Car insurance in the Chicago area

Last updated: November 12, 2026

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, as the U.S. Census Bureau defines it, covers 13 counties across Illinois and Indiana. It had an estimated 9,408,576 residents in July 2024, down 0.5% from its April 2020 base. Car insurance prices aren't set by metro area, but where you live and how much you drive both affect what you pay. Here's what the public data says about driving in the Chicago area.

State rules that apply in the Chicago area

Your policy follows the rules of the state where your car is registered. This metro area spans more than one state, so the rules depend on which side of the line you live on. Each state's page has the full minimums, SR-22 rules and sources.

State	Minimum liability	Fault system	Avg. spending, 2023	Uninsured drivers, 2023
Illinois	25/50/20	At‑fault	$1,153	15.2%
Indiana	25/50/25	At‑fault	$926	14.0%

Average spending is the NAIC's statewide average expenditure per insured vehicle (U.S.: $1,282). Uninsured rates are Insurance Research Council estimates (U.S.: 15.4%). Both are statewide figures, not metro figures.

How people get around the Chicago area

From the Census Bureau's 2025 American Community Survey:

Average commute: 30.9 minutes each way, longer than the U.S. figure of 27.4 minutes.
Drive alone to work: 62.9% of workers (U.S.: 69.8%). Another 8.1% carpool (U.S.: 8.9%).
Take public transportation: 9.3% of workers (U.S.: 3.8%).
Work from home: 14.3% of workers (U.S.: 12.9%).
Households without a vehicle: 12.5% (U.S.: 8.8%). Households with three or more vehicles: 16.8% (U.S.: 22.1%).

Longer commutes mean more time on the road, and insurers usually ask about annual mileage and how you use the car. Transit use is high here, so some households drive only occasionally.

Crash deaths in the Chicago area

In 2024, 691 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the 13 counties of the Chicago area, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. That's 7.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, below the national rate of 11.5 reported by IIHS. Pedestrians were 23% of those killed, compared with 18% nationwide.

Metro-area death rates are often lower than the national rate partly because so many deadly crashes happen on rural roads: 41% of U.S. crash deaths in 2024 were in rural areas, according to IIHS. A lower death rate doesn't mean cheaper insurance, though. Insurers price on how often claims happen and what they cost, including vehicle repairs and medical bills.

Ways to save on car insurance in the Chicago area

Compare quotes from several insurers. Each company weighs location, mileage and driving history differently. More ways to lower your bill.
Report your real mileage. Long commutes add up. Give your insurer an accurate estimate, and re-check it if your job or commute changes. What affects your rate.
Don't own a car but drive sometimes? With 12.5% of households here car-free, many people borrow or rent. Ask an insurer about a non-owner policy if you drive regularly without your own car.
Check your liability limits. Pedestrian crashes can cause serious injuries, and state minimums may not cover a serious claim. Liability vs. full coverage.
Ask about discounts for bundling, paying in full, safe driving and multiple cars. They aren't always applied automatically.

What this page covers

Figures on this page are for the Census Bureau's Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes: Cook County, IL; DeKalb County, IL; DuPage County, IL; Grundy County, IL; Jasper County, IN; Kane County, IL; Kendall County, IL; Lake County, IL; Lake County, IN; McHenry County, IL; Newton County, IN; Porter County, IN; Will County, IL.

See other metro areas in our car insurance guides.

Sources

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DriveCheaper may be paid by companies shown on this site. How we make money. This page is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Laws and prices change, so confirm details with your insurer or your state's insurance department or DMV.