The words “bargain” and “auto insurance” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, especially when shopping around for the best coverage prices for active military. To help control this cost, let’s familiarize you with a few of the things that have an impact on car insurance prices, and find some ways to cut the cost of the next policy you buy.
For military personnel, one of the big criteria that are looked at to determine auto insurance rates is where you choose to live. More densely populated places tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas areas with less people or fewer weather incidents receive better rates.
The next table shows the highest-priced areas in Illinois for active military to purchase car insurance in. Chicago is listed at #2 with an annual cost of $1,499 for coverage, which is around $125 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cicero | $1,526 |
| 2 | Chicago | $1,499 |
| 3 | Berwyn | $1,449 |
| 4 | Skokie | $1,391 |
| 5 | Des Plaines | $1,248 |
| 6 | Evanston | $1,238 |
| 7 | Oak Lawn | $1,231 |
| 8 | Mount Prospect | $1,205 |
| 9 | Waukegan | $1,188 |
| 10 | Orland Park | $1,173 |
| 11 | Schaumburg | $1,157 |
| 12 | Tinley Park | $1,154 |
| 13 | Joliet | $1,134 |
| 14 | Elgin | $1,117 |
| 15 | Bolingbrook | $1,116 |
| 16 | Palatine | $1,109 |
| 17 | Rockford | $1,107 |
| 18 | Arlington Heights | $1,095 |
| 19 | Peoria | $1,060 |
| 20 | Springfield | $1,059 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||
Price information shown is estimated as specific Chicago zip code can decrease or increase premiums significantly.
Finding reliable, affordable auto insurance is easier said than done, and figuring out which companies offer the best insurance rates for active military requires even more work. Each insurer has their own formula to set policy rates, so to begin we’ll rank the lowest cost insurance companies in Chicago.
It’s important that readers know that Illinois insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially decrease or increase the price of coverage. Events like turning one year older, buying a newer car, or having an at-fault accident can produce rate changes resulting in some rates now being more affordable than competitors.
Find the Best Cheap Insurance for Military
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hartford | $753 |
| 2 | Rockford Mutual | $813 |
| 3 | Erie | $878 |
| 4 | Titan | $878 |
| 5 | Cincinnati Insurance | $888 |
| 6 | State Farm | $972 |
| 7 | Utica National | $984 |
| 8 | USAA | $988 |
| 9 | Travelers | $990 |
| 10 | SECURA | $1,005 |
| 11 | Auto-Owners | $1,033 |
| 12 | Safeco | $1,063 |
| 13 | Amica | $1,076 |
| 14 | GEICO | $1,107 |
| 15 | Farmers | $1,146 |
| 16 | California Casualty | $1,173 |
| 17 | Esurance | $1,221 |
| 18 | State Auto | $1,236 |
| 19 | Progressive | $1,243 |
| 20 | MetLife | $1,257 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
The Hartford may offer some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Chicago at around $753 annually. Rockford Mutual, Erie, Titan, and Cincinnati Insurance also make the cut as some of the more affordable Chicago, IL insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you have coverage with Cincinnati Insurance and switched to Rockford Mutual, you could realize an annual savings of in the neighborhood of $75. Policyholders with State Farm may save as much as $159 a year, and Utica National insureds might reduce prices by as much as $171 a year.
To see if you’re overpaying, click here to get a free quote or visit any of the low-priced companies below.
Be aware that those premium estimates are averaged across all drivers and vehicles in Illinois and and are not calculated with a specific zip code for active military. So the car insurance company that can offer you the best rate may not even be in the list above. That point stresses why you need to compare as many prices as possible using your own driver and vehicle profiles.
The vehicle you are buying coverage for is a significant factor that determines whether or not you can buy the most economical auto insurance for active military. Vehicles with reasonable performance levels, an excellent safety record, or low incidents of liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than higher performance models.
