Rideshare insurance in Illinois costs an average of $92 a month for liability-only coverage, but you may find lower rates with the state’s best insurance companies.
Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
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As a rideshare driver, you face unique risks not covered under most standard auto insurance policies. In fact, most policies stop providing coverage the minute you log into your ridesharing app.[1]
Uber and Lyft maintain commercial insurance on your behalf while you’re using the app to coordinate with and pick up passengers, but it’s a good idea to purchase rideshare insurance as well.[2][3] Rideshare insurance fills in the gaps between your personal coverage and the policy the rideshare company provides.[4]
Before purchasing rideshare insurance in Illinois, do some research to understand what kind of coverage you need and how much you can expect to pay. This information will help you find the right insurance for your situation.
Quick Facts
The average cost for full-coverage rideshare insurance in Illinois is $221 per month.
Rideshare insurance isn’t a legal requirement in Illinois, but drivers must purchase auto insurance that’s above the state minimum requirements.
State Farm, Mile Auto, and GEICO have the cheapest average rideshare insurance rates in Illinois.
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Rideshare insurance requirements in Illinois
Licensed insurance agent Scott Henman says anyone working for a transportation network company (TNC) like Uber and Lyft should get rideshare insurance. “A rideshare endorsement is designed to fill in the coverage gap created by the personal auto policy in certain situations,” he says.
Most auto insurance policies stop providing coverage the minute you log into a ridesharing app.[1] Here are the phases of ridesharing and which coverages apply:
Phase 1: The rideshare driver isn’t logged into the app and is driving for personal use. Personal auto insurance policies apply here.
Phase 2: The rideshare driver is logged into the app as a driver and is waiting for a ride request. The TNC’s auto insurance applies, with state-minimum requirements.
Phase 3: The rideshare driver accepted a ride request and is on the way to the passenger or has picked up the passenger and they’re in the vehicle.
The type of insurance coverage you have depends on which phase of the rideshare process you’re in when an accident occurs. For example, if you’ve logged into the app and have matched with a passenger or are on your way to pick one up, you’ll receive coverage from Uber or Lyft.
But if you’ve logged into the app and haven’t accepted a ride request, your personal policy won’t apply, and Uber’s or Lyft’s liability coverage may not be enough.[2][3] That’s where rideshare insurance can help fill in the gaps.
Illinois requires rideshare to purchase a policy with limits above the state minimum. By law, Illinois rideshare drivers need to have:[5]
$50,000 per person for bodily injury liability coverage
$100,000 per incident for bodily injury liability coverage
$25,000 per incident for property damage liability coverage
Furthermore, Illinois law mandates that once a driver accepts a rideshare request, the TNC must provide $1 million in third-party liability coverage and $50,000 in uninsured motorist coverage.[5]
Uber and Lyft requirements in Illinois
If you’re planning to drive for a TNC, here are Uber’s and Lyft’s requirements for drivers and their vehicles.
Rideshare car requirements
Uber and Lyft have vehicle requirements for all drivers, but these can vary depending on the city and state you live in. For example, Lyft requires that Illinois rideshare drivers have a four-door vehicle with five to eight seat belts, including one for the driver.
The vehicle can’t be a taxi, stretch limousine, salvage-title, or non-Express Drive rental vehicle. And the vehicle year requirements vary by city:
Bloomington: 2013 or newer
Decatur and Kankakee: 2009 or newer
Chicago: 2008 or newer
All other cities: 2007 or newer
Uber’s guidelines are somewhat less stringent — the company requires all rideshare drivers to have a four-door vehicle no more than 16 years old. Uber also requires that all cars pass a vehicle inspection.
Rideshare driver requirements
If you want to become a rideshare driver for Lyft, you must be 25 or older with a valid driver’s license. You also need to pass the driver screening, which looks at your driving history and includes a criminal background check. And you need to have a smartphone so you can download and run the Lyft app.
Uber drivers must meet their city’s minimum driving age and have at least one year of licensed driving experience. You’ll need at least three years of driving experience if you’re younger than 25. You must also pass a driver screening.
How much does Illinois rideshare insurance cost?
