Illinois is a tort state, which means that drivers bear financial responsibility for any damage and injury they cause in an accident. Liability insurance is required for all motor vehicles including cars, vans, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, trucks and buses, displaying license plates and is being driven.
Illinois auto insurance coverages
Illinois auto insurance laws require minimum liability limits of 20/40/15. That is $20,000 for injury liability for one person in an accident, $40,000 for all injuries in an accident, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
Illinois auto insurance laws also require that you purchase uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of at least 20/40 ($20,000 for injuries per person, up to $40,000 total). This policy helps pay your expenses in case you should be struck by a driver with inadequate liability coverage.
Illinois auto insurance companies will also offer optional auto insurance coverages such as medical payments, accidental death benefit, collision, and comprehensive.
Complying with Illinois auto insurance law
The law of the State of Illinois mentions that you've to carry your insurance card in your vehicle and upon request by any law enforcement officer, you must show this card. Your insurance card is sent by your insurance company when a new auto insurance policy is issued or an existing policy is renewed.
Enforcement of the law
In case you decide on not taking Illinois auto insurance, the Secretary of State can suspend your license plates. If you're stopped for traffic violation or involved in an accident and issued a traffic ticket and then caught driving uninsured vehicle, your license plates will be suspended. In addition to that, you will have to pay fines
- Minimum $500 fine for driving uninsured; or
- Minimum $1,000 fine for driving a vehicle while the registration is suspended for no insurance.
If your license plates are suspended, the reinstatement fees for the first timers is $100 and current evidence of insurance is submitted and for repeat offenders, a four month suspension must be served in addition to $100 reinstatement fee and current evidence of insurance.
Setting up Illinois car insurance rates
The behaviour of the state's driver as a whole forms the basis of pricing of Illinois auto insurance. Illinois auto insurance companies take the cost of providin auto insurance for Illinois drivers and divide it among the drivers. The Illinois auto insurance providers calculate how much a certain "category" of driver costs them, and decide premiums based on that. The "category" you're in is decided by your driving record, your age, where you live, and the kind of car you drive, among other things. All insurance use same categories and calculations, but your set of characteristics will be viewed in a different way by diverse insurance companies and hence distinct will quote you different rates. So shop around either online or offline to save on an Illinois auto insurance policy.
Available Discounts with Illinois auto insurance
- Anti-theft devices
- Auto/home packages
- Car pool
- College student away from home
- Defensive driver course
- Good driver
- Good student
- Low annual mileage
- Mature driver credit
- Multiple vehicles
- Safety devices
Ways to lower your Illinois auto insurance costs
- Ask about discounts
- Take the highest deductible affordable by you
- Consolidate your insurance needs
- Maintain a good driving record
- Choose your vehicle carefully
- Keep a good credit history.
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