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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Country Financial offers less expensive rates than First Chicago
• Country Financial tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• First Chicago has cheaper premiums for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Country Financial or First Chicago as potential options, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Country Financial has average rates that are around 12% a month cheaper than those from First Chicago.

Even so, Country Financial may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Country Financial or First Chicago is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Country Financial vs. First Chicago: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. Normally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Country Financial save over 25% a month compared to those who use First Chicago.

That being said, both carriers will drop prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Country Financial policyholders lower more than 45% and First Chicago's prices decrease almost 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Country Financial and First Chicago? Country Financial gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 10% less expensive than the national average for First Chicago.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are generally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Country Financial rates coming in at about 15% less than First Chicago's. But for married policyholders, that advantage is much less clear - Country Financial offers the most affordable average premiums.

Country Financial or First Chicago: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for car insurance than women. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Normally, men see rates around $3 per month higher with Country Financial, and about $12 more with First Chicago.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Country Financial offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $22 a month and women save around $13 with Country Financial compared to the average First Chicago policyholder.

Country Financial 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

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

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, First Chicago has the edge, while Country Financial offers the cheapest average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with First Chicago Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $45 more affordable with COUNTRY Financial.

Is Country Financial 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Country Financial or First Chicago -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Country Financial for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 23% after getting a speeding ticket. First Chicago policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 24%.

But Country Financial has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 4% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 6% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Country Financial policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through First Chicago will see around a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use First Chicago end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $146 compared to COUNTRY Financial's $147.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. On average, First Chicago will raise your premiums about 52% after a DUI, while Country Financial's average prices increase by more than 35%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Country Financial tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $165 to First Chicago's $225.

How does Credit Score Impact Country Financial and First Chicago Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many drivers.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

Looking at Country Financial and First Chicago specifically, which company has the cheapest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Country Financial will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Country Financial comes in over 12.12 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 13% with Country Financial compared to average prices from First Chicago.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Country Financial typically offers lower premiums than First Chicago when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 18% per month less with Country Financial compared to First Chicago, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 6% a month.

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

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly rates. Typically, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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 prices for Country Financial, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Country Financial is the less expensive company.

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

Where you park your car can play a sizable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Country Financial boasts the lowest average premiums in rural and urban areas, while First Chicago wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Country Financial's average prices are about $175 a month compared to First Chicago's $196. People in suburban areas pay around $128 with First Chicago compared to Country Financial's $131 monthly. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $109 per month with Country Financial and $145 with First Chicago.

Country Financial vs. First Chicago Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company 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 Country Financial and First Chicago so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Country Financial comes out ahead with 10 discounts to First Chicago's nine.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student. Country Financial also offers discounts for group discount, occupation discount, simply drive, and more.

On the other hand, First Chicago has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Country Financial or First Chicago Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

Country Financial might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

First Chicago might be best for you if...

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after an accident.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.

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

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

Country Financial vs. First Chicago FAQs

Is Country Financial or First Chicago cheaper?

Country Financial is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $138 per month with Country Financial and $156 for First Chicago. However, that doesn't mean Country Financial will be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are several different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Country Financial or First Chicago?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Country Financial is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while First Chicago offers more affordable premiums for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Country Financial and First Chicago offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors such as where you live, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Country Financial and First Chicago use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Country Financial 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.