Learn everything you need to know to buy the best car insurance policy in Chicago for your particular situation. You’ll see which carriers are rated as the best car insurance companies for customer satisfaction and what the average car insurance rates are for your neighborhood.
You’ll also discover how much you can save from knowing how to make smart choices about coverage. And, find out how rates for Chicago drivers are affected by tickets, accidents and adding teen drivers.
CarInsurance.com Insights
- The average car insurance rate for Chicago drivers for minimum coverage is $655 a year, according to Carinsurance.com analysis.
- The liability coverage in Chicago, IL costs $712 per year.
- In Chicago, full coverage car insurance policy costs $1,825 a year.
- In Chicago, comparing quotes can help you save an average $3,844 on your car insurance rates annually.
How much does car insurance cost in Chicago, IL?
We all know that the cost of car insurance varies depending on your individual needs. But how much does it actually costs? CarInsurance.com analyzed major insurers including GEICO, Progressive, State Farm, Allstate and others, to determine average Chicago coverage costs for different levels and types.
The average rate for Chicago drivers for a year of minimum coverage is $655 according to our rate analysis. If you increased your coverage to 50/100/50, you would pay just about $4.75 more a month, or $57 more a year.
You can get full coverage (100/300/100) by paying $97.50 more a month, or an additional $1,170 a year more than minimum-level coverage.
Average auto insurance rates in Chicago, ILThe following data show what you can expect to pay for car insurance in Chicago, on average.
- State minimum policy: $655 per year
- Liability coverage (50/100/50): $712 per year
- Full coverage (100/300/100): $1,825 per year
Who has the cheapest car insurance in Chicago, Illinois?
GEICO and American Family Ins Co have the cheapest car insurance rates in Chicago, based on our rate analysis for three different coverage levels.
The driver profile is for age 40, with good credit and a clean driving record. You can see how major insurers rank for price in the chart below.
| Company | Liability Only – State Minimum BI/PD | Liability Only – 50/100/50 BI/PD | Full Coverage – 100/300/100 BI/PD – 500 Comp/Coll |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO Casualty Co | $298 | $374 | $858 |
| Mercury Ins Co of IL | $357 | $393 | $1,220 |
| Owners Ins Co | $418 | $473 | $1,301 |
| Erie Ins Exchange | $431 | $483 | $1,421 |
| State Farm Mutl Automobile Ins | $446 | $523 | $1,305 |
| Standard Fire Ins Co | $539 | $615 | $1,188 |
| American Family Ins Co | $589 | $636 | $1,118 |
| Allstate F&C Ins Co | $602 | $666 | $2,196 |
| Automobile Club Inter-Ins | $644 | $742 | $2,134 |
| Nationwide General Ins Co | $653 | $671 | $1,238 |
| Progressive Universal Ins Co | $696 | $793 | $1,488 |
| Illinois Farmers Ins Co | $877 | $1,027 | $1,892 |
| Auto Club Ins Assn | $1,010 | $1,141 | $4,388 |
| Metropolitan Group P&C Ins Co | $1,810 | $1,843 | $4,670 |
Who has the best car insurance in Chicago, IL?
Deciding who has the best car insurance to suit your needs depends on what is most important to you. For some, it may be price, while others value customer service the most. Still others may be looking for the convenience of mobile apps, or a company that offers the most car insurance discounts.
Below, we list car insurance companies in Chicago and who they are the best at serving, based on CarInsurance.com’s customer satisfaction survey of current policyholders and rate data analysis.
| Best for | Company |
|---|---|
| Claims | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) |
| Value/Price | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) |
| Customer Service | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) |
| Websites/Apps | Erie |
| Recommend | Auto Club of Southern California (Auto Club Enterprise Insurance Group) |
| Low Annual Mileage | State Farm Mutual Auto |
| Good Student | Illinois Farmers Ins Co |
| Bundle | Allstate F&C |
| Paid in Full | Allstate F&C |
How much car insurance do I need in Chicago, IL?
Below, we’ll explain what coverage you need to drive legally, which is your state’s required minimum liability limits, and what types of car insurance you may need to be truly protected.
Minimum car insurance requirements in Chicago, IL
Illinois car insurance laws require only that you insure yourself against bodily injury and property damage liability, so it’s your choice whether to add coverage for yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle.
If you have a newer model car, it makes sense to get comprehensive insurance and collision coverage. In Illinois, comprehensive costs $203 and collision costs $881, on an average per year, according to a rate data analysis done by CarInsurance.com.
These optional coverages come with a deductible. That’s the amount you pay before your insurance company pays. Typical deductibles are $1,000, $500 and $250 – you choose which one you want. The higher the deductible is, the lower your rate will be.
The best car insurance coverage usually isn’t the cheapest. You may be used if you’re in an accident and your insurance doesn’t cover all the damages. That means your home or savings could be in jeopardy.
