During college, Jacqueline DeMarco interned at a retirement plan advisory firm and was tasked with creating a presentation on the importance of financial wellness. During her research into how money can affect our health, relationships and career, Jacqueline realized just how important financial education is. Jacqueline is a contributor for Insurify and has worked with more than a dozen financial brands, including LendingTree, Capital One, Credit Karma, Fundera, Chime, Bankrate, Student Loan Hero, ValuePenguin, SoFi, and Northwestern Mutual, providing thoughtful content to give readers insight into complex topics that they likely didn’t learn in school.
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
Evelyn Pimplaskar is Insurify’s director of content. With 30-plus years in content creation – including 10 years specializing in personal finance – Evelyn’s done everything from covering volatile local elections as a beat reporter to building fintech content libraries from the ground up.
Before joining Insurify, she was editor-in-chief at Credible, where she launched and developed the lending marketplace’s media partnership’s content initiative and managed the restructuring of the editorial team to enhance content production efficiency. Formerly, as tax editor for Credit Karma, Evelyn built a library of more than 300 educational articles on federal and state taxes, achieving triple-digit year-over-year growth in e-files from organic search.
Her early career included work as a content marketer, vice president and managing officer of a boutique public relations agency, chief copy editor for 14 weekly Forbes publications, reporting for large and mid-sized daily newspapers, and freelancing for the Associated Press.
Evelyn is passionate about creating personal finance content that distills complex topics into relatable, easy-to-understand stories. She believes great content helps empower readers with the information they need to make important personal finance decisions.
Konstantin has led data science and engineering projects across multiple domains: biology, travel and insurance. He loves finding data nuggets that help people.
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The average monthly cost of car insurance in Chicago is $187, according to Insurify data. But the best insurance for you may cost more or less, depending on your individual needs, driving record, and driver profile.
If cost is top of mind for you, you have ways to get the auto insurance coverage you need at a great price. Here’s what you need to know about cheap car insurance in Chicago.
Best car insurance companies in Chicago
The best auto insurance company for you will depend on your individual situation and needs, so it’s important to research a handful of options to make sure you’re working with the right insurance company and are getting an adequate amount of coverage.
The following table provides insights into the best insurance companies in Chicago, based on Insurify data.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
With an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 4.4 out of 5 and the second-lowest average monthly rate for liability-only insurance in Chicago ($75), State Farm offers a lot of bang for your buck if you’re looking for cheap car insurance.
The company has been around for more than 100 years and has A.M. Best’s highest rating, an A++, for financial strength. In addition to the usual car insurance coverages, State Farm offers optional coverages like car rental, travel expense, and rideshare driver insurance.
Pros
Major savings possible when bundling auto, life, or property insurance[1]
Mobile app makes policy management easy
Cons
Negative Better Business Bureau (BBB) reviews
Doesn’t offer gap insurance
Most affordable car insurance in Chicago: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners offers the lowest average rate for liability-only car insurance of the companies on this list, at just $70 per month. An IQ Score of 4.1 indicates this insurer is a reliable option, even at the lower price point. Working with independent agents may allow Auto-Owners to provide lower premiums.
Pros
Multi-policy discount available for having two or more auto, home, business, or life policies
A.M. Best rating of A++
Cons
Not available in every state
Can only file glass claims online — all others require calling an agent
Young drivers can be expensive to insure, which is why it’s helpful to choose a car insurance company like USAA that makes it possible for newer drivers to save. In addition to a relatively low monthly cost of $123 for liability-only insurance in Chicago, USAA also offers discounts designed to encourage young drivers. Its SafePilot program rewards good driving habits with savings of up to 30%.
An IQ Score of 4.4 indicates USAA generally does well with customer satisfaction and financial reliability.
Pros
Variety of youth-friendly discounts available, including good grade and multi-car discounts
Claims filing and policy changes available through mobile app
Cons
Only serves military members, veterans, and their families
Low average BBB reviews
Best for Chicago drivers with a bad driving record: GEICO
GEICO offers some of the lowest monthly premium prices on average for Chicago drivers who have incidents on their driving records. For example, GEICO’s average monthly premium with a speeding ticket is $163, and premiums for drivers with DUIs average $242 a month. GEICO also has an IQ Score of 4.3.
Pros
Variety of available discounts, including bundling discounts, can help you save
Rewards clean driving records with lower rates and extra discounts
One of the oldest auto insurance companies in business, Travelers has an A.M. Best rating of A++ and a 4.3 IQ Score. While most insurers offer at least some discounts, Travelers’ range of discounts stands out. Besides standard discounts for things like bundling and having multiple cars on one policy, Travelers also offers unusual discounts, like breaks for driving a hybrid or electric car, buying a vehicle that’s less than 3 years old, or getting a Travelers quote before your current insurance expires.
