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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, General Casualty offers more affordable rates than First Chicago
• First Chicago tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• General Casualty offers more affordable premiums for residents of rural areas

First Chicago vs. General Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering First Chicago or General Casualty for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, First Chicago has average rates that are about 11% per month more expensive than those from General Casualty when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, General Casualty may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of First Chicago or General Casualty is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

First Chicago or General Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

First Chicago and General Casualty only compete against each other in Illinois, where General Casualty offers the cheaper average premiums. For Illinois residents, General Casualty offers insurance for $154 per month on average. First Chicago's average rates come out to be more expensive, at $156 a month.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have General Casualty for their car insurance pay nearly $85 less than those who use First Chicago.

But with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for First Chicago policyholders drop more than $200 and General Casualty's prices lower around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable 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 auto insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? First Chicago gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $10 less expensive than the national average for General Casualty.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are usually more affordable for married drivers than they are for single drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something quite a few insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, General Casualty is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $22 a month less expensive than First Chicago, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married couples, where drivers who use General Casualty save around $10 per month.

First Chicago vs. General Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Generally, men see prices over $10 a month higher with First Chicago, and about $14 more with General Casualty.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, General Casualty comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $16 per month and women save around $18 with General Casualty compared to the average First Chicago policyholder.

First Chicago or General Casualty: 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

In this case, First Chicago offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability limits, while General Casualty has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with First Chicago Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $45 cheaper with General Casualty.

Is First Chicago or General Casualty Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

First Chicago policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $35 a month if they get a ticket, while General Casualty typically raises prices around $43 per month, on average.

But General Casualty is normally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $19 and $11 cheaper, respectively, compared to First Chicago Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

First Chicago policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by over $35, while those who have insurance through General Casualty will see about a $55 increase.

Overall, First Chicago offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $146 compared to General Casualty's $146.

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 -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. First Chicago drivers usually see a 52% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while General Casualty will usually climb rates by around 52%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, General Casualty tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $186 monthly compared to $225 from First Chicago.

How does Credit Score Impact First Chicago and General Casualty Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at First Chicago and General Casualty specifically, which company has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is First Chicago or General Casualty 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 big impact on your monthly premiums? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither First Chicago or General Casualty report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, General Casualty comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average premiums of $139 a month for both.

First Chicago vs. General Casualty: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, 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, General Casualty tends to offer the cheapest option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while First Chicago wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, General Casualty's average premiums are about $45 less than First Chicago Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $6 less with First Chicago compared to General Casualty. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $14 with General Casualty compared to First Chicago.

First Chicago vs. General Casualty Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts First Chicago and General Casualty offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, General Casualty has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. First Chicago offers a grand total of nine discounts, while General Casualty has 12.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good student. General Casualty also offers distant student discounts, employee discounts, good driving 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 renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is First Chicago or General Casualty Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right fit for you?

General Casualty might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You live in a rural area.

First Chicago might be best for you if...

• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare First Chicago and General Casualty. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

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

First Chicago vs. General Casualty FAQs

Is First Chicago or General Casualty cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, General Casualty is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $139 per month compared to $156 for First Chicago. However, General Casualty won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, First Chicago or General Casualty?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, General Casualty offers less expensive premiums for single drivers, while First Chicago is more affordable for drivers who have already retired.

Why do First Chicago and General Casualty offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things like age, where your home is, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both First Chicago and General Casualty calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be First Chicago or General Casualty 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.