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Updated December 21, 2022
It’s illegal for drivers in Chicago, Illinois, to hit the open road without a minimum level of car insurance. Minimum-coverage car insurance in Chicago costs an average of $133 per month, which is 24% less than the Illinois average monthly premium of $176.
The unique details of your vehicle, driving record, and location will affect your car insurance costs. But the Windy City has a comparatively large number of drivers, which often pushes premiums higher.
Table of contents
- How much does car insurance cost in Chicago?
- Cheapest car insurance in Chicago: Mile Auto
- How much car insurance do you need in Chicago?
- Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Chicago
- How age affects car insurance rates in Chicago
- How credit scores affect cheap car insurance in Chicago
- The effect of driving habits on car insurance in Chicago
- Find local Chicago agents
- Chicago car insurance FAQs
How much does car insurance cost in Chicago?
Insurify data scientists analyzed insurance quotes and found that the average monthly cost of auto insurance in Chicago is $179.
Many factors affect car insurance costs.[1] One significant factor is the coverage level you choose. The average cost for a full-coverage policy is $198 per month, while the average cost of a liability-only policy is $133 per month.
Since everyone’s situation is different, shopping around can help you find the best rates. But in general, some insurance companies tend to charge less than others. Here’s a look at the cheapest car insurance options in Chicago:
Cheapest liability-only insurance: On average, Kemper offers Chicago drivers the cheapest liability-only insurance policies, at $65 per month.
Cheapest full-coverage policy: On average, Mile Auto offers Chicago drivers the cheapest full-coverage insurance policies, at $101 per month.
Cheapest insurance for young drivers: Mile Auto is the lowest-cost insurance option for young drivers, with an average cost of $118 per month.
Mile Auto and Kemper offer the cheapest options for drivers in Chicago, Illinois. However, coverage needs vary among drivers. Taking the time to get quotes from multiple insurance companies lets you lock in the most affordable policy for your needs.
Learn More: Cheap Car Insurance in Illinois
Cheapest car insurance in Chicago: Mile Auto
Insurance companies evaluate the unique details of your situation to set your monthly premium, such as your location, age, driving record, ZIP code, and vehicle type.
At an average cost of $94 per month, Mile Auto offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Chicago. But the unique factors on your application could lead to a higher or lower rate. As a driver, you can find the best rates for your situation by comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies.[2]
Here’s a breakdown of average costs across multiple insurance companies:
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
---|---|---|
Kemper | $65 | $152 |
Acuity | $77 | $361 |
Safeco | $82 | $151 |
Progressive | $87 | $120 |
Mile Auto | $90 | $101 |
State Auto | $94 | $238 |
Jupiter | $99 | $299 |
GAINSCO | $101 | $203 |
Grange | $101 | $180 |
Elephant | $102 | $152 |
National General | $102 | $129 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $103 | $195 |
Travelers | $103 | $118 |
Clearcover | $104 | $160 |
Certainly | $111 | $164 |
Mercury | $131 | $186 |
Freedom National | $136 | $310 |
Hugo | $137 | $250 |
SafeAuto | $138 | $116 |
Liberty Mutual | $143 | $205 |
Stillwater | $160 | $218 |
Nationwide | $179 | $230 |
Bristol West | $225 | $278 |
The General | $249 | $344 |
How much car insurance do you need in Chicago?
Illinois state law requires a minimum amount of liability coverage. Legally, you have to carry at least 25/50/20 insurance. Here’s the breakdown of these minimum requirements:
$25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage: If you’re in an at-fault accident, this coverage will kick in to cover the medical bills of the other driver and passengers involved. But this type of coverage won’t help cover your own medical costs.
$20,000 per accident in property damage coverage: If you cause property damage during an at-fault accident, this coverage pays for repairs for the other parties involved. Plus, this coverage can pay for legal costs if the other parties involved sue you.
A minimum-coverage policy is enough to drive legally in Illinois, but you can buy more coverage. For example, collision insurance can help pay for your vehicle repair costs after an accident.