Pros
A dozen different discounts available
Robust options allow for easy policy customization
Cons
Below-average BBB customer rating
Below-average customer satisfaction ranking from J.D. Power
Best company in Chicago for drivers with poor credit: American Family
A decently low monthly rate for liability-only insurance ($132) and an IQ Score of 4.2 make American Family a good option for drivers with bad credit who are looking for quality car insurance without overspending. Because a bad credit score can affect the price of a variety of insurance products, American Family’s bundling discount can come in handy. American Family also scored well above average in J.D. Power’s 2022 Customer Satisfaction Index.
Pros
Good customer service reviews and ratings
Numerous available coverage options and discounts
Cons
Available in only 18 states
May not be the cheapest option
How Insurify’s experts used internal proprietary data to rate the top auto insurers
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page.
The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates.
With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums. The data included on this page represent averages across all driver ages, gender, credit scores, and driver profiles for Chicago drivers.
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How to shop for the best car insurance in Chicago
When shopping for car insurance, take the following steps to make sure you’re finding the right fit for your needs:
Research different insurance companies. Read up on their offerings, check out customer reviews, and see what potential discounts they may offer.
Confirm the insurance company is licensed in your state. That way, you don’t waste time requesting quotes from companies that can’t serve you.
Ask for quotes. Once you know how much coverage you need, request quotes from a handful of different insurers to see which one can potentially offer you the best price. The trick here is to request quotes for the same amount of coverage with all insurers — the goal isn’t to find the absolute lowest price but the best price for the coverage level you desire. Using an online comparison website can make this process quick and easy.
Many different factors affect car insurance rates. Some are outside your control, but you can still take steps to get cheaper rates:
Increase your deductible. The higher your deductible is, the lower your monthly premium will be. Just be careful that you choose a deductible that you can afford to pay if you do ever need to file a claim.
Bundle your insurance policies. Most insurance companies that sell more than one type of insurance give a discount if you buy multiple policies through them. If you can, choose an insurer that also provides renters, homeowners, life, business, or another type of insurance alongside car insurance.
Ask for discounts. Before choosing an insurance company, see what discounts it offers that you or other family members on your policy may qualify for, like defensive driving or good student discounts.
Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in Chicago
Illinois has minimum requirements for the amount ofliability auto insurance drivers must carry. These include bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverages. You can get more coverage if you also choose to buycollision coverage or comprehensive coverage. But if your car is older, and not worth replacing if damaged or stolen, full coverage may not make sense for you.
“Comprehensive coverage covers the car if and only if it’s not in motion,” says Earl L. Jones, an agent with Farmers Insurance. “And collision provides coverage if and only if the car is moving faster than .01 mph.”
Buying full-coverage insurance makes sense if you drive an expensive car, have a new car, or if you drive a lot in high-traffic areas. And if you lease or finance your vehicle, your leasing company or lender will require you to carry full coverage.
Here’s a look at the cheapest auto insurance in Illinois by policy type. It’s easy to see here how choosing the right insurance company can affect your spending. For example, while Auto-Owners only charges $85 per month for its full-coverage policy on average in Chicago, The General’s average is nearly $300 more per month for the same policy type.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Illinois car insurance rates by driving and accident history
The better your driving history is, the less you are, statistically, to file a claim. Because of this, insurance companies extend better rates to drivers with good driving records. Infractions like speeding tickets, driving under the influence, and at-fault accidents on your driving record can all increase your car insurance premium.
Here’s a look at average monthly quotes for the cheapest car insurance in Illinois based on driving and accident history.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Illinois allows car insurance companies to consider credit scores when determining insurance premiums. Generally, a poor credit score indicates a driver is more likely to file a claim, so insurance companies charge higher premiums for drivers with bad credit scores. Working toward having an excellent or good credit score can help you save money on your insurance premiums in Illinois.
Chicago car insurance rates by driver age
Younger drivers typically face higher insurance costs since their lack of experience and maturity often translate to increased claim risks. However, insurance companies tend to decrease premiums as a driver gets older.
You can see in the following tablehow age can affect insurance rates for Chicago drivers. Teenagers pay about 86% more for car insurance each month than drivers in their 70s, who have the lowest average premiums in Chicago.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Is car insurance more expensive in Chicago?
