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Plutus Award winner
Over 12 years writing about insurance and personal finance
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Updated
Illinois state law requires drivers to have bodily injury liability coverage, property damage liability coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).[1] Illinois is one of 14 states to mandate liability coverage for both uninsured and underinsured motorists.[2]
The Prairie State uses a comparative negligence system to determine responsibility in an accident.[3] Drivers who are less than 50% responsible for an accident can seek damages.
Illinois requires all drivers to have the following minimum liability insurance limits:
Bodily injury liability coverage: You need $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage to help pay for injuries you cause to others in an accident.
Property damage liability: You need $20,000 of property damage insurance to help cover damage you cause to someone else’s property.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury liability (UM): You must have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of UM for injuries if a driver without insurance hits you.
Underinsured motorist bodily injury liability (UIM): If a driver without enough insurance hits you, UIM helps cover the difference between their policy limits and the legal requirements. You need UIM only if you purchase higher UM limits.
The table below compares Illinois’ liability coverage minimums with those of Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
State | Minimum Liability Coverage Required by State Law | UM/UIM Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa |
| No |
| Indiana |
| No |
| Wisconsin |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
The number of uninsured drivers in Illinois partly explains the state’s higher liability minimums compared to its neighbors. About 16% of Illinois drivers don’t have insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Illinois’ population density is double or triple that of its three neighboring states.[4] Higher population density increases accident risk and the need for more liability insurance coverage.
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Illinois’ minimum car insurance limits typically don’t provide enough financial protection in an accident. Damages can easily exceed the $20,000 minimum, and you’d have to pay any remaining amount out of pocket. State-minimum liability insurance also doesn’t cover your injuries or damage to your car.
Insurance experts, including the Illinois Department of Insurance, suggest purchasing higher minimums and extra coverage. Here are some optional coverages that Illinois drivers should consider adding to their insurance policy:
Collision coverage: Collision insurance helps pay to repair or replace your car if you hit another car or someone’s property.
Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive insurance helps pay to repair your car after non-collision damage, such as hail damage, theft, or vandalism.
Medical payments (MedPay) coverage: MedPay helps cover medical and funeral expenses if you cause an accident that injures you or your passengers.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage: UM helps pay for damage to your vehicle caused by a driver without insurance. Illinois state law caps UM deductibles at $250. Considering that nearly 1 in 6 Illinois drivers don’t have insurance, UM can be a smart addition to your policy.
The Illinois Department of Insurance enforces liability insurance requirements by imposing suspensions, fines, and other fees. The table below shows the penalties for driving without insurance in Illinois.
Offense | Penalty | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance lapse |
|
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| Driving uninsured |
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| Driving with suspended license plates for a previous insurance violation |
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| Repeat offense for driving with suspended plates |
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Remember that these citations go on your driving record. Violations typically increase your insurance premiums.
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The Illinois Insurance Verification System (ILIVS) verifies that all registered vehicles in the state have liability coverage. Twice per year, ILIVS checks each vehicle’s liability insurance policy to determine if it’s still active.[5]
If the system can’t verify your vehicle’s insurance, it checks again after 30 days. If ILIVS still can’t verify your coverage after 30 days, the Illinois Department of Insurance will send you a registration suspension letter. You have 30 days to prove you have insurance, or the state will suspend your license plates.
To submit proof of insurance, you or your insurance agent can log onto the ILIVS website.
Below, we answer some common questions about Illinois car insurance laws.
No. Illinois is an at-fault state that uses modified comparative negligence to determine fault in an accident. Under this standard, you can only seek damages if you’re less than 50% at fault. For example, you could seek damages if you’re 40% at fault in an accident and the other driver is 60% at fault. But the other driver’s insurance company may pay out only 60% of your losses.
Yes. Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is available in Illinois, but state law doesn’t require it. PIP covers medical bills, lost wages, and services for things you can’t do yourself, like child care.
Yes. Illinois requires drivers to have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Your UM coverage limits must be the same as your bodily injury liability limits. Illinois’ bodily injury liability limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
The penalties for driving without insurance in Illinois vary depending on the number of offenses. Driving uninsured carries a $500 fine, a suspension of your plates, and a $100 reinstatement fee. Driving with suspended plates carries a $1,000 fine and a mandatory four-month license plate suspension.
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Plutus Award winner
Over 12 years writing about insurance and personal finance
Featured in
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
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