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Updated
You can buy car insurance in Illinois even if you don’t have a driver’s license. Illinois state law requires all registered vehicles to have insurance. That means vehicle owners must purchase liability coverage even if they can’t legally get behind the wheel.
This can affect drivers with a suspended license, a foreign driver’s license, or a learner’s permit. It also affects people who own a vehicle but have a medical condition that keeps them from driving.
Read on to learn how to get car insurance in Illinois without a license and which type of insurance fits your situation. We’ll also tell you how much coverage costs and what alternatives to explore.
You might need car insurance without an Illinois driver’s license for a variety of reasons, including:
Suspended license: The Illinois Secretary of State can suspend driving privileges after a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, serious traffic violations, failure to appear in court, and non-payment of child support.[1] [2] Vehicle owners with suspended licenses must still have liability insurance.
Medical condition: You still need liability coverage if you own a car but have a medical condition that prevents you from driving.
Parents of student drivers: A teen with a learner’s permit typically needs car insurance.
Recent transplants: A foreign driver’s license may allow you to drive in Illinois, but you’ll need liability coverage if you own a car.
Compare quotes in Illinois, starting at an average of $41 per month
It’s legal to buy car insurance without a driver’s license in Illinois, but it’s illegal to drive without a license. Driving without a license in Illinois is a misdemeanor punishable by fines of $1,500 to $2,500, potential jail time, and up to 24 months of probation.[3]
If someone else plans to drive your car while you don’t have a license, make sure to list them as the licensed primary driver on your insurance policy until the state reinstates your license.
Illinois requires every car to have bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.[4] If the Illinois Secretary of State designates you a high-risk driver, it may require you to file a certificate of financial responsibility, also known as an SR-22.
An SR-22 certificate isn’t a type of insurance policy. An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility that proves you meet Illinois’ minimum insurance requirements.[5] You usually need an SR-22 after a serious violation, like a DUI.
Your insurer files an SR-22 on your behalf with the Illinois Secretary of State. You must maintain the SR-22 for three years.
Illinois requires drivers to file SR-22 certificates for the following reasons:
Suspended license for traffic violations or unsatisfied judgments
Revoked license
Violation of mandatory insurance laws
Everyone has different car insurance needs, even unlicensed drivers. Determining which coverage is right for you depends on many factors, like the reason you don’t have a valid driver’s license and the car you need to insure.
Here are some of the car insurance policies available to unlicensed drivers and who they work best for:
Standard auto insurance: Standard auto insurance is best if you own a vehicle that someone else drives. If you co-own the vehicle, you can make the other owner the primary driver. If you have a student driver with a learner’s permit, you can designate them as the licensed primary driver.
SR-22 certificate: The Illinois Secretary of State may require you to file an SR-22 certificate after the state suspends your license. You may be able to file a non-owner SR-22 certificate if you don’t own a vehicle.
Parked vehicle coverage: Parked car insurance covers a car you own but don’t drive. It’s a good option if you have a medical condition that prevents you from driving. Parked car coverage usually offers only comprehensive coverage.
Non-owner car insurance: If a licensed driver occasionally drives your car, they may want non-owner car insurance. Non-owner coverage follows the driver, not the vehicle, and may offer better financial protection than your vehicle’s policy. Non-owner policies usually don’t have collision or comprehensive coverage.
Unlicensed drivers in Illinois can still purchase car insurance. Follow the steps below to get car insurance in Illinois even without a valid driver’s license:
Determine the type of insurance policy you need. You may need a standard policy with someone else named as the primary driver. But you’ll need minimum liability coverage if you have an SR-22 requirement. Parked vehicle coverage might work if you own a car but can’t drive for medical reasons.
Have your information ready. If someone else is driving your car, you’ll need their driver’s license number and driving history to sign up for a policy.
Compare quotes. Rates can vary significantly from one company to another. It’s a good idea to compare quotes from at least three companies to find the best rate.
