much you pay for car insurance. Young adults pay the highest rates because they’re the least experienced. Car insurance rates usually come down once you hit age 35, then go back up around age 70.
Senior drivers in Rockford, Illinois, pay an average of $122 per month for full coverage and $65 per month for liability-only coverage. The following companies offer the lowest car insurance rates to senior drivers in Rockford.
Cheapest car insurance for Rockford teens: Auto-Owners
Teen drivers pay higher premiums due to their higher rate of car accidents. Teens are nearly three times more likely than drivers ages 20 and older to get in a serious crash, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).6
A state-minimum policy costs Rockford teens about $165 per month, on average, while full coverage costs an average of $309 per month. Young drivers can save on insurance by qualifying for good student discounts, staying on their parents’ insurance policy, and buying a car with a strong safety record.
Here are the cheapest coverage options for teens in Rockford.
Rockford car insurance quotes by credit tier
In Illinois, your credit history is one of several factors insurers use to determine your car insurance rates. Drivers with excellent or good credit pay lower average car insurance rates compared to drivers with poor credit.
The chart below shows how average rates for full coverage vary in Rockford based on credit history:
Is car insurance more expensive in Rockford?
Rockford’s average car insurance rate of $112 is significantly lower than the national average rate of $144 per month. Rates vary from city to city in Illinois, with local property values, repair costs, and crime rates all affecting insurance costs.
Rockford’s average rates are lower than those of similarly sized cities like Rochester, New York, ($149 per month) and Salt Lake City, Utah ($140 per month).
More cities in Illinois
Car insurance rates vary by ZIP code. Local traffic rates and property values are the primary factors influencing a city’s rates.7 Naperville drivers enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance in Illinois.
The table below shows how Rockford’s full-coverage rates compare to those of other cities in Illinois.