Illinois requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 of property damage liability, often written as 25/50/20. Every policy also has to include uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Illinois checks for coverage on its own, too. The Secretary of State verifies insurance on every registered vehicle at least twice a year, so a lapse can suspend your registration even if you’re never pulled over.
Key Takeaways
- Illinois requires 25/50/20 liability coverage plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Your uninsured motorist limits match your liability limits unless you reject the higher amount in writing. Underinsured motorist coverage is required only when your uninsured motorist limits are above 25/50.
- The Secretary of State verifies coverage on registered vehicles at least twice a year. If you get a notice, you have 30 days to show proof before your registration is suspended.
- A conviction for driving uninsured brings a fine of more than $500 and a three-month license suspension, though first-time offenders who prove the car is insured by their court date get court supervision and a $100 fine instead. A third conviction means filing proof of insurance with the state for at least three years.
Illinois Minimum Car Insurance at a Glance
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, or your liability limits unless you reject the higher amount in writing |
| Underinsured motorist | Required only if your uninsured motorist limits are higher than 25/50 |
| Uninsured motorist property damage | Must be offered, with a deductible of no more than $250. Optional. |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required by law, but usually required by lenders and lessors |
The Illinois Department of Insurance lists these minimums. Under Illinois law, you can’t drive a vehicle, register it or keep it registered unless it’s covered by a liability policy. A 25/50/20 policy pays up to $25,000 for each person you injure, up to $50,000 for everyone injured in one accident and up to $20,000 for property damage. RateFrog’s guide to liability limits explains how those numbers work.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Illinois requires it on every policy, and state law sets your UM limits equal to your bodily injury liability limits unless you specifically reject the higher amount. Even then, UM can’t go below $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. So if you buy 100/300 liability, your UM is 100/300 too unless you sign to lower it.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver’s liability limits are lower than your UIM limits. In Illinois, it pays up to your UIM limit minus what the at-fault driver’s insurance pays. For example, if you carry $100,000 of UIM and the at-fault driver’s insurer pays its $25,000 limit, your UIM can pay up to $75,000 more. Illinois requires UIM only when your UM limits are higher than 25/50, and then it has to match your UM limits. Uninsured motorist property damage coverage is optional, but insurers have to offer it, and the deductible can’t be more than $250. It pays only when an identified, at-fault uninsured driver hits your car, so it won’t help if the other driver can’t be identified. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured motorist coverage explains how these coverages work.
Proof of Insurance in Illinois
You have to show proof of insurance when a police officer asks. Illinois law accepts an insurance card in paper or electronic form, including an image on your phone, and showing your phone doesn’t give the officer consent to look at anything else on it. Other acceptable proof includes your current declarations page, an insurance binder and a current rental agreement. RateFrog’s guide to getting proof of insurance fast can help if you need a card right away.
If you can’t show proof when an officer asks, Illinois law treats you as driving an uninsured vehicle. You can’t be convicted, though, if you give the court satisfactory evidence that the car was insured at the time.
How the State Checks Your Coverage
Under 625 ILCS 5/7-603.5, the Secretary of State has to verify liability insurance for every registered vehicle at least twice a year, and it can choose to check monthly for owners who had certain suspensions, convictions or court supervision in the past four years. If your coverage can’t be confirmed, you’ll get a notice giving you 30 calendar days to send proof that the vehicle was insured on the date the state tried to verify it, or proof that the vehicle is no longer operable. If you don’t send either one, your registration is suspended, and getting it back takes reinstatement fees and proof of insurance.
The Illinois Department of Insurance’s page on the insurance verification program lists the program’s help line at 800-252-8980.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Illinois
These penalties come from 625 ILCS 5/3-707:
| Situation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First or second conviction | A fine of more than $500, up to $1,000 |
| Third or later conviction | A $1,000 fine, plus filing proof of financial responsibility and keeping it for at least 3 years |
| Any conviction | A 3-month driver’s license suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee |
| Causing an injury while uninsured | A Class A misdemeanor, with a mandatory $2,500 fine for anyone with two or more prior convictions for certain uninsured-driving offenses |
If you have no prior conviction or court supervision for driving uninsured and you bring the court proof that the car is insured as of your court date, the law gives you court supervision and a $100 fine instead of a conviction. This doesn’t apply if you injured someone while uninsured. When the supervision ends, you have to show the car stayed insured the whole time.
