Allstate vs. First Chicago: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, First Chicago offers significantly cheaper prices than Allstate
• Allstate may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than First Chicago Insurance
• First Chicago has less expensive premiums for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Allstate or First Chicago: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Allstate or First Chicago as potential options, but between the two, which company has more affordable rates for auto insurance?

As you can see, First Chicago has average rates that are around 22% a month cheaper than those from Allstate when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean First Chicago will necessarily be less expensive than Allstate for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Allstate or First Chicago is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by multiple different rate factors.

Allstate vs. First Chicago: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and First Chicago only compete against each other in Illinois, where First Chicago offers the cheaper average prices. First Chicago drivers tend to pay about $50 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Allstate for their auto insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have First Chicago for their auto insurance pay almost 20% less than those who use Allstate. It's worth noting that Allstate offers car insurance in 47 different states compared to First Chicago's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both companies will drop prices once you turn 25. First Chicago offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Allstate's average premiums decrease nearly 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices you can find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Allstate and First Chicago? First Chicago gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $114 per month compared to Allstate's $152.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something lots of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with First Chicago premiums coming in at a quarter less than Allstate's. The advantage for married couples with First Chicago is also obvious, where drivers save around $35 a month.

Allstate or First Chicago: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men typically pay more for insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Men generally pay about 4% more per month than women with Allstate, and around 7% with First Chicago.

Looking at overall affordability, First Chicago comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $41 a month and women save about $44 with First Chicago compared to the average Allstate policyholder.

Allstate vs. First Chicago: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a range of different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, First Chicago has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $73. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, First Chicago again has the edge, with policies averaging around $240 per month to Allstate's $289.

Is Allstate or First Chicago Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

At-fault collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Allstate or First Chicago cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Allstate for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 15% after getting a speeding ticket. First Chicago policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 24%.

However, First Chicago is typically the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering prices that are $47 and $39 more affordable, respectively, compared to Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by over 30%, while those who have insurance through First Chicago will see about a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper premiums come from First Chicago, with average prices coming in at $146 compared to Allstate's $229.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. First Chicago drivers usually see a 52% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Allstate will generally climb premiums by around 31%.

First Chicago has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $225 monthly, but it's worth noting that Allstate's average rates come from 47 states compared to just one for First Chicago, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and First Chicago Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

Looking at Allstate and First Chicago specifically, which one has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, First Chicago will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, First Chicago comes in nearly NaN more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 19% with First Chicago compared to average prices from Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

First Chicago typically offers lower premiums than Allstate when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 24% a month less with First Chicago compared to Allstate, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 28% a month.

Is Allstate or First Chicago Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance cost? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much First Chicago charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Allstate, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, First Chicago is the less expensive company.

Allstate or First Chicago: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, First Chicago usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $145 per month with First Chicago compared to Allstate's $174. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of around $128 with First Chicago compared to $199 with Allstate. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, First Chicago's average prices are about $196 while Allstate offers premiums around $222.

Allstate vs. First Chicago Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Allstate and First Chicago so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Allstate knocks First Chicago out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to First Chicago's nine.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and passive restraint discounts. Allstate also offers discounts for agency transfer, alert driving, annual mileage, and more.

First Chicago's discounts come through just a few categories, including ABS, Advance Quote, Anti-Theft, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or First Chicago Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

First Chicago might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles each year.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- First Chicago Insurance only offers policies in IL.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Allstate and First Chicago. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Allstate and First Chicago. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. First Chicago FAQs

Is Allstate or First Chicago cheaper?

First Chicago is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $156 per month with First Chicago and $199 for Allstate. But that doesn't mean First Chicago will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Allstate or First Chicago?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Allstate and First Chicago offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use quite a few different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as where you park your vehicle, where your home is, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Allstate and First Chicago calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Allstate or First Chicago is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Allstate or First Chicago at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.