First Chicago Insurance review 2023

First Chicago Insurance car insurance

Founded in 1920, First Chicago Insurance has offered coverage for just over 100 years. First Chicago’s product offerings are relatively small, with the carrier focusing mainly on personal auto and a few types of business insurance. We also suggest a few alternatives, which could help you choose several companies to request quotes from during your shopping process.

If you’re shopping for the best car insurance company but want a smaller-company experience, you may have heard of First Chicago. Bankrate conducted a First Chicago Insurance review to help you decide if the provider is a good fit for your needs. What we found was that while the company isn’t as robust as some of its competitors, First Chicago might be a good choice if you’re looking for basic car insurance coverage with a small carrier. While First Chicago does not offer many optional car insurance coverage types, it does offer all basic auto insurance coverage types, including:

• Bodily injury liability and personal property liability
• Collision and comprehensive
• Medical payments coverage
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist

First Chicago Insurance Company writes auto policies in 13 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. However, First Chicago does not write home, renters, condo or other types of property insurance, so it may not be the best choice for those looking for the best auto and home bundles.

Pros and cons of First Chicago Insurance car insurance

Some drivers prefer purchasing auto insurance through a small carrier, but as with any other insurance company, buying a car insurance policy from First Chicago can come with unique advantages and disadvantages.

First Chicago car insurance cost

Based on Bankrate’s comparison of average rate data from Quadrant Information Services, First Chicago policyholders pay an average annual rate of $1,929 for full coverage and $408 per year for minimum coverage. On the other hand, the average cost of car insurance in the United States is $2,014 per year for full coverage and $622 per year for minimum coverage.

However, the price you pay with First Chicago will typically vary based on the types and amounts of coverage you choose, your driving history, the type of car you own and other personal rating factors. The best way to know what price you’ll pay for a car insurance policy is to get a quote directly from First Chicago.

First Chicago car insurance rates by driving history

Driving history plays a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Drivers with incidents like at-fault accidents or speeding tickets are generally considered to be riskier and more likely to file a claim, so they pay higher rates. You can see First Chicago’s average rates by driving history below, compared to the national average. We did not include DUI rates since not all insurance companies will accept drivers with DUIs. If you have a DUI and want a quote from First Chicago, contact the company to discuss your situation and see if you are eligible for coverage.

First Chicago car insurance quotes by age

Car insurance rates can vary by age, sometimes significantly. That’s because younger drivers tend to have less experience behind the wheel, making them a higher risk to insure due to there being a greater risk of accidents or other incidents with these drivers. Rates can all vary depending on whether your child is on a parents’ policy or not. The rates below are for various ages, but keep in mind that our sample drivers all have clean driving records.

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their parent’s policy

Average cost of car insurance for drivers on their own policy

First Chicago car insurance discounts

Like most insurance companies, First Chicago offers a handful of discounts that could help you lower your auto premium. Depending on eligibility, you may be able to apply the following discounts to your policy, among others:

Because First Chicago sells coverage in 13 states, discount availability may vary. Talk with a First Chicago agent to learn which car insurance discounts are available to you.

First Chicago Insurance car tools and benefits

Aside from personal auto insurance policies, First Chicago offers livery insurance for black car and limousine services. The provider also offers commercial auto insurance for light trailers and owned or leased automobiles.

First Chicago Insurance customer satisfaction

Private companies and organizations rate and rank insurance companies, and these ratings and rankings may be useful when you’re searching for the best insurance company for your needs. For instance, each year, J.D. Power conducts its benchmark U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which ranks the best auto insurance companies and applies an overall customer satisfaction score using a 1,000-point scale.

AM Best, Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s also produce financial strength ratings, which measure an insurance company’s ability to meet its claims obligations. All three rating agencies use unique rating symbols. For example, AM Best uses A++ to D symbols, with A++ assigned to the insurers with the best financial strength and D assigned to providers with the most vulnerable financial strength.

First Chicago Insurance auto satisfaction

First Chicago was not ranked as part of the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study or the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

In 2021, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reported 16 complaints against First Chicago. That year, the provider earned a 3.37 auto car insurance complaint index score, indicating that it received a higher-than-average number of complaints.

