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

Quick Facts

• In general, First Chicago offers slightly cheaper rates than Rockford Mutual
• First Chicago tends to be a much less expensive option for couples purchasing auto insurance together
• Rockford Mutual has more affordable premiums for residents of rural areas

First Chicago vs. Rockford Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? 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 Rockford Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which one has cheaper rates for insurance?

As you can see, First Chicago is about $13 per month more affordable than Rockford Mutual when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean First Chicago will necessarily be less expensive than Rockford Mutual for every driver. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and tons 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 Rockford Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

First Chicago or Rockford Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

First Chicago and Rockford Mutual only compete against each other in Illinois, where First Chicago offers the cheaper average premiums. For Illinois residents, First Chicago offers insurance for $156 per month on average. Rockford Mutual's average prices come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $189 a month.

But there's more to calculating car insurance rates than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

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 more than $70 less than those who use Rockford Mutual.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for First Chicago policyholders decrease over $200 and Rockford Mutual's prices drop nearly $300 over that time.

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 rates you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? First Chicago gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $114 monthly compared to Rockford Mutual's $118. However, the difference is only about 5%, so other factors will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the most affordable rates for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, First Chicago is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $22 a month cheaper than Rockford Mutual, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married couples, where drivers who use First Chicago save about 2% per month.

First Chicago vs. Rockford Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men usually pay more for car insurance than women. 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 prices.

With First Chicago, women typically pay around $10 a month less than men, and about $16 less with Rockford Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, First Chicago comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $11 per month and men save around $15 with First Chicago compared to the average Rockford Mutual policyholder.

First Chicago or Rockford Mutual: 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are multiple different coverages that account for a bunch 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.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, First Chicago generally offers less expensive rates of $73 compared to Rockford Mutual's $88. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, First Chicago again has the edge, with policies about $10 a month more affordable than Rockford Mutual, on average.

Is First Chicago or Rockford Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums 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 per month if they get a ticket, while Rockford Mutual usually raises premiums around $50 a month, on average.

That being said, First Chicago is typically the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering prices that are $11 and $26 less expensive, respectively, compared to Rockford Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through First Chicago can expect to see about an $37 -- or around 25% -- increase in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Rockford Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $38 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from First Chicago, with monthly prices averaging $146 compared to Rockford Mutual Insurance Company's $158.

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 insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. First Chicago drivers usually see a 52% increase in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Rockford Mutual will normally climb prices by around 48%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, First Chicago tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $225 per month compared to $229 from Rockford Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact First Chicago and Rockford Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with First Chicago. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 2% compared to Rockford Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $2 or 1% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

First Chicago typically offers lower rates than Rockford Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $17 per month less with First Chicago compared to Rockford Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $30 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance bill. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither First Chicago or Rockford Mutual report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, First Chicago comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $156 a month for both.

First Chicago vs. Rockford Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, First Chicago normally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Rockford Mutual wins in rural areas.

In urban areas, First Chicago Insurance's average rates are around 16% less than Rockford Mutual Insurance Company. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 2% less with First Chicago compared to Rockford Mutual. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 1% with Rockford Mutual compared to First Chicago.

First Chicago vs. Rockford Mutual 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.

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

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

Looking at the total number of discounts, First Chicago comes out ahead with nine discounts to Rockford Mutual's eight.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but First Chicago also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Rockford Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Rockford Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company.

Final Thoughts: Is First Chicago or Rockford Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Rockford Mutual might be best for you if...

• You live in a rural area.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare First Chicago and Rockford Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 First Chicago and Rockford Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

First Chicago vs. Rockford Mutual FAQs

Is First Chicago or Rockford Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, First Chicago is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $156 per month compared to $169 for Rockford Mutual. However, First Chicago won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, First Chicago or Rockford Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do First Chicago and Rockford Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as age, your driving record, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both First Chicago and Rockford Mutual calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

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