Car Insurance in Chicago for 2024
Drivers in Chicago pay an average of $2,862 per year for car insurance, but you might find cheaper coverage if you shop around.
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Car insurance in Chicago, Illinois costs an average of $2,862 per year for full coverage. But you may find cheaper options if you shop around, which is why it's important to compare rates from different companies.
To find the cheapest companies in The Windy City, NerdWallet looked at average full coverage rates calculated from public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed rates for male and female drivers for all ZIP codes in Chicago driving a 2021 Toyota Camry LE.
Did your rates go up? Auto insurance prices are on the rise in Chicago. Be sure to get car insurance quotes from three or more companies to find the lowest rate possible.
Read on to find out how auto insurance companies in Chicago stack up. You can also check out our analysis of cheap car insurance in Illinois.
Why you can trust NerdWallet
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every locale in the country where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing. Read our methodology.
» MORE: The best car insurance companies
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Cheapest car insurance companies in Chicago
The biggest variable in your insurance cost will be the company you choose, so you’ll want to shop around to be confident you’re getting the best rate. State Farm is the most prominent insurer in Chicago, according to the Illinois Department of Insurance. But the most popular company won’t necessarily be the cheapest.
In Chicago, these are the cheapest car insurance companies based on average rates for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis. It's important to remember that rates are determined individually, so these may not be the cheapest companies for you.
| Company | Median annual rate |
|---|---|
| The Hanover | $1,592 |
| Mercury | $2,062 |
| Auto-Owners | $2,065 |
| Erie | $2,357 |
| Progressive | $2,400 |
| Travelers | $2,428 |
| American Family | $2,606 |
| Geico | $2,623 |
| Hastings Mutual | $2,658 |
| USAA* | $1,965 |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.
Average car insurance cost in Chicago and Illinois
Rates across Illinois differ from those in Chicago for lots of reasons. The number of accidents, the type of roads and even the weather can affect the rates drivers are charged. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, the average rate in Illinois is $2,092, while in Chicago it's $2,862.
| Median city rate | Median state rate |
|---|---|
| $2,862 | $2,092 |
Average cost of car insurance in Chicago’s largest ZIP codes
The cost of auto insurance varies based on where you live, even from one neighborhood to the next. Some parts of a city may have higher rates of accidents or thefts, which can lead to an increase in the price you pay. According to NerdWallet’s analysis, here are the most populated ZIP codes in Chicago and the average annual cost of car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.
| ZIP | Median rate |
|---|---|
| 60629 | $3,047 |
| 60632 | $3,026 |
| 60618 | $2,744 |
| 60639 | $2,957 |
| 60623 | $3,344 |
| 60647 | $2,813 |
| 60617 | $3,263 |
| 60625 | $2,741 |
| 60608 | $3,002 |
| 60634 | $2,722 |
Cheap car insurance in Chicago by age
Along with where you live, your age is another major factor in the price you pay for car insurance. For example, younger drivers usually pay more than older drivers with similar driving histories and credit scores due to having less experience on the road.
You could easily find that the cheapest company for you changes as you age. Here's a breakdown of prices in Chicago for similar drivers at various ages, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.
Cheapest for 20-year-olds
While teen drivers are the most likely to be in an accident, 20-year-old drivers are still relatively new to the road. A higher rate of accidents among younger drivers means they also pay more for car insurance. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, here's what 20-year-olds in Chicago might pay, on average.
| Company | Median annual rate |
|---|---|
| The Hanover | $2,280 |
| Auto-Owners | $4,004 |
| Mercury | $4,538 |
| Progressive | $4,866 |
| Erie | $4,953 |
| Westfield | $5,027 |
| Geico | $5,039 |
| Country Financial | $5,193 |
| American Family | $5,853 |
| USAA* | $4,909 |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.
Cheapest for 35-year-olds
By 35, your car insurance rates should plateau. This is a great age to compare rates, as the cheapest insurer you found in your 20s may no longer be the best deal.
Here’s what 35-year-old drivers might pay, on average, in Chicago, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.
| Company | Median annual rate |
|---|---|
| The Hanover | $1,592 |
| Mercury | $2,062 |
| Auto-Owners | $2,065 |
| Erie | $2,357 |
| Progressive | $2,400 |
| Travelers | $2,428 |
| American Family | $2,606 |
| Geico | $2,623 |
| Hastings Mutual | $2,658 |
| USAA* | $1,965 |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.