Regardless of the insurance coverage you choose, you must carry proof of insurance on the road. Depending on your insurance company, this proof might be in the form of a digital insurance card or a physical paper copy. You must provide a law enforcement officer your proof of insurance upon request. Additionally, you’ll need this proof when renewing your vehicle registration or after an accident.[3]
Illinois DMV information
The Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) operates through the Illinois Secretary of State. Drivers can access many services online, including license plate renewals, address changes, and driver’s license renewals. Additionally, in-person services, like driver tests and vehicle registration, are available at more than 20 DMV locations.[4]
Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Chicago
Drivers in Chicago pay an average of $179 per month for car insurance, which adds up to $2,148 per year. Since the costs of car insurance can add up quickly, finding cheap car insurance is a top priority for most drivers.
Here are some tips to lock in cheap car insurance in Chicago:
Seek out discounts. Insurance companies typically offer discount options. For example, you might find a discount related to your occupation or lock in savings by taking a defensive driving course.
Maintain a clean driving record. Drivers without any violations on their record tend to find lower car insurance premiums.
Bundle with other insurance policies. Some companies offer a discount when you bundle multiple policies, like home insurance and car insurance.
Raise your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you pay up front when filing a claim. Although higher deductibles often come with lower insurance premiums, make sure you can reasonably afford the deductible.
Shopping around is another effective way to find cheap car insurance. When you compare quotes across multiple insurance companies, you may be able to find lower rates.
Before you skip this money-saving tip out of lack of time, consider an online quote-comparison tool. Instead of spending an afternoon calling around town, shop online to find a cost-effective option in less time.
How age affects car insurance rates in Chicago
Drivers with more years of experience under their belts tend to have fewer accidents than younger drivers. Insurance companies typically charge young drivers the highest premiums in Chicago.
Age Group | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
Teenagers | $449 |
Younger than 25 | $291 |
25–29 | $204 |
30s | $185 |
40s | $188 |
50s | $150 |
60s | $175 |
70s | $164 |
80+ | $264 |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Chicago
On average, young drivers in Chicago can find the cheapest car insurance premiums of $118 per month for full coverage with Mile Auto. Other insurers on the cheaper end of the spectrum include Stillwater and SafeAuto.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
Mile Auto | $118 |
Stillwater | $130 |
SafeAuto | $139 |
Kemper Preferred | $152 |
Travelers | $152 |
Kemper Specialty | $178 |
Safeco | $185 |
Elephant | $190 |
National General | $195 |
Certainly | $214 |
Progressive | $227 |
Clearcover | $227 |
Nationwide | $238 |
Mercury | $252 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $278 |
Liberty Mutual | $290 |
State Auto | $361 |
Bristol West | $369 |
Freedom National | $389 |
Kemper | $432 |
The General | $464 |
Cheapest car insurance for middle-aged drivers in Chicago
With more driving experience, middle-aged drivers tend to find lower-cost auto insurance premiums than young drivers. On average, the cheapest option for full coverage is Mile Auto, with premiums of $80 per month.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
Mile Auto | $80 |
SafeAuto | $101 |
National General | $108 |
Kemper Specialty | $127 |
Travelers | $127 |
Stillwater | $129 |
Kemper Preferred | $148 |
Clearcover | $152 |
Safeco | $153 |
Mercury | $154 |
Certainly | $155 |
Elephant | $159 |
Progressive | $162 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $178 |
Liberty Mutual | $179 |
Nationwide | $184 |
State Auto | $237 |
Bristol West | $254 |
Freedom National | $260 |
Kemper | $283 |
The General | $325 |
Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Chicago
In Chicago, senior drivers tend to find the cheapest full-coverage insurance options with Mile Auto. But with other affordable insurers out there, it still makes sense to shop around.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
Mile Auto | $77 |
SafeAuto | $88 |
National General | $91 |
Travelers | $104 |
Nationwide | $107 |
Safeco | $123 |
Stillwater | $127 |
Clearcover | $136 |
Mercury | $144 |
Kemper Preferred | $148 |
Elephant | $151 |
Kemper Specialty | $159 |
Certainly | $166 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $159 |
Liberty Mutual | $189 |
State Auto | $215 |
Freedom National | $240 |
Bristol West | $241 |
Kemper | $284 |
The General | $369 |
How credit scores affect cheap car insurance in Chicago
The state of Illinois allows insurance companies to consider your credit when determining insurance premiums.[5] In general, Chicago drivers with excellent credit scores find lower auto insurance premiums than drivers with poor credit scores.
