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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, American Family offers cheaper premiums than First Chicago
• American Family offers more discounts than First Chicago Insurance
• First Chicago offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean record

American Family vs. First Chicago: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering American Family or First Chicago for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, American Family is about $16 per month more affordable than First Chicago when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean American Family will necessarily be less expensive than First Chicago for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both American Family and First Chicago by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

American Family or First Chicago: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and First Chicago only compete against each other in Illinois, where American Family offers the cheaper average premiums. For Illinois residents, American Family offers auto insurance for $151 monthly on average. First Chicago's average rates come out to be more expensive, at $156 a month.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American Family for their auto insurance pay nearly $40 less than those who use First Chicago. It's worth noting that American Family offers insurance in 16 different states compared to First Chicago's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for American Family policyholders lower almost $200 and First Chicago's premiums decrease more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? American Family gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $7 cheaper than the national average for First Chicago.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance prices than single policyholders. That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for those who are single, with premiums only differing around $17 a month, on average. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - American Family has the edge when it comes to average rates.

American Family vs. First Chicago: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for insurance than women.

On average, men see premiums about $5 per month higher with American Family, while with First Chicago, the difference is closer to $12 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, American Family offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average prices $19 less for men and $12 cheaper for women.

American Family or 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are multiple different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, First Chicago offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability insurance, while American Family has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $25 with First Chicago Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $55 less expensive with American Family Insurance.

Is American Family or First Chicago Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is American Family or First Chicago cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Family policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $29 per month if they get a ticket, while First Chicago typically raises rates about $35 a month, on average.

However, First Chicago is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save around $9 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $3 a month with First Chicago Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with First Chicago increasing by over $35. American Family has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay $20 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from American Family, with monthly rates averaging $138 compared to First Chicago Insurance's $146.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. First Chicago drivers usually see a 52% increase in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while American Family will normally climb prices by around 25%.

American Family has the overall lowest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $158 per month, but it's worth noting that American Family's average rates come from 16 states compared to just one for First Chicago, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and First Chicago Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at American Family and First Chicago specifically, which carrier 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, you'll usually find a better deal with American Family. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 25% compared to First Chicago, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $19 or 14% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $14 less with American Family than First Chicago, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $2 per month with First Chicago.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

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 American Family, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $5 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, American Family is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

American Family vs. First Chicago: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a large role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, American Family boasts the cheapest average prices in rural and urban areas, while First Chicago wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $24 with American Family compared to First Chicago. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $6 less with First Chicago compared to American Family. In urban areas, American Family Insurance's average premiums are about $30 less than First Chicago Insurance.

American Family vs. First Chicago Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts American Family and First Chicago offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

American Family knocks First Chicago out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to First Chicago's nine.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but American Family also offers connect partner discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more that First Chicago does not.

On the flip side, First Chicago has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and passive restraint discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is American Family or First Chicago Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

American Family might be best for you if....

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- First Chicago Insurance is only available in IL.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

First Chicago might be best for you if...

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You live in an suburban area.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Family and First Chicago and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just American Family and First Chicago. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Family vs. First Chicago FAQs

Is American Family or First Chicago cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American Family is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $140 a month compared to $156 for First Chicago. Even so, American Family won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are many different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, American Family or First Chicago?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, American Family offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while First Chicago is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do American Family and First Chicago offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things like age, your driving record, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Family and First Chicago use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be American Family or First Chicago at all!

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.