Registration Suspensions
Separately, the Secretary of State suspends the registration of a vehicle it finds uninsured. Under section 7-606, a first suspension ends when you pay a $100 reinstatement fee and show proof of insurance. For a second or later violation within four years, the suspension lasts four months, and you still pay the $100 fee and show proof. RateFrog’s guide to what happens when insurance lapses covers the broader risks.
A Crash Without Insurance
If you’re in a crash while uninsured, the Secretary of State can require you to post security to cover the damages. If you don’t, section 7-205 says your driving privileges, license or registration will be suspended 45 days after the notice is mailed. You’d also be personally responsible for the damage you caused.
SR-22 Filings in Illinois
An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the state to show you carry liability coverage. In Illinois, a third conviction for driving uninsured is one of the situations that requires this kind of proof, and section 3-707 says you have to keep it for at least 3 years. Section 7-305 sets a similar 3-year period, counted from the date the proof is first filed, for some other suspensions. If you move out of Illinois during that time, you may be released from the requirement once you meet the state’s conditions, but moving back within 3 years means showing proof of insurance for the time you were away. RateFrog’s SR-22 guide explains how filings work.
If You Can’t Find Coverage
The Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan assigns drivers to an insurer when they can’t buy coverage on their own. The Department of Insurance’s shopping guide lists four requirements:
- You’ve been turned down for auto insurance by other companies.
- You have a valid driver’s license or are eligible to apply for one.
- You don’t owe premium for prior insurance from the past 36 months.
- Your vehicle is safe to drive.
According to the plan’s page on the AIPSO website, you certify that you tried and failed to buy insurance in Illinois within the previous 60 days, and any agent or broker licensed to sell auto insurance in Illinois can submit your application. The plan’s phone number is (888) 706-6100.
How Illinois Insurers Set Rates
Illinois allows a wider range of rating factors than some states. The Department of Insurance’s shopping guide lists factors that include your age, gender and marital status, your driving record, where you live, the car you drive, how you use it and how much you drive, and your credit information. RateFrog’s guide to the factors that affect car insurance rates covers how these work.
If your insurer cancels for nonpayment, Illinois law requires at least 10 days’ notice. During a policy’s first 60 days, the Department of Insurance says an insurer can cancel for almost any reason. After that, it can cancel only for reasons the law allows. RateFrog’s guide to car insurance grace periods explains what usually happens when a payment is late.
Is Illinois’ Minimum Coverage Enough?
Often it isn’t. A $20,000 property damage limit may not cover a newer car you damage, and injury claims can run past $25,000 per person. If a claim is more than your limits, you could owe the rest. Raising your liability limits also raises your UM limits unless you reject the higher amount in writing, and higher UM limits protect you when the other driver is uninsured. RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need can help you choose, and you can compare car insurance quotes at several coverage levels.
Where to Get Help
The Illinois Department of Insurance takes questions at (312) 814-2420 in Chicago and (217) 782-4515 in Springfield, and accepts complaints online through its complaint page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Minimum Car Insurance in Illinois?
$25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 of property damage liability, plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Does Illinois Check Whether My Car Is Insured?
Yes. The Secretary of State verifies coverage on every registered vehicle at least twice a year. If your coverage can’t be confirmed, you have 30 days to send proof before your registration is suspended.
Can I Show Proof of Insurance on My Phone in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois accepts an electronic insurance card on your phone, and showing it doesn’t give the officer consent to look at anything else on the device.
What Happens If I Get Caught Driving Without Insurance in Illinois?
A conviction brings a fine of more than $500, up to $1,000, and a three-month license suspension with a $100 reinstatement fee. If you can show the court you were insured at the time, you can’t be convicted.
Sources
- Illinois Department of Insurance: Auto Insurance Shopping Guide
- Illinois Department of Insurance: Insurance Verification Program
- 625 ILCS 5/7-601
- 625 ILCS 5/7-602
- 625 ILCS 5/7-603.5
- 625 ILCS 5/3-707
- 625 ILCS 5/7-606
- 625 ILCS 5/7-205
- 625 ILCS 5/7-305
- 215 ILCS 5/143a-2
- 215 ILCS 5/143a
- AIPSO: Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan
- Illinois Department of Insurance: File a Complaint