State guide
Car Insurance in Illinois
Updated August 2026
Illinois requires more than the usual liability package: alongside 25/50/20 minimum liability limits — $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage — every auto policy issued or renewed in the state must also include uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at the same 25/50 level. In most at-fault states that protection is optional; in Illinois it is built into the policy by law.
The state also checks that you actually keep the coverage. Under the Secretary of State's electronic verification program, each registered vehicle's liability policy is verified at least twice a year directly with insurers. A vehicle that fails two checks faces registration suspension, and driving uninsured carries a minimum $500 fine. With enforcement this systematic, the practical question isn't whether to carry coverage — it's which carrier prices your coverage best.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 |
| PIP / medical | Not required (at-fault state) |
| Additional requirements | Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000 is required in every policy (215 ILCS 5/143a) |
| No-fault state | No |
| SR-22 used | Yes |
Source: 625 ILCS 5/7-601, 625 ILCS 5/7-203, 215 ILCS 5/143a; Illinois Secretary of State
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Illinois was $994.28 in 2022. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2024))
What Illinois requires — and the uninsured motorist twist
The Mandatory Insurance Law (625 ILCS 5/7-601) requires liability insurance on every registered vehicle, with the minimum amounts set at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage (625 ILCS 5/7-203, for policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2015).
The distinctive piece is 215 ILCS 5/143a: no auto policy can be issued or renewed in Illinois without uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at those same limits. That means every legally insured Illinois driver has baseline protection if they're hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver — relevant when, nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023 (Insurance Research Council). Higher UM limits and underinsured motorist coverage are available above the floor.
Electronic verification and penalties
Since 2020, the Secretary of State verifies each vehicle's liability policy electronically at least twice a year through a vendor linked to every insurer writing auto liability coverage in Illinois. If a check fails, the vehicle is re-checked after 30 days; if it fails again and coverage can't be proven, the registration is suspended and reinstatement requires proof of insurance plus a $100 fee.
A traffic stop or accident without proof of insurance can bring a citation with a minimum $500 fine on conviction, and a minimum $1,000 fine for driving while plates are suspended for a prior insurance violation. Repeat offenders serve a four-month registration suspension before reinstatement.
SR-22s in Illinois
Illinois requires SR-22 filings — the state's proof of financial responsibility — after certain suspensions, uninsured accidents, and serious violations. Your insurer files the certificate with the Secretary of State, typically for three years, and must report any lapse. The filing fee is trivial; the surcharge carriers attach to the underlying violation is not, and it varies enough between companies that SR-22 drivers usually gain the most from comparing several quotes.
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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in Illinois?+
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 property damage (25/50/20), plus uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000 in every policy, per 625 ILCS 5/7-601, 5/7-203 and 215 ILCS 5/143a.
Is uninsured motorist coverage mandatory in Illinois?+
Yes. Under 215 ILCS 5/143a, no auto policy may be issued or renewed in Illinois without uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at least equal to the state's 25/50 liability minimums — unlike most states, where it can be declined.
How does Illinois check that drivers are insured?+
The Secretary of State runs an electronic verification program that confirms each registered vehicle's liability policy with insurers at least twice a year. Vehicles that fail verification face registration suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee; driving uninsured carries a minimum $500 fine.
Is Illinois a no-fault state?+
No. Illinois is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes an accident pays for the other side's injuries and damage through their liability coverage. No PIP is required.
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