The range of FICO scores runs on a scale from 300 to 850. A good FICO credit score sits between 670 and 739. A FICO score below 579 is considered poor, while a score of 580 to 699 is considered fair.[6] In some cases, you can get your credit score for free through your credit card issuer or an online service.[7]
Find the average full-coverage premiums for your credit score in the chart below.
Credit Tier | Average Monthly Quote |
---|---|
Excellent | $166 |
Good | $212 |
Fair | $230 |
Poor | $247 |
Learn More: Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier
The effect of driving habits on car insurance in Chicago
Bad driving habits often lead to violations on your driving record. Any red flags on your driving record tend to push your insurance costs higher. For example, causing an accident could lead to higher insurance costs.
Insurance companies take a close look at your driving record when determining premiums. Drivers with clean records typically find the lowest car insurance rates.
It’s important to note that when you see a negative difference in a table, it doesn’t mean that particular insurance company lowers rates for drivers with that infraction on their records. Rather, it may mean that our sample size was small — insurers may choose to not offer policies to drivers with that infraction. Your actual rate can vary, based on a number of factors other than driving record.
Cheapest car insurance with an accident in Chicago: Progressive
At-fault accidents on your driving record may negatively impact your premiums, increasing your monthly car insurance rate. Insurers typically increase your premiums in correlation with your risk, and an accident can stay on your record for three years.[8]
Insurance Company | Clean Record | With At-Fault Accident | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Progressive | $199 | $78 | -$121 |
Mile Auto | $93 | $101 | +$8 |
SafeAuto | $124 | $102 | -$22 |
Certainly | $183 | $115 | -$67 |
Travelers | $127 | $125 | -$2 |
Safeco | $155 | $167 | +$12 |
Kemper Preferred | $142 | $172 | +$30 |
Kemper Specialty | $146 | $181 | +$35 |
Elephant | $165 | $191 | +$25 |
Liberty Mutual | $227 | $195 | -$32 |
Clearcover | $176 | $214 | +$38 |
Nationwide | $184 | $231 | +$47 |
Mercury | $186 | $244 | $+58 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $190 | $261 | +$71 |
National General | $148 | $291 | +$143 |
Freedom National | $290 | $349 | +$59 |
State Auto | $239 | $369 | +$129 |
Bristol West | $288 | $394 | +$106 |
The General | $347 | $493 | +$145 |
Kemper | $343 | $676 | +$333 |
Cheapest car insurance with a DUI in Chicago: National General
If you get a DUI in the Windy City, you should expect your car insurance rates to increase. Insurance companies may treat drivers with a DUI on their record as a high risk, which leads to higher premiums. However, Insurify data shows that SafeAuto has the cheapest premiums for people with a DUI, at an average of $124 a month.
Car Insurance Company | Clean Record | With DUI | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
SafeAuto | $124 | $124 | $0 |
Travelers | $127 | $180 | +$53 |
Kemper Specialty | $146 | $133 | -$13 |
National General | $148 | $111 | -$37 |
Safeco | $155 | $123 | -$32 |
Elephant | $165 | $250 | +$85 |
Mercury | $186 | $221 | +$35 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $190 | $279 | +$89 |
Liberty Mutual | $227 | $162 | -$65 |
Bristol West | $288 | $176 | -$112 |
Freedom National | $290 | $858 | +$568 |
The General | $347 | $505 | +$158 |
Cheapest car insurance with a speeding ticket in Chicago: Mile Auto
A speeding ticket on your record presents a risk to insurance companies. Insurers typically compensate for this higher risk by raising your insurance premiums. Mile Auto has the cheapest premiums for Chicago drivers with speeding tickets on their record, at an average of $98 a month.