The next list presents insurance prices for a number of the most economical automobiles to insure in Illinois.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $1,960 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $2,126 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $2,206 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $2,326 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $2,371 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $2,441 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $2,451 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Rear Entertainment | $2,457 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,492 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $2,495 |
| Kia Optima LX | $2,504 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab 2WD | $2,524 |
| Toyota Tacoma 2WD | $2,613 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | |
Data variables include single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Illinois minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Price estimates do not factor in specific zip code location which can decrease or increase price quotes noticeably.
Looking at the numbers, models like the Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Jetta, Jeep Wrangler, and Dodge Grand Caravan are most likely going to be a few of the more affordable vehicles to insure for military personnel.
Difference between full coverage and liability only rates
Paying a lower price for insurance is the goal of the majority of drivers, and one easy way to buy cheaper insurance for active military is to only pay for liability coverage. The chart below shows the difference between auto insurance rates when comparing full coverage to liability only. The data is based on no accidents or driving violations, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are factored in.
If we average all the age groups together, comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy costs $1,502 per year more than insuring for liability only. That is a significant amount which raises the question if it’s a good idea to buy full coverage. There is no exact formula to stop paying for physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost of full coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your vehicle’s book value is $10,500 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would receive is $9,500 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it’s costing you more than $950 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some circumstances where dropping full coverage is not advised. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should keep full coverage.
Get discount Chicago car insurance rates
Insurance providers that sell policies for active military may provide special discounts that could reduce prices by as much as 30% if you meet the requirements. Companies and some of the discounts are detailed below.
- Farm Bureau has savings for safe driver, youthful driver, good student, driver training, multi-policy, renewal discount, and multi-vehicle.
- State Farm offers premium reductions for passive restraint, good driver, good student, safe vehicle, and anti-theft.
- Progressive includes discounts for online quote discount, good student, multi-vehicle, homeowner, online signing, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
- Allstate may offer discounts for defensive driver, utility vehicle, early signing, good student, multi-policy, and new car.
- Nationwide discounts include defensive driving, multi-policy, business or organization, family plan, and Farm Bureau membership.
- MetLife offers discounts for claim-free, multi-policy, good driver, defensive driver, accident-free, and good student.
The example below shows the comparison of auto insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. The data is based on a male driver, no violations or claims, Illinois state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the average rate with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with claim-free, multiple policy, defensive driving course, accident-free, vehicle safety, and multiple vehicle discounts applied. In this example, theamount saved on insurance for active military is 28% or $342.
The agents below can help you determine which coverage fits your budget, as some drivers have questions and prefer to have a consultation when comparing insurance rates for military personnel. It can be time-consuming to find coverage yourself, so getting advice from a licensed Illinois insurance agent can provide you peace of mind knowing your policy gives you sufficient protection if you have a claim.
To find an auto insurance agency close to you, click the button at the bottom.
- GEICO Insurance Agent
8549 S Cicero Ave – Chicago, IL 60652 – (773) 582-2886 - Illinois Vehicle Auto Insurance (Xpert)
1858 W 18th St – Chicago, IL 60608 – (312) 226-1033 - Greg King – State Farm Insurance Agent
5508 S Lake Park Ave – Chicago, IL 60637 – (773) 643-6200 - Urban Insurance Agency
800 W Huron St #301 – Chicago, IL 60642 – (312) 664-8088 - W.A. George Insurance Agency
155 N Michigan Ave #300 – Chicago, IL 60601 – (312) 729-5265
More insurance agents in Chicago, IL
Ideas for buying more affordable car insurance for active military
Here are a few money-saving ideas that can help Illinois drivers quote cheap car insurance.
- Ensure your driving record is clean
- Higher credit scores may earn you cheaper rates
- Avoid accidents
- Safe vehicles generally have lower rates
- Increase your deductibles
- Shop your coverage around for the best deal
The last tip in the list is highly necessary, as was discussed in this write-up. Car insurance prices can change considerably in a year, so you should be ready to buy a different policy if a lower price can be found. Loyalty to a specific company is fine, but it’s not a great idea if that faithfulness ends up costing you money that could be used for better things. Take a couple minutes and compare rates and find cheaper car insurance for active military in Chicago.