The average cost of rideshare insurance in Illinois is $194 per month for full coverage and $92 per month for liability-only coverage. However, the exact cost of coverage will vary depending on your age, driving history, insurance company, and the city you live in.[6]
One of the best ways to save money on insurance is by shopping around among different insurers. For example, State Farm and Auto-Owners have average rideshare insurance rates of less than $75 a month for full coverage, according to Insurify data. Even more expensive average rates, such as with GEICO, are less than $100 a month. The following table outlines the eight cheapest rideshare insurance companies in Illinois.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company
Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
Auto-Owners
60
4.0
State Farm
66
4.5
GEICO
88
4.2
Mile Auto
89
3.5
COUNTRY Financial
92
4.2
Erie
101
4.4
USAA
108
4.5
Hugo
109
3.3
American Family
116
4.3
Mercury
126
3.6
Safeco
129
3.8
Travelers
137
4.3
Clearcover
137
3.2
Nationwide
146
4.3
Progressive
150
3.9
Farmers
156
3.8
Allstate
164
4.2
Direct Auto
193
3.3
Liberty Mutual
207
3.8
Elephant
214
3.8
GAINSCO
259
3.3
Dairyland
309
3.3
The General
332
3.3
Bristol West
337
2.2
Foremost
415
3.5
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Types of rideshare insurance coverage
The rates and coverage will vary depending on the insurance company you use. But rideshare insurance companies typically provide the following coverages:[7]
Liability coverage
Liability coverage pays for any bodily injuries or property damage to other parties involved in the accident.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
This type of coverage will kick in if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run or if a driver with no car insurance hits you.
Collision and comprehensive coverage
Collision coverage pays for any damage to your car resulting from an accident with another car or object, even if you’re at fault. Comprehensive coverage covers vehicle damage due to theft, vandalism, or weather-related incidents.
Deductible options
If you’re involved in an accident, you’ll have to pay a deductible before your insurance kicks in. In most cases, the higher your deductible, the less you’ll usually pay for your auto insurance premiums.
Illinois rideshare insurance FAQs
Rideshare drivers need to make sure they have adequate insurance coverage to protect themselves while driving. Here are the answers to some additional questions you may have about rideshare insurance in Illinois.
Do you need rideshare insurance in Illinois?
Illinois doesn’t require rideshare drivers to purchase specific rideshare endorsements, but you do need to have insurance coverage that’s above the minimum state requirements.
$50,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage
$100,000 per incident in bodily injury liability coverage
$25,000 per incident in property damage liability coverage
Do Uber drivers in Illinois have to carry commercial auto insurance?
No. Uber drivers in Illinois don’t have to carry commercial auto insurance. “For food delivery or ridesharing, it is not typically cost-effective for an individual to carry a commercial insurance policy,” explains Henman. Commercial insurance makes sense when it’s for a fleet of vehicles and delivery drivers.
However, your personal policy and the policy Uber provides may create gaps in your coverage. Rideshare insurance is a less expensive alternative to commercial auto insurance.
Does Illinois require comprehensive coverage?
No. Illinois doesn’t require rideshare drivers to purchase comprehensive coverage. The minimum requirements are bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage.
However, these two coverages only protect the other cars and drivers involved in the accident. It’s a good idea to purchase comprehensive coverage so you have more protection.
How does Uber check to see if drivers have insurance?
Uber requires all rideshare drivers carry the minimum auto insurance coverage their states require. Once you sign up as an Uber driver, you must provide proof of insurance. In addition, Uber uses technology to make sure all drivers stay compliant with local regulations.
What happens if you get into an accident while ridesharing without insurance?
The consequences of getting into an accident while ridesharing without insurance will vary depending on the circumstances. If you cause an accident and don’t have any insurance, you’ll be responsible for any damages or injuries.
You may also face legal penalties, including fines and license suspension or revocation. And if Uber or Lyft find that you violated their terms-of-service agreement, they may remove you from their platforms.
How does a rideshare insurance claim work?
If you’re involved in an accident while ridesharing, your rideshare insurance will provide coverage first. From there, Uber or Lyft’s insurance will cover any gaps your insurance policy didn’t meet.[8]
You’ll contact your rideshare insurance company to file a claim over the phone or on the company’s website. Customer service should be able to walk you through the process of filing a claim.
Nolo. "What Do Uber and Lyft Drivers Need to Know About Car Insurance?."
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
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