Ask about excluding yourself from the policy. If you name someone else as the primary driver, you may be able to lower your premiums by excluding yourself from the policy.
Buy your policy. Sign your policy documents, and pay your first month’s premium. Illinois allows you to use physical and digital insurance cards.
If you can’t find coverage due to your driving record, you may be eligible for the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan. Drivers who qualify must have failed to purchase insurance on the private market in the past 60 days. You also need a valid driver’s license.
Not all companies will insure unlicensed drivers. But some insurers can accommodate vehicle owners without a driver’s license. Here are several insurance companies in Illinois that work with unlicensed drivers.
Insurance Company | Coverage Type Available | Offers SR-22 Filing? | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm |
| Yes | $80 |
| Progressive |
| Yes | $117 |
| Erie |
| Yes | $122 |
| GEICO |
| Yes | $125 |
| Direct Auto |
| Yes | $132 |
Unlicensed drivers may pay different insurance rates than drivers with a valid Illinois license. But how much your rates differ depends on many factors, including:
Why you’re unlicensed: You’ll typically pay higher insurance premiums if you have a revoked or suspended license.
Your insurance needs: If you co-own a vehicle, excluding yourself from a standard policy can save you money. But an SR-22 requirement typically increases your rates.
Your vehicle: Less valuable cars typically cost less to insure. Cars with advanced safety features also may qualify for a discount.
Your coverage needs: Liability coverage costs less than full coverage. But it can be much more expensive out of pocket in the event of a car accident.
The table below compares the average cost of insurance for various types of drivers in Illinois to give you an idea of how much coverage might cost in your situation.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Liability-Only Rate in Illinois | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Rate in Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed driver with clean record | $83 | $162 |
| Licensed driver with SR-22 requirement | $100 | $196 |
| Licensed driver with DUI | $122 | $238 |
| Driver with suspended license | $100 | $196 |
| Non-owner driver | $38 | N/A |
Check rates from top insurers in Illinois and save money in minutes
Purchasing a standard auto insurance policy without a valid driver’s license isn’t the right option for everyone. Below are some other options that might work better for you.
Add a licensed co-owner to your vehicle registration. Adding a co-owner to your vehicle registration is best for family members or married couples. Listing a licensed driver as a co-owner gives them insurable interest in the car and allows them to purchase an insurance policy and list you as an excluded driver.
Buy non-owner coverage for the person who drives your car. You still need minimum liability coverage if you own a car. But if someone else regularly drives your car, a non-owner policy offers additional coverage beyond your vehicle’s policy.
File a non-owner SR-22 certificate. You can file a non-owner SR-22 if the state requires the certificate but you don’t have a car. It keeps you compliant with Illinois law while you work to reinstate your driver’s license. It’s typically cheaper than a standard SR-22 auto policy.
Below, we answer some common questions about getting car insurance in Illinois without a driver’s license.
Yes. You can insure a car in Illinois with a suspended license. Illinois requires all registered vehicles to have minimum liability insurance. So you still need car insurance with a suspended license, even if you can’t legally drive.
Illinois requires all registered vehicles to have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, and $50,000 of property damage liability coverage. You also need uninsured motorist (UM) coverage that matches your bodily injury liability limits. If you buy extra UM coverage, you also need underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance.
How much car insurance costs in Illinois with a license depends on a number of factors. The reason you don’t have a license, the coverage you need, and your vehicle all affect how much you pay. That said, Auto-Owners offers the cheapest average rates in the state, averaging $41 per month for liability coverage.
You may be able to use a state ID or passport as proof of identity when purchasing car insurance in Illinois. If you’re naming someone else as the primary driver on your policy, make sure you have their driver’s license number.
No. It’s illegal to drive without a license. Your insurance company won’t cover any accidents while you’re driving illegally.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Plutus Award winner
Over 12 years writing about insurance and personal finance
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
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