AM Best awarded First Chicago a B (Fair) financial strength rating. This score indicates that the insurer has historically showcased a reasonable ability to pay claims but could be financially vulnerable if adverse economic conditions arise.

How to file a claim with First Chicago Insurance

First Chicago gives policyholders three ways to file a claim. You can file over the phone by calling the claim center’s toll-free number, file a claim on the First Chicago website or submit a claim using the Warrior Insurance Network mobile app.

First Chicago Insurance availability

First Chicago Insurance car insurance is only available in 13 states:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Missouri
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

Other First Chicago perks worth considering

First Chicago is a relatively small insurance carrier, so there aren’t many services offered in addition to the products already mentioned. While the carrier’s website is basic, there is an online claim reporting tool, and you can also get ID cards and policy documents through the online portal. Along with personal auto insurance, First Chicago also offers:

• Artisan general liability insurance, which can protect a wide range of contractors, including carpenters, electricians, HVAC servicers, plumbers, television installers and window washers
• Commercial auto insurance
• Public and specialty transportation insurance (car service, limousine, non-emergency medical transportation and taxis)

Not sure if First Chicago is right for you?

If you’re shopping for coverage, getting quotes from a few different carriers can be helpful. These alternatives to First Chicago might fit your needs:

First Chicago vs. Amica Mutual

While First Chicago only offers insurance products in 13 states, Amica sells policies in every state except Hawaii and the District of Columbia. Amica also offers a premium car insurance package, which includes credit monitoring services, glass repair and replacement, new car replacement coverage and rental car reimbursement coverage. Amica also offers a well-rounded portfolio of products, including condominium, home, life, marine, motorcycle and renters insurance policies. Policyholders can also set up a retirement plan with an Amica annuity, Roth IRA or Traditional IRA.

Learn more: Amica Mutual Insurance review

First Chicago vs. State Farm

If First Chicago’s small size isn’t for you, you could get a quote from State Farm. It’s the largest car insurance company in the country by market share. Additionally, State Farm offers plenty of other products, including home insurance and banking products. State Farm also offers a generous bundling discount, which enables you to save if you bundle auto insurance with a condominium, home, life or renters insurance policy. If you enroll in State Farm’s Drive Safe and Save usage-based car insurance program, you might earn up to a 30 percent discount on your car insurance. The provider’s Steer Clear program also gives drivers under 25 the opportunity to save on auto insurance when they avoid at-fault accidents and traffic violations.

Learn more: State Farm Insurance review

First Chicago vs. Geico

Geico offers business insurance, identity protection, life and pet insurance, among other types of policies. Geico sells all standard car insurance coverage types, along with optional emergency roadside assistance coverage, mechanical breakdown insurance and rental car reimbursement coverage. Geico also extends numerous discount opportunities to help you reduce your auto insurance premium. For example, if you buy a car equipped with air bags or an anti-theft system, you might earn up to a 23 percent discount. Drivers who remain accident free for five years might receive up to a 22 percent discount and students who make good grades may earn up to a 15 percent discount.

Learn more: Geico Insurance Insurance review

Is First Chicago Insurance a good insurance company?

Overall, First Chicago’s insurance options are limited. While the carrier sells all standard car insurance coverage types, it does not offer many optional coverage add-ons, such as gap insurance, accident forgiveness or ridesharing coverage. First Chicago also falls short by not offering life and property insurance policies.

First Chicago was not ranked as part of the J.D. Power studies in 2022, but the provider earned low marks in NAIC’s national complaint index report and AM Best awarded the insurer a B for its financial strength rating. If you only need a basic car insurance policy, First Chicago might be a good fit, but if you need additional coverage, you may choose to look elsewhere.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. 

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

The rates for drivers ages 16-20 added to their parent's policy reflect the good student and driver's training discounts applied. The rates for drivers aged 16-20 on their own policy do not include the good student and driver's training discounts. Additionally, 25-year-old rates are based on the driver as a renter and 30+ on the driver as a homeowner.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single speeding ticket and single at-fault accident.