Print
Here you’ll 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.
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 may 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 policy holders 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 |
Cheap Car Insurance in Chicago, Illinois
Geico Cas Co and State Farm Mut Auto 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 30, 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 Cas Co | $428 | $508 | $1,379 |
| Progressive Northern Ins Co | $493 | $589 | $1,706 |
| State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co | $510 | $590 | $1,559 |
| Allstate Fire & Cas Ins Co | $852 | $954 | $3,449 |
| Illinois Farmers Ins Co | $923 | $1,014 | $2,363 |
| Nationwide Gen Ins Co | $1,221 | $1,264 | $2,532 |
Car Insurance Coverage – How much car insurance do I need in Chicago?
Below we’ll explain what coverage you need to drive legally, which is your state required minimum liability limits, and what types of car insurance you may need to be truly protected.
Minimum car insurance requirements in Chicago
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 $235 and collision costs $973 , 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 amounts 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 of 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:
- $100,000 to pay for others’ medical bills
- $300,000 to pay for injuries to others in an accident you cause
- $100,000 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.
The average rate for Chicago drivers for a year of minimum coverage is $738 according to our rate analysis. If you increased your coverage to 50/100/50, you would pay just about $6.83 more a month, or $82 more a year. You can get full coverage (100/300/100) by paying $118.92 more a month, or an additional $1,427 a year more than minimum-level coverage.
Chicago average for:
- Minimum coverage: $738
- 50/100/50: $820
- 100/300/100: $2,165
Average car insurance rates in Chicago
CarInsurance.com analyzed car insurance rates from six car insurance companies for nearly every ZIP code in Illinois. Here's how Chicago's highest average rate $2,721 for ZIP 60624 compares to others, for a full coverage policy of 100/300/100 for a driver age 30:
- $907 more than the least expensive average rate $1,814 in ZIP code 60657
- $1,183 more than the state average $1,538
- $962 more than the national average rate $1,759
Compare car insurance quotes in Chicago – How to Save on insurance policy?
You can save an average of $2,075 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.
Why does comparing car insurance quotes save money?
No two insurance companies will charge the same amount of money for the same policy. So if you compare car insurance quotes and opt for the lowest, you won’t over pay. For example, the highest rate from any carrier surveyed for ZIP code 60624 , the priciest ZIP code Chicago car insurance, was $4,525 . The lowest was $1,749 . The difference is $2,776 , which is how much you could overpay. That’s why car insurance comparisons are paramount to finding the best cheap car insurance for your situation.
Chicago Car Insurance FAQ’s
How much does insurance go up after a speeding ticket in Chicago?
A speeding ticket in Chicago will hike your car insurance rates by an average of 21% , or about $275 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 go up for tickets in Chicago?
Chicago drivers can expect to see a hike in their rates in the range of 24% for minor moving violations such as tailgating or blowing through a stop sign, 86% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUI/DWI third offense | $1,297 | $5,445 | $4,148 | 320% |
| DUI/DWI second offense | $1,297 | $3,891 | $2,594 | 200% |
| DUI/DWI first offense | $1,297 | $2,413 | $1,116 | 86% |
| Reckless driving | $1,297 | $2,197 | $899 | 69% |
| Operating a vehicle in a race (highway racing) | $1,297 | $1,981 | $684 | 53% |
| Careless driving | $1,297 | $1,771 | $474 | 37% |
| 2 speeding tickets 11 mph or over | $1,297 | $1,679 | $382 | 29% |
| Following too closely | $1,297 | $1,634 | $337 | 26% |
| Distracted driving ticket | $1,297 | $1,634 | $337 | 26% |
| Improper turn | $1,297 | $1,630 | $332 | 26% |
| Failure to yield | $1,297 | $1,630 | $332 | 26% |
| Failure to stop | $1,297 | $1,630 | $332 | 26% |
| Driving without a license or permit | $1,297 | $1,630 | $332 | 26% |
| Improper/illegal pass | $1,297 | $1,624 | $326 | 25% |
| Texting ticket | $1,297 | $1,619 | $322 | 25% |
| Talking on cellphone ticket | $1,297 | $1,619 | $322 | 25% |
| Driving without insurance | $1,297 | $1,615 | $317 | 24% |
| Seatbelt infraction | $1,297 | $1,297 | $0 | 0% |
How much will an accident raise my insurance in Chicago?
