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.
The figures below explain the policy structure used in Illinois. They do not predict an individual premium. For a broader view of how state rules differ, use our national car insurance directory.
Illinois minimum car insurance requirements
Most quotes begin with liability coverage. Bodily injury liability addresses covered injury claims made by other people when you cause a crash. Property damage liability addresses covered damage to their vehicles or other property. The legal minimum keeps a policy compliant, but it does not say how much financial risk a household can comfortably retain.
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one person
- Required amount or rule
- $25,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered injuries to one other person
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one accident
- Required amount or rule
- $50,000
- What it generally addresses
- Total covered injuries in one accident
- Coverage
- Property damage liability
- Required amount or rule
- $20,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered damage you cause to other property
- Coverage
- PIP or medical coverage
- Required amount or rule
- Not required (at-fault state)
- What it generally addresses
- Medical coverage rules vary by policy
- Coverage
- Additional state rule
- Required amount or rule
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000 is required in every policy (215 ILCS 5/143a)
- What it generally addresses
- Review the selection or rejection shown on the quote
- Coverage
- Accident framework
- Required amount or rule
- At-fault
- What it generally addresses
- The responsible driver's liability coverage is central
- Coverage
- SR-22 filing
- Required amount or rule
- Used in this state
- What it generally addresses
- Applies only when ordered after qualifying events
| Coverage | Required amount or rule | What it generally addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability, one person | $25,000 | Covered injuries to one other person |
| Bodily injury liability, one accident | $50,000 | Total covered injuries in one accident |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 | Covered damage you cause to other property |
| PIP or medical coverage | Not required (at-fault state) | Medical coverage rules vary by policy |
| Additional state rule | Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000 is required in every policy (215 ILCS 5/143a) | Review the selection or rejection shown on the quote |
| Accident framework | At-fault | The responsible driver's liability coverage is central |
| SR-22 filing | Used in this state | Applies only when ordered after qualifying events |
What the state minimum covers, and what it leaves with you
A minimum policy is designed to satisfy state law. It is not designed around the value of your car, the size of a possible injury claim or the amount of savings you want to protect. Those are household decisions, so they need a separate review.
A financed or leased vehicle commonly needs collision and comprehensive coverage under the contract even when state law does not require them. For plain-language definitions and buying context, visit our insurance guides before selecting limits.
Rules and risks that matter in Illinois
State law is only the starting point. These Illinois-specific details show what to confirm before you compare coverage or buy a policy.
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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Start a Illinois quote requestWhat affects car insurance rates in Illinois?
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Illinois was $994.28 in 2022. This is a historical statewide expenditure benchmark from NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2024). It combines many types of drivers and policies, so it should be used for market context rather than as a current quote estimate.
Insurers apply their filed rating plans to the household in front of them. Two neighbors can see different prices, and the same household can receive a wide range from different companies because each insurer weighs the inputs differently.
Garaging location
Claim frequency, traffic, repair costs, theft and weather exposure vary across Illinois ZIP codes.
Drivers and record
Age, driving experience, citations, accidents, claims and continuous insurance history can affect price and eligibility.
Vehicle and use
Repair technology, vehicle value, annual mileage, commute and business use change the potential cost of a claim.
Coverage choices
Liability limits, collision, comprehensive, optional benefits and deductibles determine what the policy is being asked to pay.
Household details
Other licensed drivers, additional vehicles and bundling opportunities can change the account-level price.
Company fit
Insurers target different customer profiles. No one company is consistently cheapest for every driver in every territory.
Before you switch
Read the declarations, not only the price.
The declarations page shows drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles and selected benefits. Match those fields before deciding that one quote is better.
Learn how a quote becomes a policy →How to compare Illinois car insurance quotes
Keep the drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles, dates and payment method the same. Then compare the full-term cost and change only one choice at a time.
Compare insurance companies on price, coverage and service
A familiar name is not automatically the best fit. Compare how each insurer sells and services policies, which optional programs it offers and whether it writes your profile in Illinois. Availability and underwriting can vary by state.
See how Progressive sells and services policies →
See how GEICO sells and services policies →
See how State Farm sells and services policies →
See how Allstate sells and services policies →Company marks link to independent editorial reviews. They do not identify quote partners or a personalized match.
Browse all company reviews →Compare car insurance by Illinois city
State law applies across Illinois, but the garaging address can add a more local rating layer. Use a city guide to review ZIP related factors, vehicle details and the quote worksheet, then return here for the state requirement source.
Check the facts
Rules and market data used on this Illinois page
The minimum-coverage table is paired with a first-party state reference, and the legal authority named in the guide is 625 ILCS 5/7-601, 625 ILCS 5/7-203, 215 ILCS 5/143a; Illinois Secretary of State. Historical premium context is labeled by year and linked to the underlying publication. These sources do not replace a policy contract or individualized legal advice; rules and forms can change, so confirm current requirements with the regulator, insurer or a licensed professional.
State requirement source
Illinois Secretary of State — Mandatory insurance ↗Official state guidance on Illinois's mandatory vehicle liability insurance program.
Historical market data
NAIC — 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement ↗Historical statewide average-expenditure data published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in June 2024.
Regulator directory
NAIC — State insurance department directory ↗Directory of state insurance regulators for current consumer guidance, licensing checks and complaints.
Checked by Show my rates · Last updated August 3, 2026
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