State officials in Illinois have started a campaign to examine auto insurance practices and gather input from residents about how rates are determined. The “Driving Change” advocacy campaign, launched by the Illinois secretary of state’s office in July, is intended to collect information that could shape future legislation.
As part of the initiative, the secretary of state’s office will hold a series of virtual town hall meetings across different regions of Illinois during September and October. These meetings are designed to hear directly from residents about any experiences with unfair or discriminatory auto insurance rate practices.
“The cost of your car insurance in Illinois isn’t based on your driving record — it’s based on things such as the neighborhood where you live and your credit score,” wrote Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias in a Chicago-Tribune op-ed.
The use of ZIP codes and credit scores by insurers is common practice, but recent reports have questioned whether these factors lead to fair outcomes for consumers. The secretary of state’s office has stated its support for legislation that would prevent insurers from using drivers’ credit scores, ZIP codes, non-driving data from phone apps, or age when setting premiums.
“If the purpose of auto insurance is to protect Illinois’ 9.4 million motorists, it only makes sense that their driving records should be the primary factor for setting their rates,” said Giannoulias in his op-ed.
Other top officials in Illinois—including the governor and legislative leaders—have also raised concerns this summer about rising insurance costs for residents.
No specific reform bill has been introduced yet. The Illinois General Assembly will not reconvene until January 2026. In the meantime, interested residents can register for upcoming Zoom town halls through the secretary of state’s Virtual Town Hall Schedule page or submit feedback via an online form regarding their experiences with auto insurers.