An accident will increase car insurance rates by 31% to 31%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 At-fault property damage accident over $2k | $1,297 | $3,247 | $1,950 | 150% |
| At-fault bodily injury accident | $1,297 | $1,701 | $404 | 31% |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K | $1,297 | $1,701 | $404 | 31% |
| 1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K | $1,297 | $1,701 | $404 | 31% |
How much does it cost to add a teen driver to your insurance?
In Chicago, adding a 16-year-old daughter to your policy will hike your rates by $2,038 annually, or 157% It's more for boys. Insuring your 16-year-old son will increase your yearly rate by $2,671 , or 206% 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?
CarInsurance.com data show that for drivers in Chicago, your rate will go up by an average of $1,157 or 89%. 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.
Chicago commuters
The average drive time for Chicago workers 16 and older to their job is 34.6 minutes, which is longer than the national average of 25.5 minutes, according to the U.S. Census.
The mean time calculated by the Census for 2013-2017 includes time spent waiting for public transportation, picking up passengers in carpools and time spent on other activities related to getting to work.
Chicagoans use public transportation more than other metro areas like Los Angeles:
- Drive alone: 48.6%
- Carpool: 7.5%
- Public transit: 28.3%
The data, compiled by Data USA, additionally showed that 3.27% of the workforce in Chicago are "super commuters," meaning they drive an excess of 90 minutes to their job.
Vehicle ownership
Compared nationally, Chicago households (and there are about 1.2 million) are within the average range for car ownership. The largest share (39.4%) of households in the city has one car, followed by two cars, according to recent statistics from Data USA.
Chicago households that have five cars or more? That's about 1.36%. Some 16.7% of households in Chicago have no cars, which complements the relatively-high rate of those who take public transit.
Chicago congestion
When you think traffic congestion, cities such as Boston, Los Angeles or Washington, DC, come to mind. However, Chicago, too, is a frontrunner when it comes to clogged streets and avenues.
In an annual report conducted by INRIX, Chicago shot up from the number 5 spot in 2017 to the third slot in 2018 on the "most congested urban areas in the U.S." list. Chicago ranked just behind list-toppers Boston and Washington, and ahead of New York City and Los Angeles. According to the study, Chicago drivers spend 138 hours stuck in congestion per year.
Chicago drivers lost up to $1,920 per year due to congestion, as compared to Boston, which lost up to $2,291. It cost $6.28 billion to the city of Chicago in 2018.
The most congested corridor in Chicago is Interstate 94/90, between the Stevenson Highway and I-294. The average delay time on that particular strip is 26 minutes. The section of highway also earns Chicago the second spot for the "most congested road in the U.S." in 2018 list, causing an annual delay of 102 hours. The only strip of road to beat it was the Cross Bronx Expressway in New York.
Chicago also nabbed the third slot for the "most congested road in the U.S." for 1-290 (the Eisenhower Expressway) from I-94 to I-294. Drivers get stuck in traffic for an average of 23 minutes on that stretch.
Auto thefts
Motor vehicle thefts in Chicago fell by 12.13% from 2017 to 2018, according to the police department's annual report. In 2017, there were 11,535 cars reportedly stolen, down to 10,130 in 2018.
Arrests for motor vehicle thefts in Chicago also dropped, by 15.99%, from 2017 to 2018. In 2017, 3,096 were arrested for auto thefts, with 2,601 in 2018.
Fatal crashes in Chicago
There were 533 people killed in vehicle crashes in Chicago between 2012 and 2016, according to the city's 2017-2018 annual report.
Vehicle fatalities by year:
- 2012: 122
- 2013: 113
- 2014: 98
- 2015: 103
- 2016: 97
People seriously injured in Chicago traffic crashes
There were 10,370 seriously injured in vehicle crashes in Chicago between 2012 and 2016, according to the 2017-2018 annual report issued by the city in conjunction with its Vision Zero initiative.
Seriously injured in car crashes by year:
- 2012: 1,826
- 2013: 1,982
- 2014: 2,028
- 2015: 2,548
- 2016: 1,986
Chicago's most dangerous streets and roads
According to the city's 2018 Vision Zero annual report, the following are the most high crash corridors and areas in Chicago.
