With more than 2.7 million residents, Chicago is the largest city in Illinois.1 This is likely why its overall average monthly car insurance cost of $156 is higher than the state average of $117.
Increased population means more drivers on the road, more traffic congestion, and a higher likelihood of accidents. A high rate of vehicle thefts also contributes to the city’s higher car insurance rates — vehicle theft rates in the city jumped 26% in 2023.1
But you can still secure affordable car insurance rates by comparing quotes from multiple insurers.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Chicago
Three of the cheapest car insurance companies in Chicago are State Farm, Auto-Owners, and Hugo. While these companies are an affordable option for many drivers, your rates will vary based on your driver profile and coverage needs.
Best insurer for teen drivers: State Farm
Best insurer for drivers with incidents: Auto-Owners
Best insurer for infrequent drivers: Hugo
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Chicago
Factors insurers take into account when buying car insurance include your location, age, gender, driving history, coverages, vehicle, credit history, and more. Here are some ways to score the cheapest car insurance in Chicago:
Shop around. Insurance rates vary widely by insurance company. You can save money by shopping around for an insurer that offers the best coverage at the lowest rates. Ensure each quote has similar coverages, limits, and deductibles to get the most accurate comparisons.
Seek discounts. Many insurers offer discounts that you can take advantage of. Popular discounts include ones for bundling multiple insurance products, safe driving, getting good grades, and paying your policy in full.
Switch to pay-per-mile insurance. If you drive infrequently, a pay-per-mile policy can save you money compared to a traditional policy. With pay-per-mile insurance, you only have to pay for coverage when you drive.
Increase your deductible. The higher your deductible is, the lower your insurance premium will be. But if you raise your deductible, be sure you can pay out of pocket if you need to file a claim.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Chicago: Progressive
In Illinois, liability-only car insurance provides the state-minimum amount of coverage for bodily injury liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and property damage liability.
Liability insurance in Chicago costs $102 per month, on average. Look at the table below for the average monthly cost of liability insurance with Chicago insurers.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Chicago: Auto-Owners
While a liability-only policy protects the other party if you’re at fault, full-coverage car insurance includes protections for your vehicle, such as collision or comprehensive coverage. If you’re a frequent driver, live in a high-risk area, or drive a new or high-value vehicle, consider carrying a full-coverage insurance policy.
Chicago drivers pay a monthly average of $210 for full coverage. The table below displays quotes for full-coverage policies from various insurance companies.
Car insurance requirements in Illinois
Illinois is an at-fault or tort state. This means that if you cause a car accident, your insurance company must pay for the injured party’s vehicle repair and medical expenses up to your coverage limit. The table below shows the minimum liability requirements in Illinois.
If you want a more extensive policy, consider adding these additional coverages:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Driving incidents refer to speeding tickets, driving under the influence, at-fault accidents, and other moving violations. Incidents signal to insurance companies that you engage in risky driving behaviors and are more likely to file a claim in the future. To offset the risk, insurers generally offer drivers with an incident on their record higher policy rates.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Progressive
Driving significantly above the speeding limit is a traffic hazard and increases the likelihood of an accident. As a result, drivers with a speeding ticket on their record experience higher premiums. The average cost of car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Chicago is $253 per month for full coverage and $123 for a liability-only policy.
The table below compares average liability insurance quotes for drivers with clean records and for drivers with speeding tickets from popular insurers.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners
An at-fault accident on your record signals to insurers that you’re more likely to be in an accident again and subsequently file a claim. As a result, you may see your rates rise after causing an accident.
Drivers with an at-fault accident in Chicago pay an average of $134 per month for liability coverage.
Here are average quotes for minimum-coverage car insurance for drivers with a clean record compared to drivers with an accident from different insurers.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners
Driving under the influence is illegal and dangerous. And DUIs have financial consequences — namely, a significant increase in insurance premiums. Some insurers may deny you coverage or require you to carry an SR-22 to prove you have the minimum required insurance.
Liability insurance for drivers in Chicago with a DUI costs $164 per month, on average.
The table below compares liability-only car insurance quotes for drivers with clean records to drivers with DUIs from various insurance companies.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Auto-Owners
Seniors pay some of the lowest car insurance rates but may see an increase in rates around age 70. This is because age-related conditions, such as decreased cognitive and physical functions, increase the likelihood of an accident.
Senior drivers in Chicago pay a monthly average of $86 for minimum-coverage policies.
The table below shows average quotes for liability-only and full-coverage policies for senior drivers.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Auto-Owners
Insurance rates for teen drivers are much higher than for adults older than 25. Younger drivers lack experience and are more likely to engage in distracted or reckless driving behavior. Fortunately, teens have ways to lower car insurance, like shopping around, staying on their parents’ insurance, driving a safe car, and getting a good student discount.
Liability insurance for teen drivers in Chicago costs $216 per month, and full coverage costs $444 per month.
Below are average monthly quotes for liability-only and full-coverage policies for Chicago teens.
Chicago car insurance quotes by credit tier
Illinois is one of the states that allow insurers to consider credit history when determining a driver’s premiums. On average, drivers with poor credit see higher rates on their insurance policies, while drivers with good to excellent credit receive lower rates.
Take a look at the average cost of car insurance based on credit profiles for the city of Chicago.
Is car insurance more expensive in Chicago?
The cost of car insurance in Chicago averages $156 per month, which is more than the state average of $117. But car insurance rates vary by city due to differences in population, weather, traffic congestion, accident rates, driver demographics, and more.
More cities in Illinois
Take a look at the cost of insurance in various Illinois cities. Chicago’s insurance rates are higher than in most other Illinois cities.