Illinois Mandatory Car
Insurance
Liability Insurance is a minimum requirement in Illinois and a
low cost car insurance option as long as the vehicle is not financed. Liability insurance is required for all motor
vehicles that must display license plates and are being driven, including cars, vans, motorcycles, recreational
vehicles, trucks and buses. Trailers are not required to have liability insurance.
The liability Minimums are 20/40/15 (Bodily Injury and
Property Damage)
20/40/15 Explained:
The first 20 represents $20,000, the maximum coverage for one
person's injuries, $40,000 for the total coverage for all injuries sustained in one incident and last but not least
$15,000 for the property damage maximum coverage amount.
Under Illinois law, liability insurance policies automatically
include uninsured motorist coverage at the legal minimum requirements for
bodily injury or death. This ensures coverage if you are involved in an accident with a driver who is
uninsured.
IL state law does not require you to carry collision,
comprehensive, medical payment or uninsured property damage coverage.
You must always carry your Illinois auto insurance
card in your vehicle and show it upon request by any law enforcement officer. Your insurance company will send you
an insurance card, usually when your insurance policy is issued or renewed. Insurance proof is a requirement at
registration and of course after an accident. The First Offense penalty is a $500-$1000 fine.
Your signature on the Vehicle Renewal Registration Application
affirms that your vehicle will be properly insured throughout the registration period.
Enforcement of the mandatory insurance law is accomplished
through a random questionnaire sampling process and the issuance of traffic tickets.
* If the computer randomly selects your vehicle, you
will receive a questionnaire asking for the name of your insurance company and policy number. Your answers will be
verified with the company you name. If you do not have insurance or fail to return the questionnaire with the
requested information, your license plates will be suspended.
* If you are stopped for a traffic violation or involved in an accident, a law
enforcement officer may issue a traffic citation if you are unable to provide evidence of insurance. If convicted,
your license plates will be suspended and you will face the following fines:
*minimum $500 fine for driving uninsured
*minimum $1,000 fine for driving a vehicle while the license plates
are suspended for a
previous insurance violation
Contact an insurance agent to buy liability insurance for your
vehicle. Some companies do not sell insurance to vehicle owners who have been driving uninsured. If you have
problems buying insurance, ask your insurance agent about the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan.
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