The average monthly cost of car insurance nationwide is $129, while in Chicago, the average is $187. Location (down to the ZIP code) plays a big role in car insurance pricing. Local crime rates, traffic patterns, and weather events all affect how likely someone is to file a claim.
For example, in Tampa, Florida, the average monthly cost for car insurance is significantly higher, at $596. The large number of hurricanes that the state experiences likely contributes to the higher insurance premiums.
Chicago drivers actually enjoy one of the more affordable average insurance rates in the state of Illinois. For comparison, East Saint Louis drivers pay an average of $231 per month.
The following table highlights pricing differences across a handful of different Illinois cities.
More cities in Illinois
City
Average Monthly Quote
Compared to Chicago
Decatur
$129
-31%
Bloomington
$133
-29%
Peoria
$151
-19%
Naperville
$152
-19%
Springfield
$160
-15%
Rockford
$161
-14%
Champaign
$172
-8%
Belleville
$178
-5%
Joliet
$182
-3%
East Saint Louis
$231
24%
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Find Chicago Car Insurance
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Find local Chicago agents
Inner City Underwriting Agency
1631 S Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
LR WINDSOR
205 W Randolph St. Suite 730, Chicago, IL 60606
The Horton Group
500 W Monroe St Ste 3300, Chicago, IL 60661
Oak Brook Insurance Agency dba KSA Insurance Agency
To help you better understand how to find cheap car insurance in Chicago, let’s address some frequently asked questions about this topic.
Who has the cheapest car insurance in Chicago?
In Chicago, Auto-Owners ($70 per month on average), State Farm ($75), and GEICO ($101) offer the lowest average monthly insurance prices.
It’s important to compare multiple quotes so you can find the cheapest car insurance rate for your situation. If you have a bad driving record, you may want to turn your attention to Auto-Owners, which offers the cheapest average premiums for Chicago drivers who have speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUIs on their driving record.
Why is car insurance so expensive in Chicago?
Chicago car insurance may be so expensive because of the high number of carjackings in the city, which can increase insurance rates. Having an increased likelihood of car theft can cause insurance companies to perceive you as more likely to file a claim.
What are the best car insurance companies in Chicago?
Some of thebest car insurance companies in Chicago include State Farm ($75), GEICO ($101), and USAA ($123). These companies earned high IQ Scores and landed top spots on the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study that looks at customer satisfaction.
Do you need uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in Chicago?
Uninsured motorist coverage is included in liability-only policies (which are required) in Illinois, so there’s no need to purchase this coverage separately.
Is Chicago in a no-fault state?
No. Illinois, where the city of Chicago is located, is not a no-fault state. At-fault drivers in this state are required to pay for damages they cause.
Can you get cheap no-down-payment insurance in Chicago?
It’s possible but not necessarily likely. Most car insurance providers make you pay a down payment before your coverage kicks in — no matter what city or state you live in. But you can always ask if the insurer will waive the down payment requirement.
Methodology
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
During college, Jacqueline DeMarco interned at a retirement plan advisory firm and was tasked with creating a presentation on the importance of financial wellness. During her research into how money can affect our health, relationships and career, Jacqueline realized just how important financial education is. Jacqueline is a contributor for Insurify and has worked with more than a dozen financial brands, including LendingTree, Capital One, Credit Karma, Fundera, Chime, Bankrate, Student Loan Hero, ValuePenguin, SoFi, and Northwestern Mutual, providing thoughtful content to give readers insight into complex topics that they likely didn’t learn in school.
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
Evelyn Pimplaskar is Insurify’s director of content. With 30-plus years in content creation – including 10 years specializing in personal finance – Evelyn’s done everything from covering volatile local elections as a beat reporter to building fintech content libraries from the ground up.
Before joining Insurify, she was editor-in-chief at Credible, where she launched and developed the lending marketplace’s media partnership’s content initiative and managed the restructuring of the editorial team to enhance content production efficiency. Formerly, as tax editor for Credit Karma, Evelyn built a library of more than 300 educational articles on federal and state taxes, achieving triple-digit year-over-year growth in e-files from organic search.
Her early career included work as a content marketer, vice president and managing officer of a boutique public relations agency, chief copy editor for 14 weekly Forbes publications, reporting for large and mid-sized daily newspapers, and freelancing for the Associated Press.
Evelyn is passionate about creating personal finance content that distills complex topics into relatable, easy-to-understand stories. She believes great content helps empower readers with the information they need to make important personal finance decisions.
Konstantin has led data science and engineering projects across multiple domains: biology, travel and insurance. He loves finding data nuggets that help people.
