Illinois Auto Insurance Requirements

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Illinois requires every registered vehicle to carry liability insurance with minimum limits of 25/50/20 — that's $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 property damage. The state also mandates uninsured-motorist coverage and uses an electronic verification program that can suspend a registration as soon as coverage lapses.

Minimum liability limits

$25,000 bodily injury per person.
$50,000 bodily injury per accident.
$20,000 property damage per accident.
$25,000 / $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury (required, not optional).

Illinois recently raised these limits in 2025 — most carriers update existing policies automatically at the next renewal, but drivers should confirm in writing with their agent.

Electronic Insurance Verification

The Illinois SOS runs the Illinois Insurance Verification Program, which queries every registered vehicle's insurance status against carrier databases two to four times per year. If a vehicle shows uninsured for more than 30 days, the SOS sends a verification letter; non-response triggers a registration suspension. The driver can lift the suspension by submitting proof of insurance and paying a $100 reinstatement fee — $200 for a second offense within 12 months.

Penalties for driving uninsured

Illinois treats driving without insurance as a moving violation with serious consequences:

Mandatory $501 fine on a first conviction (most courts assess $501-$1,000).
3-month license-plate suspension.
Up to 12 months in jail for a third or later conviction.
20-point assessment on the driver record.
Required filing of an SR-22 financial responsibility certificate for 3 years.

SR-22 filing

An SR-22 is a certificate filed by an insurance company directly with the SOS, attesting that a driver carries the required minimum liability coverage. Illinois requires an SR-22 for at least 3 years after:

A DUI conviction or Statutory Summary Suspension.
Driving without insurance and being involved in an accident.
A judgment lien from a traffic-related civil case.
Reckless homicide or aggravated DUI conviction.

A standard auto policy typically costs 30-50% more when an SR-22 is filed — partly because the carrier sees the underlying offense and partly because Illinois SR-22 filings carry an administrative fee of $25-$50 per filing. If the policy is canceled or lapses, the carrier files an SR-26 with the SOS, which automatically suspends the license until a new SR-22 is in place.

Common optional coverages

Beyond the state minimums, most Illinois drivers carry:

Collision coverage — repairs your vehicle after an at-fault accident.
Comprehensive coverage — non-collision damage (theft, hail, fire, falling objects).
Medical payments (MedPay) — covers passenger medical bills regardless of fault.
Underinsured motorist property damage — Illinois doesn't require this even though UM bodily injury is mandatory.
Rental reimbursement and roadside assistance.

Average premiums

Illinois auto insurance averages $1,650-$1,950 per year for a typical driver, with Chicago premiums roughly 30% above the statewide average due to higher claim frequency. Rural downstate drivers see the lowest rates. Carriers in the Illinois market are required by the Illinois Department of Insurance to file rate changes, but the state uses an "open competition" rate-setting model — premiums change without prior approval.

How insurers learn about violations

Most insurance carriers pull an Illinois driving abstract at policy renewal (typically every 6 or 12 months). New convictions and accidents that appear on the abstract drive premium changes. Court supervision dispositions — when properly handled — do not appear on the public abstract and are not visible to insurers.

For broader insurance comparisons, see the national car insurance guide.