Best car insurance in Chicago, IL (2024)

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Gianetta PalmerContributing WriterGianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.&Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

Updated|3 min read

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Chicago drivers pay an average of $1,950 per year for full coverage car insurance. That’s significantly more than the Illinois state average of $1,332. Since Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, it’s not surprising that car insurance rates are so expensive. More people means more cars on the road, which means more chances for an accident.

Ready to shop car insurance?

The easiest way for Chicago drivers to save money on car insurance is by comparing quotes from multiple companies. Policygenius can help you see quotes from top companies and choose the option that works best for you and your wallet.

Key Takeaways

  • Country Financial has the lowest average rates in Chicago at $1,232 per year for full coverage.

  • The minimum liability car insurance requirements in Illinois are $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $20,000 in property damage liability.

  • Illinois also requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident.

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: 50/100

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Chicago, IL

Insurance companies all use the same basic information to establish car insurance rates (age, location, driving history). However companies apply that data in different ways. That’s why some companies may consider a low credit score to be worse than multiple speeding tickets, while others may not.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

COUNTRY Financial

$103/month

--

State Farm

$109/month

882

Auto-Owners Insurance

$110/month

865

Travelers

$111/month

854

American Family

$123/month

874

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Chicago, IL

Insurers look at the number of accidents, stolen vehicles, and acts of vandalism in a specific neighborhood and set rates accordingly. The more risk factors in your area, the more you’ll pay for car insurance. Below are the cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Chicago.

ZIP code

Average cost

60631

$1,736

60614

$1,748

60657

$1,755

60661

$1,798

60701

$1,798

60601

$1,803

60654

$1,805

60606

$1,806

60602

$1,808

60613

$1,813

60610

$1,818

60656

$1,829

60699

$1,830

60611

$1,836

60605

$1,837

60604

$1,851

60603

$1,852

60646

$1,863

60618

$1,880

60640

$1,902

60655

$1,925

60625

$1,929

60622

$1,935

60642

$1,941

60647

$1,941

60607

$1,951

60660

$1,952

60626

$1,979

60634

$1,981

60630

$1,982

60638

$1,990

60659

$1,991

60633

$2,017

60645

$2,026

60641

$2,064

60652

$2,073

60616

$2,093

60615

$2,112

60629

$2,128

60632

$2,140

60643

$2,150

60608

$2,154

60617

$2,176

60639

$2,184

60609

$2,201

60653

$2,226

60612

$2,289

60637

$2,305

60628

$2,331

60619

$2,354

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Chicago, IL

Selecting the right car insurance is an important decision for you and your family. You need enough coverage to protect you if you’re involved in an accident at a rate that won’t break the bank. 

That’s why shopping around is the best way to be sure you’re getting the most out of your policy. Answer a few questions, and Policygenius can help you see quotes from top companies.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Chicago, IL

Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States. More traffic means more accidents and claims, leading to higher rates for everyone — but especially people with poor driving records. 

A single speeding ticket can raise your insurance rates by $300 annually, while a DUI conviction can double, or even triple rates with some insurers.

Violation

COUNTRY Financial

State Farm

Auto-Owners Insurance

Travelers

American Family

At-fault accident

$1,989

$1,553

$1,697

$1,963

$1,998

Suspended license

$2,086

$1,430

$2,533

$2,170

$2,820

Open container

$1,766

$1,430

$2,533

$1,851

$2,186

Expired registration

$1,766

$1,430

$1,332

$1,851

$1,622

Driving without lights

$1,766

$1,430

$1,332

$1,851

$1,622

Running a red light

$1,766

$1,430

$1,332

$1,851

$2,186

Following too closely

$1,766

$1,430

$1,332

$1,851

$2,186

Hit and run

$2,086

$1,430

$2,533

$2,170

$2,820

Not-at-fault accident

$1,334

$1,324

$1,332

$1,445

$1,964

Passing a school bus

$1,766

$1,430

$1,476

$2,170

$2,186

Reckless driving

$2,086

$1,430

$2,533

$2,170

$2,820

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Chicago, IL

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$1,430

COUNTRY Financial

$2,086

Travelers

$2,170

American Family

$2,186

Auto-Owners Insurance

$2,533

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Chicago, IL

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

State Farm

$1,430

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,716

Travelers

$1,879

COUNTRY Financial

$2,086

American Family

$2,186

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Chicago, IL

Insurance companies use your credit score to establish insurance rates. A low score means higher rates, which is why it’s all the more important for drivers with poor credit to shop around and compare quotes. The table below shows the cheapest average rates for drivers in Chicago with a low credit score.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

COUNTRY Financial

$2,021

Travelers

$2,235

Progressive

$2,502

USAA

$2,751

American Family

$2,835

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Chicago, IL

The Illinois minimum liability insurance requirements and requirements are:

  • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage per person: $25,000

  • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage per accident: $50,000 

  • Property Damage Liability Coverage: $20,000

  • Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident

  • Maintain continuous Illinois liability insurance coverage on vehicles with active registrations even if the vehicle isn’t driven

If you have a car payment, your lienholder likely requires you to carry full coverage insurance on your vehicle, meaning you also need comprehensive and collision coverage in your policy. If you’ve been turned down by insurance companies because of your credit score or other factors, you can get insurance through the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan.

Illinois is a fault state when it comes to car accidents. This means that if an accident is your fault, your insurance company pays the other party’s repair costs and medical bills. 

How to get cheap car insurance in Chicago, IL

Car insurance is expensive in Chicago — but most insurance companies offer customers discounts to save money. Here are some of the most common:

 Bundling discount: For combining policies like your home, car, or renters insurance with the same company

  • Multi-car discount: Having more than one car on the same policy

  • Military discount: A discount for active-duty service members and their families

  • Safe-driver discount: For drivers without any accident claims during a given timeframe

Not everyone will qualify for discounts, so shopping around and comparing quotes is another way to save on car insurance.

Frequently asked questions

What is the required car insurance in Illinois?

Illinois state law requires drivers to have a minimum of 25/50/20 in liability coverage, as well as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Does Illinois require full coverage insurance?

Drivers in Illinois are not required to have full coverage car insurance, but drivers who have a lease or loan on a vehicle may be contractually obligated to have comprehensive and collision coverage.

Is Illinois an at-fault auto insurance state?

Illinois is an at-fault state, which means the driver who was deemed responsible for the accident will be required to pay any bodily injury and property damage expenses caused by the accident. Drivers who don't have enough liability coverage will be required to pay any expenses beyond their liability limits out-of-pocket.

How much is car insurance per month in Illinois?

Drivers in Illinois pay an average of $1,332 per year for car insurance, which breaks down to $111 per month. Drivers in Chigago pay an average of $162.50 per month, which is $51.50 higher than the state average.

Authors

Gianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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