Car Insurance Requirements in Illinois (2025)
You must meet the 25/50/20 minimum car insurance requirements to drive in Illinois.
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Like every U.S. state except New Hampshire, Illinois requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance to legally operate a vehicle.
Before taking your vehicle on the road, it’s crucial to understand the coverage requirements in your state. Failure to properly insure your car can result in penalties such as fines and suspension of your vehicle registration.
Here’s what you should know about car insurance requirements in Illinois.
Illinois car insurance requirements
Illinois requires all drivers to carry liability car insurance. It comprises bodily injury and property damage insurance, and the state sets specific coverage limits for each. Illinois also requires all drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage, which fewer than half of states require.1
Bodily injury liability coverage
Bodily injury liability coverage pays for costs that result from injuries to other people when you’re at fault for a car accident. Bodily injury insurance may also cover other passengers in your car who aren’t members of your household.
Illinois requires all drivers to have at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage. But you can carry higher limits for each if you want more thorough coverage.
Property damage liability coverage
Property damage liability coverage pays for damages to other people’s property when you’re at fault for an accident. Covered property can include other people’s vehicles, fences, signs, and more. But it doesn’t cover your vehicle or personal property.
Illinois drivers must have at least $20,000 per accident of property damage coverage. However, as with bodily injury liability coverage, it may be wise to buy more. Given that the average new car price is more than double the minimum requirements in Illinois, you could easily find yourself on the hook for damages above and beyond your insurance limits.2
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries and those of your household members if you’re in an accident where the person at fault is an uninsured driver or if they drive away without taking responsibility for the accident. Illinois requires all drivers to carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of uninsured motorist coverage.
Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan
The Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan (ILAIP) provides insurance to drivers who otherwise couldn’t purchase it. Insurers may deny some high-risk drivers because of violations on their driving histories, like driving without insurance, DUIs, and more.3
Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Illinois?
Illinois’ minimum insurance requirements represent the absolute least amount of coverage you need to drive legally. But you should consider carrying more coverage, especially if you drive frequently, as damages in an accident can easily exceed the minimum liability requirements in Illinois.
If you want more protection, consider collision and comprehensive coverage. These two coverages, along with liability coverage, make up full-coverage car insurance. Though it’s more expensive, full coverage pays for damages to your vehicle after collisions with vehicles and other objects, theft or vandalism, inclement weather, and other covered incidents.
If you drive an older vehicle that isn’t worth much or you could afford to replace it out of pocket if it’s totaled, you might only need liability coverage. But if you drive a more valuable vehicle or can’t afford to replace it, it’s probably worth paying more for full coverage. Additionally, most auto lenders require that you carry full coverage as long as you have a loan on your vehicle.
Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Illinois
Driving without insurance is illegal in Illinois, and if you’re caught doing so, you’ll be subject to certain penalties:
Driving without insurance (first offense): You’ll need to pay a fine of at least $500. You’ll also have your vehicle registration suspended until you pay a reinstatement fee of $100 and provide proof of insurance.
Driving without insurance (repeat offenses): You’ll pay a fine of at least $500. You’ll also have your vehicle registration suspended for four months, at the end of which you must pay a $100 reinstatement fee and provide proof of insurance.
Driving without insurance and with a suspended vehicle registration: You’ll have to pay a fine of at least $1,000.
Driving without insurance (third or subsequent offense): In addition to the penalties outlined above, you’ll need to file an SR-22, proof of financial responsibility, for three years after the incident or have your license suspended.4
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Illinois
Liability-only car insurance is the cheapest type of policy on the market. It includes the state’s minimum insurance requirements but doesn’t provide additional protections for your vehicle.
In Illinois, the average cost of liability coverage is $80 per month. Below are some of the cheapest car insurance companies for liability-only car insurance in Illinois.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Illinois
Full-coverage insurance is more expensive than liability-only coverage, but it also provides more protection. The average cost of full coverage in Illinois is $152 per month. Below are some of the cheapest car insurance companies in Illinois for full coverage.
Optional car insurance coverages to consider
In addition to the liability and uninsured motorist coverages Illinois requires, you can add several other coverages to your policy. These optional coverages will increase your premiums but also provide additional protection:
Illinois car insurance requirements FAQs
If you’re looking for car insurance in Illinois, check out the additional information below about the state’s car insurance requirements.
Is car insurance required in Illinois?
Yes. Car insurance is required in Illinois. All drivers must have bodily injury liability coverage, property damage liability coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage to operate a vehicle legally in the state.
Do you need car insurance to register a car in Illinois?
Yes. You must provide proof of car insurance to register a vehicle in Illinois. Additionally, the state’s Electronic Liability Insurance Verification program verifies each vehicle’s coverage at least twice per year.
Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Illinois?
Car insurance in Illinois follows the car, which means that if someone else drives your vehicle and causes an accident, your insurance should still cover it. But your insurer may deny your claim if a member of your household drives your car regularly but isn’t listed on your auto insurance policy.
Can you drive a car without insurance if you just bought it in Illinois?
No. Driving a car without insurance is never permissible, even if you just bought it. But if you already have an insurance policy, your insurer may grant you a grace period of between one week and 30 days to add your new vehicle to your policy.
When did Illinois make car insurance mandatory?
Illinois’ state government made car insurance mandatory in 1988. A judge from southern Illinois ruled the law unconstitutional, but the state’s Supreme Court upheld it in 1991.5
What happens if you get pulled over without insurance in Illinois?
If you get pulled over in Illinois and can’t provide proof of insurance, your license plates will be suspended, and you could face a minimum fine ranging from $500 to $1,000.
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