Downtown high crash corridors (these are numbered in order of north to south, not in order of "dangerousness" or "worst”):
- Michigan Street from Oak to Roosevelt
- Orleans Street from Chicago to Ohio
- Ontario Street from Orleans to Fairbanks
- Ohio Street from Orleans to Fairbanks
- LaSalle Street from Ontario to Wacker
- State Street from Chicago to Harrington
- Fairbanks Street from Huron to North Water
- Wacker Street from Jackson to Columbus
- Washington Street from Wacker to Michigan
- Randolph Street from Clark to Michigan
- Dearborn Street from Lake to Monroe
- Congress Street from Wells to Michigan
Neighborhood high crash corridors:
- Devon Street from California to Clark
- Broadway Street from Foster to Grace
- Western Street from Lawrence to Irving Park
- Belmont Street from Pulaski to Kedzie
- Clark Street from Irving Park to LaSalle
- Fullerton Street from Meade to California
- Western Street from George to Chicago
- Milwaukee Street from Kedzie to Ogden
- Damen Street from Fullerton to Superior
- Ashland Street from Fullerton to Van Buren
- North Street from Austin to Laramie
- Chicago Street from Central to Cicero
- Chicago Street from Pulaski to Kedzie
- Chicago Street from Paulina to State
- Lake Street from Lockwood to Hamlin
- Cicero Street from Chicago to Arthington
- Pulaski Street from Division to Roosevelt
- Roosevelt Street from Halsted to Michigan
- Lake Shore Drive from Division to Roosevelt
- Western Ave. from 35th to Garfield
- Pulaski Street from Archer to 71st
- Garfield Street from Halsted to King
- Ashland Street from 59th to 69th
- Western Street from 63rd to 74th
- Story Island from 63rd to 79th
- Halsted from Marquette to 79th
- Cottage Grove from 75th to 87th
- Ashland Street from 78th to 87th
- 79th Street from State to Drexel
- 87th Street from Damen to Halsted
- Story Island from 87th to 95th
Vision Zero initiative
A group of national organizations in 2014 originally adapted Vision Zero to establish a national strategy on highway safety referred to as Toward Zero Deaths (TZD). It focuses on data-driven topics, such as safer drivers, safer passengers, safer users, enhanced medical services, safer infrastructure and safer vehicles.
Chicago officially became a Vision Zero city in June 2017 when its action plan was launched.
"The city of Chicago has made strides toward eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2026," said the first year's annual report. "We are dedicated to this mission to protect our residents. We know this is an ambitious goal."
Outreach began in summer 2017, centering around high crash areas on the west side of the city.
DUIs
With 1,840 arrests for DUI made by the Chicago police in 2018, it showed a decrease of 7.2% compared to 2017, when there were 1,962 arrests for drunk driving in Chicago, as reported by Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists.
Illinois State Police arrests decreased by 3.7% in 2018 (5,038) compared to 2017 (5,234). The sheriff's department reporting the most DUI arrests was Cook County (381). Winnebago (361), DeKalb (283), McLean (281) and McHenry (262) counties round out the top five sheriff departments, said AAIM.
Chicago distracted driver law
While Illinois outlawed texting while driving initially in 2010, with a hands-free law added in 2014, officials continuously pushed for more restrictions.
A new law that took effect in July 2019 gave motorists caught using cell phones, or any electronic devices, harsher penalties. Police then began to issue moving violations instead of a warning ticket. Three of those could get a driver's license suspended.
- First offense: $75
- Second offense: $100
- Third offense: $125
- Any future offenses: $150
The law doesn’t apply to a driver reporting an emergency or using hands-free mode, or a law enforcement officer performing official duties.
Illinois State Police issued 15,150 citations for distracted driving in 2018, reported the Chicago Tribune.
Miles of travel
Chicago drivers cover approximately 10.8 million miles of streets and roadways a year, according to a 2017 report by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Annual Vehicle Miles of Travel (AVMT) for Chicago drivers in 2017:
- Interstate: 4,173,253
- Freeways: 0
- Other principal arterials: 2,111,957
- Minor arterials: 1,642,634Major collectors: 1,676,539
Minor collectors: 62,270
Local roads and streets: 1,229,482
