Quick Answer: Pat McHugh ran his own insurance agency in Palatine for 27 years. Today he is an independent agent with Pro Insurance Group, so instead of fitting you into one company, he compares your home, auto, condo and umbrella coverage across 20+ carriers and re-shops it at every renewal. Call 833-776-4671 and ask for Pat, or request a quote online.
Watch: Meet Pat McHugh
Patrick McHugh, Personal Lines Producer · 1:05
Show transcript
Hi, I'm Pat McHugh. I've been licensed in Illinois since 1992, and for twenty-seven years I ran my own insurance agency in Palatine. Thousands of families trusted me with their homes and cars, and some of them have been with me for more than thirty years. So why did I join Pro Insurance Group? As a captive agent, my job was to fit you into one company. Now I'm independent. I shop your home, auto and umbrella coverage across multiple top-rated carriers, and I lay the options out side by side so you can see exactly what you're getting. I live in Port Barrington. I've been married thirty-one years, our three kids went through the local schools, and my parents and brother live in Lake Barrington Shores. I've played the bagpipes since I was twelve, and today I play in a pipe band with my son and my sister. If you live in the Barrington area, Lake County or the northwest suburbs, I'd love to do a free review of what you're paying today. No pressure, just a straight answer. Call 833-776-4671 and ask for Pat, or use the link on your screen to get a free quote.
27 Years in Palatine, Now Independent
Pat has been licensed in Illinois since 1992. In 1995 he opened his own captive agency in Palatine and ran it for 27 years, insuring the homes and cars of local families, some of whom stayed with him for more than three decades. He sold that agency in 2023.
He joined Pro Insurance Group because he wanted to do the one thing a captive agent cannot: put the same household in front of many carriers and show the options side by side. You can read the full story in how our personal lines team went independent, or meet Pat on his profile page.
What Changes When Your Agent Is Independent
A captive agent represents one insurance company. When that company raises your rate at renewal, the options come from the same company. An independent agent represents many carriers and works for you.
- One conversation, many carriers. We gather your information once and compare it across the carriers that fit your home, cars and budget.
- A review before a quote. Send your current declarations pages and Pat will show you what they cover and where the gaps may be.
- A second look every renewal. Your coverage is re-checked against the market instead of quietly auto-renewing.
- We handle the switch. If moving makes sense, we set up the new policy and help you cancel the old one.
Insurance for Palatine Households
- Homeowners insurance, including rebuild cost, water backup and liability.
- Condo and townhome (HO-6) insurance that fits your association's master policy.
- Auto insurance, new teen drivers, and home and auto bundles.
- Personal umbrella insurance for households with savings to protect.
- Flood insurance, which most homeowners policies do not include.
- Renters insurance for apartments and rented homes.
- Life insurance for growing families.
Car and Home Insurance in Palatine: What to Know
Basement water. FEMA is clear that most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, and a new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually takes 30 days to start. Water that backs up through a drain or a failed sump pump is also excluded unless you add water backup coverage. See our guide to flooded basements and your home insurance.
Condos and townhomes. Many Palatine homes sit inside condominium or townhome associations. Your own policy has to match what the association's master policy leaves to you, including interior upgrades and your share of any special assessment.
New drivers. Adding a teen driver from Palatine or Fremd High School is one of the biggest premium changes a household sees. Carriers price young drivers very differently, so it is the right moment to compare. See the Illinois car insurance cost guide.
ZIP code pricing. Palatine is in Cook County, and carriers rate each ZIP code territory on its own. A move between 60067 and 60074, or across the county line, can change your auto and home premium.
Palatine and the Surrounding Area
We work with families throughout Palatine and nearby Inverness, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Barrington and Hoffman Estates. See our Northwest Cook County agency page for the wider area, or our Lake County page if you are north of Lake-Cook Road.
What Our Clients Say
Pages and Guides for Palatine Families
Local pages and guides from Pat and our personal lines team.
Common Questions
Is there an independent insurance agent who serves Palatine, IL?
Yes. Patrick McHugh, our personal lines producer, spent 27 years running his own insurance agency in Palatine before joining Pro Insurance Group as an independent agent. He works with Palatine families on home, auto, condo and umbrella coverage.
Do you have an office in Palatine?
No. Our offices are in Elgin and Huntley. Pat works with Palatine clients by phone, by video and by email, and you are welcome to meet him at our Huntley office. Most quotes and policy changes never require a visit.
What is the difference between an independent and a captive insurance agent?
A captive agent sells one company's policies. An independent agent represents many carriers, so your home and auto are compared across all of them at once and re-shopped at renewal. If one carrier raises your rate or pulls back, you do not have to start over.
Why does my car insurance change from one suburb to the next?
Carriers rate auto insurance by territory, usually by ZIP code, along with your driving record, vehicle, credit-based insurance score and limits. Two neighboring towns can price differently, and each carrier weighs them differently, which is why comparing carriers matters.
Does homeowners insurance cover water in my basement?
Usually not all of it. Most homeowners policies exclude flood, and FEMA notes a new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually takes 30 days to start. Sewer and drain backup or a failed sump pump is also excluded unless you add water backup coverage. We check both when we review your policy.
How do I get started?
Request a quote online or call 833-776-4671 and ask for Pat. Send your current declarations pages if you have them, and we will show you what you have, where the gaps are, and what 20+ carriers would charge.
Get a Second Look at Your Coverage
Send Pat your current declarations pages. He will show you what they cover, where the gaps are, and what 20+ carriers would charge.
Get My QuoteCall 833-776-4671
Reviewed by Patrick McHugh, Personal Lines Producer
Illinois licensed insurance producer #2121371. Licensed since 1992, and ran his own agency in Palatine for 27 years before going independent. Works with families in Palatine and across the northwest suburbs.
Last updated October 2026