Car Insurance Company | Clean Record | With Speeding Ticket | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Mile Auto | $93 | $98 | +$5 |
SafeAuto | $124 | $101 | -$23 |
Travelers | $127 | $157 | +$30 |
Kemper Preferred | $142 | $152 | +$10 |
Kemper Specialty | $146 | $151 | +$5 |
National General | $148 | $151 | +$3 |
Safeco | $155 | $182 | +$27 |
Elephant | $165 | $195 | +$30 |
Clearcover | $176 | $192 | +$16 |
Certainly | $183 | $132 | -$51 |
Nationwide | $184 | $245 | +$61 |
Mercury | $186 | $204 | +$18 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $190 | $333 | +$143 |
Progressive | $199 | $205 | +$6 |
Liberty Mutual | $227 | $197 | -$30 |
State Auto | $239 | $399 | +$160 |
Bristol West | $288 | $312 | +$24 |
Freedom National | $290 | $350 | +$60 |
Kemper | $343 | $255 | -$88 |
The General | $347 | $526 | +$179 |
Car insurance in other Illinois cities
Car insurance rates vary great from city to city — even within the same state. Here’s a look at car insurance rates in some other Illinois cities:
Find local Chicago agents
Inner City Underwriting Agency
1631 S Michigan Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60616LR WINDSOR
205 W Randolph St. Suite 730,
Chicago, IL 60606The Horton Group
500 W Monroe St Ste 3300,
Chicago, IL 60661Oak Brook Insurance Agency dba KSA Insurance Agency
7158 W Grand Ave,
Chicago, IL 60707Insurance Support Systems, Inc.
6962 W North Ave,
Chicago, IL 60707John E. Horn & Associates, Inc.
6650 N Northwest Hwy Ste 105,
Chicago, IL 60631Joseph Cacciatore & Co Insurance Agency
527 S Wells St 6th Floor,
Chicago, IL 60607Abis Insurance Services Inc
7030 W Belmont Ave,
Chicago, IL 60634Westside Insurance Agency, LLC
5845 W Chicago Ave,
Chicago, IL 60651Farmerbrown.com
750 N Franklin St Ste 208,
Chicago, IL 60654
Chicago car insurance FAQs
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about car insurance in Chicago.
Yes, you need car insurance in Chicago. You must carry a minimum amount of car insurance to drive in Chicago. Driving without insurance is a minimum $500 fine.[3]
Mile Auto and Kemper Specialty offer some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Chicago. Average premiums for a full-coverage policy with Mile Auto are $101, while average premiums for liability-only coverage with Kemperare $65.
Keep in mind that your unique situation impacts your insurance premiums. Your quotes could be different based on your driving record, location, credit score, and more.
No, Illinois is an at-fault state. After an accident, the at-fault driver’s car insurance will cover the costs of any bodily injury and property damage they caused.
Car insurance in Chicago is expensive for several reasons. A large population leads to more potential accidents on the road. Plus, a rising number of carjackings may be pushing car insurance costs higher.[9]
Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly
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.
Sources
- III. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?." Accessed December 14, 2022
- III. "Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs." Accessed December 15, 2022
- Illinois Secretary of State. "Mandatory Insurance Brochue." Accessed December 15, 2022
- Illinois Secretary of State. "Secretary of State Facility Appointments Driver Services." Accessed December 15, 2022
- Illinois Department of Insurance. "Credit - How Insurers Use It." Accessed December 15, 2022
- Experian. "What Is a Good Credit Score?." Accessed December 15, 2022
- CFPB. "I got my free credit reports, but they do not include my credit scores. Can I get my credit score for free too?." Accessed December 15, 2022
- III. "Do auto insurance premiums go up after a claim?." Accessed December 15, 2022
- Wirepoints. "Chicago carjackings are at record high." Accessed December 15, 2022