Cheapest for 60-year-olds
At age 60, your car insurance rates are about as low as they're going to get if your history is clean. Most drivers in this age group have lots of experience on the road and established driving records, so insurers know what they're getting into and charge less accordingly. That doesn't mean you won't be able to save money by bundling or tapping into other discounts, so keep shopping around. Below are the cheapest companies, on average, in Chicago, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.
| Company | Median annual rate |
|---|---|
| The Hanover | $1,342 |
| Mercury | $1,480 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,894 |
| Progressive | $2,005 |
| Erie | $2,021 |
| Travelers | $2,235 |
| Geico | $2,275 |
| Auto Club Group | $2,296 |
| American Family | $2,332 |
| USAA* | $1,633 |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.
Chicago’s cheapest companies and rates by driving record
Your driving history also plays a large role in your auto insurance rate. Drivers who have clean records will usually pay less than those with accidents, speeding tickets or other violations. Again, comparing insurance companies is your best bet to get the lowest rate.
According to NerdWallet’s analysis, these are the average rates in Chicago by company for good drivers and those with violations on their record.
Good drivers
Drivers without any marks on their records are almost always going to pay the lowest prices for auto insurance when compared to drivers with an accident or driving violation. Insurers set rates based on the potential risk of you filing a claim, and good drivers are considered among the least risky. Here are the average rates for good drivers in Chicago according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.
| Company | Median annual rate |
|---|---|
| The Hanover | $1,592 |
| Mercury | $2,062 |
| Auto-Owners | $2,065 |
| Erie | $2,357 |
| Progressive | $2,400 |
| Travelers | $2,428 |
| American Family | $2,606 |
| Geico | $2,623 |
| Hastings Mutual | $2,658 |
| USAA* | $1,965 |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.
Drivers with a DUI
Drivers with a DUI can struggle to find affordable insurance and may need to turn to a high-risk car insurance company. A DUI on your record means you should expect to pay substantially more than a driver without one.
Here are the average rates for drivers with a DUI in Chicago according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.
| Company | Median annual rate |
|---|---|
| The Hanover | $2,606 |
| Progressive | $2,740 |
| Mercury | $3,577 |
| State Farm | $4,016 |
| American Family | $4,041 |
| Country Financial | $4,525 |
| Auto-Owners | $4,626 |
| Travelers | $4,683 |
| Erie | $4,692 |
| USAA* | $4,090 |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.
Drivers with an at-fault accident
If you've got an at-fault accident on your record, you'll pay more than a driver with a clean record, but likely less than someone with a DUI. Your insurance company may ask for details about the accident to determine your rate — a fender bender will likely be treated differently from an accident caused by running a red light. Here are the cheapest average rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record in Chicago, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.
| Company | Median annual rate |
|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $2,646 |
| Hastings Mutual | $2,658 |
| The Hanover | $2,838 |
| Progressive | $3,321 |
| State Farm | $3,491 |
| Mercury | $3,623 |
| Erie | $3,648 |
| Travelers | $3,650 |
| First Chicago | $3,712 |
| USAA* | $2,944 |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.
Chicago car insurance requirements
Chicago drivers need to meet Illinois’ auto insurance coverage requirements.
Illinois law requires residents to carry liability insurance, including uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI), in the following amounts:
$25,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$50,000 bodily injury liability per incident.
$20,000 property damage liability per incident.
$25,000 UMBI per person.
$50,000 UMBI per incident.
Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits.
Uninsured motorist coverage will cover expenses from injuries or damage after an accident with a driver who doesn’t have car insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage will cover the same expenses if you’re hit by a driver with some car insurance, but not enough to cover all costs from the crash.
Personal injury protection will cover your medical bills and expenses if you’re injured in a car crash, up to your policy limits, no matter whose fault it was. Depending on your state, PIP may also pay for:
Lost wages if you’re unable to work due to injuries from an accident.
Services you can no longer perform, like house cleaning or child care, because of your injuries.
Funeral costs if an accident-related injury leads to death.
A small death benefit as a cash payout.
Even though this will be enough to drive legally, you may want more than the minimum requirements. Imagine causing a crash and totaling another person’s car, for instance. The damages could easily top your $20,000 liability limit, and the remaining balance would have to come out of your pocket.
The Illinois secretary of state randomly selects registered vehicles and requires their owners to prove they have insurance via questionnaire. Residents who fail to fill out the form or who report they don’t have insurance will have their license plates suspended.
Check out NerdWallet’s guide to car insurance requirements by state to learn more about coverage options for your policy in the Land of Lincoln.
Shop around to get cheap insurance
No matter what company you're currently getting auto insurance from, remember that it's important to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Prices and offers change over time, and you may be able to save by switching to another insurer.
Be sure to take advantage of potential discounts. Many insurers offer car insurance discounts for things like bundling other types of insurance with your auto policy or going years without filing a claim.
Methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” and “poor” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are average rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit. In states where credit isn’t taken into account, we used only rates for “good credit.”
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a speeding ticket, we added a single speeding ticket from within the last six months.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation.
We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.
