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Some insurers offer a grace period for adding a recently purchased car to your policy. In Illinois, drivers typically have four to 30 days, depending on the insurance company.
The grace period applies only if you already have car insurance. It doesn’t apply if you’re signing up for a new policy. Some insurers also offer a grace period only for replacement vehicles, not additional ones.
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The length of a grace period for insuring a new car in Illinois can vary by insurer and the type of policy you have. Illinois doesn’t have any state laws regulating car insurance grace periods, so the time frame can vary between insurers. The average grace period in Illinois is four to 30 days.
If your insurance company has a grace period, you have a bit of time to update your policy after buying a car. But it’s a good idea to try to contact your insurer as soon as possible. It’s illegal to drive without car insurance in Illinois, and you can face citations, license plate suspension, and fines.
If you purchase a car and don’t already have insurance, the grace period doesn’t apply. You must immediately buy car insurance if you buy a car and don’t have an active policy.
The following table shows the typical grace period in Illinois for different situations.
Situation | Typical Grace Period in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Adding a new car | No grace period or shorter grace period |
| Replacing a car | 4–30 days |
| No existing policy | No grace period |
Whether you automatically have coverage when you buy a new car in Illinois depends on your situation. Coverage varies depending on whether you’re replacing your car, adding a new vehicle, or buying your first car without prior coverage.
If you already have coverage, your policy might provide a grace period when you buy a new car. Some insurance companies allow a grace period of 30 days when you replace an existing vehicle on your policy.
That said, rules often differ when adding a new car to your policy. You might have a shorter grace period or no grace period, depending on your insurer.
If you purchase a car and don’t have an existing policy, you won’t have coverage. You’ll need to purchase insurance before driving off the lot. In many cases, the dealership might require proof of insurance before you can leave.
The type of coverage you have also matters. If you have liability-only insurance, your grace period will cover only injuries or damage you cause to someone else. If you have a full-coverage policy, your grace period will likely include liability, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.
Ask your insurance company if your policy includes a grace period for a new vehicle and what type of protection it provides.
During the grace period, the coverage you had for your old vehicle generally extends to your new car. If you have liability-only coverage, it typically applies to your new car during the grace period. But you may have a different deductible and policy limits during the grace period.
Full-coverage car insurance may not apply during a grace period, depending on your insurer. If you lease or finance your new vehicle, your lender might require that you purchase full coverage. So ask your insurance company if your existing coverage will carry over.
Follow the steps below to add a new car to your insurance policy in Illinois:
Prepare your information. Make sure you have any necessary information, including vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number, and the make and model of your new vehicle.
Review your coverage. Check your current policy to see if your coverage meets the needs of your new vehicle. If you have liability-only insurance, you may want to add comprehensive and collision coverage for your new car.
Review your policy limits. Decide if you want to change your policy limits or deductible. If you have a minimum-coverage policy, you may want to increase your limits for more financial protection.
Confirm when coverage begins. Check whether your insurer offers a grace period to drive your new car home before you update your policy. If it does, ask how long you have and what it covers.
Contact your insurer. Talk to your insurance agent to update your policy. You can typically do this online, through your insurer’s mobile app, or by calling an agent.
When the grace period ends, you no longer have coverage for your car. Driving without insurance in Illinois could result in fines and license suspension.
If you get in a car accident after your grace period ends, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for any injuries or damages. A lapse in coverage can also result in higher insurance premiums when you buy a policy in the future.[1]
Compare rates in Illinois, starting at an average of $41 per month
Here are a few tips to help you make sure you have the right coverage when buying a car:
Contact your insurer before the purchase. If you’re planning to buy a new car, call your insurer to ask how the process works and if your policy provides temporary coverage.
Understand any grace periods. If your insurer offers a grace period for new vehicles, ask how long it is and exactly what it covers.
Set your coverage start date. If you know the details of the vehicle you plan to buy and when you plan to purchase it, you can set a future start date for your policy.
Make sure you meet minimum insurance requirements. Review your coverage to ensure you meet the minimum insurance requirements in Illinois. Consider if you want to add coverage to ensure you have enough protection for your new car. If you lease or finance your new car, your lender may require you to purchase a full-coverage policy.
For more information about auto insurance grace periods in Illinois, check out the following answers to some common questions.
No. It’s illegal to drive without car insurance in Illinois.[2] If you’re buying your first car and don’t have insurance, you must purchase a policy before driving the vehicle home. If you already have a policy, your insurer might provide a grace period with temporary coverage for your new vehicle.
If law enforcement catches you driving without insurance in Illinois, you can face fines and a suspension of your vehicle registration. Fines range from $500 for a first offense to $1,000 for repeat offenses. If you drive a vehicle with a suspended registration due to an insurance violation, the state will suspend your license plates for four months.
Typically, no. Illinois law doesn’t require insurance companies to provide grace periods for expired policies.[3] If you have questions about what happens after your insurance expires, contact your insurer for more details.
If your insurer offers a grace period, your car insurance should temporarily cover your new car. But policy limits and deductibles may vary, so check with your insurer for specific details. If your insurance company doesn’t offer a grace period and you get in an accident, you’ll likely have to pay for any injuries and damages out of pocket.
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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7+ years in personal finance writing
Certified Financial Education Instructor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
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