To protect your assets, you should buy liability insurance in the following amounts:
- $1,00,000 to pay for others’ medical bills
- $3,00,000 to pay for injuries to others in an accident you cause
- $1,00,000 to pay for damage to others’ property
You should also consider buying these optional coverages:
- Comprehensive, which replaces stolen cars and covers damage to your car from floods, fire, hail, vandalism.
- Collision, which pays for damage to your car from accidents.
Compare car insurance quotes in Chicago, IL and save money
You can save an average of $3,844 annually on a full coverage policy in Chicago by comparing car insurance quotes, according to CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis. While savings will depend on your particular circumstances, this shows that there is a significant benefit to shopping your policy.
Chicago, IL car insurance FAQs
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket in Chicago, IL?
A speeding ticket in Chicago will hike your car insurance rates by an average of 43%, or about $1,155 yearly. CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis shows how much more drivers in Chicago can expect to pay, on average, for speeding and other common violations.
Minor traffic violations, such as speeding, typically stay on your record for about three years, and you can expect to see the rate increase upon your policy renewal date. More severe infractions, such as DUI, typically stay on your record much longer.
How much does insurance increase for tickets in Chicago, IL?
Chicago drivers can expect to see a hike in their rates in the range of 42% for minor moving violations such as tailgating or blowing through a stop sign, 81% for more severe infractions such as DUI.
Below you’ll see how much rates increase, on average, for common traffic violations.
Remember, though, that because insurance companies assess risk differently, you can still save by comparison shopping, because one carrier may ding you a lot for a citation, while another may spike your rate by much less.
| Violation | Average rate | Rate after violation | $ Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $2,703 | $4,195 | $1,492 | 55% |
| Careless driving | $2,703 | $4,487 | $1,784 | 66% |
| Distracted driving ticket | $2,703 | $3,556 | $853 | 32% |
| Driving without a license or permit | $2,703 | $3,278 | $575 | 21% |
| Driving without insurance | $2,703 | $3,294 | $591 | 22% |
| DUI/DWI first offense | $2,703 | $4,822 | $2,119 | 78% |
| DUI/DWI second offense | $2,703 | $7,917 | $5,214 | 193% |
| Failure to stop | $2,703 | $3,437 | $734 | 27% |
| Failure to yield | $2,703 | $3,481 | $778 | 29% |
| Following too closely | $2,703 | $3,461 | $758 | 28% |
| Improper turn | $2,703 | $3,463 | $760 | 28% |
| Improper/illegal pass | $2,703 | $3,476 | $773 | 29% |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $2,703 | $4,893 | $2,190 | 81% |
| Reckless driving | $2,703 | $4,842 | $2,139 | 79% |
| Seatbelt infraction | $2,703 | $3,389 | $686 | 25% |
| Talking on cellphone ticket | $2,703 | $3,450 | $747 | 28% |
| Texting ticket | $2,703 | $3,450 | $747 | 28% |
How much will an accident raise my insurance in Chicago, IL?
An accident will increase car insurance rates by 49% to 116%, on average, for drivers in Chicago. When you file a claim for an accident that’s your fault, typically your car insurance rates will increase.
However, claims under your comprehensive coverage, if you have it as it’s optional, typically won’t trigger an increase. That’s because comprehensive claims are for damage insurers consider to be beyond your control, for instance due to hail, fire, flooding, falling objects or collisions with an animal.
The table below shows how much for drivers in Chicago can expect to pay for common car insurance claims.
| Accident | Average Rate | Rate after claim | $ Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K | $2,703 | $4,018 | $1,315 | 49% |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K | $2,703 | $4,018 | $1,315 | 49% |
| 2 At-fault property damage accident over $2k | $2,703 | $5,828 | $3,125 | 116% |
| At-fault bodily injury accident | $2,703 | $4,174 | $1,471 | 54% |
How much does it cost to add a teen driver to your insurance in Chicago, IL?
In Chicago, adding a 16-year-old daughter to your policy will hike your rates by $2,577 annually, or 141%. It’s more for boys. Insuring your 16-year-old son will increase your yearly rate by $3,329 or 182%, according to CarInsurance.com rate data.
Teen drivers are inexperienced and are involved in more accidents than older drivers, according to federal research, and insurance companies categorize them as high-risk drivers, so they cost more to insure.
If you’re insuring a teen driver of any age, you can get expert tips, more rate data by age and details from our “Parents’ guide to insuring a teen driver.”
How much is SR-22 insurance in Chicago, IL?
CarInsurance.com data show that for drivers in Chicago, your rate will go up by an average of $1,084 or 40%. If you’re convicted of a serious offense, such as DUI or reckless driving, you may be required to have your insurance company file an SR-22 form on your behalf.
An SR-22 is a car insurance company’s guarantee to the state that you are carrying the legally mandated coverage. If you are required to have an SR-22 filed, your car insurance rates will increase.
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Michelle Megna
Contributing Researcher