# Illinois car insurance: required UM coverage, penalties and average costs

> Illinois requires liability and uninsured motorist coverage. See the minimum limits, how the state checks insurance, fines for driving uninsured and costs.

Canonical page: https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/illinois/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

Illinois requires two coverages on every car insurance policy: liability of at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 for property damage, and uninsured motorist coverage at matching limits. Driving uninsured can cost a fine of more than $500 and a 3-month license suspension. Illinois drivers spend less than the national average, $1,153.11 a year per insured vehicle in 2023.

## Key facts

| Fact | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Car insurance required | Yes |
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Required if you buy uninsured motorist limits above the minimum |
| Fault system | At-fault |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Not required |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | Not required (optional) |
| Average expenditure (2023) | $1,153.11 a year (US: $1,281) |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 15.2% (US: 15.4%) |
| Insurance regulator | Illinois Department of Insurance, 1-866-445-5364 (consumer assistance hotline) |
| Registration and insurance checks | Illinois Secretary of State |

## Illinois requires uninsured motorist coverage, not just liability

Many states let you decline uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Illinois does not: every policy must include it. The Insurance Research Council estimates that 15.2% of Illinois drivers were uninsured in 2023, slightly below the national estimate of 15.4%.

Here is how the pieces fit together:

- **Liability** pays for injuries and damage you cause to others, up to your limits.
- **Uninsured motorist** pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance. The required minimum matches the liability minimum: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- **Underinsured motorist** pays when the at-fault driver's coverage is too small for your injuries. In Illinois it becomes part of the policy when you buy UM limits above the minimum.

For example, if you carry $100,000 per person in UM and an at-fault driver with $25,000 of liability seriously injures you, underinsured coverage can help with the gap between what that driver's policy pays and your own limit, depending on how your policy is written. Ask your agent to show you the UM and UIM lines on your [declarations page](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/blog/how-to-read-your-declarations-page/). Our [uninsured motorist guide](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/) covers the details.

## How Illinois checks that drivers are insured

The Illinois Secretary of State runs the Illinois Insurance Verification System (ILIVS), set up under Public Act 100-0373. It compares registration records with insurers' records and contacts owners when a vehicle cannot be matched to a policy. If you get an ILIVS notice, the Illinois Department of Insurance directs drivers to the Secretary of State's ILIVS program for help. Responding promptly, with your insurer's details at hand, makes a mismatch easier to fix.

## Fines and suspensions for driving uninsured

Under the Illinois Vehicle Code, driving an uninsured vehicle is a petty offense. The fine is more than $500 and up to $1,000. A conviction also suspends your driver's license for 3 months, and you pay a $100 reinstatement fee to get it back. Driving during that suspension adds more time. Penalties rise for repeat violations and for uninsured drivers who injure someone.

There is a defense: you are not convicted if you show that the car had valid liability insurance at the time you were stopped. After some revocations, Illinois also requires proof of future financial responsibility for 3 years, a filing most people know as an [SR-22](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/drivers/sr-22/).

## Illinois premiums: statewide averages and local differences

| Measure (2023) | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Average expenditure per insured vehicle | $1,153.11 | $1,281 |
| Roughly per month | $96 | $107 |
| Combined average premium (liability, collision, comprehensive) | $1,256.58 | $1,438 |

Both Illinois averages are below the national figures, but a statewide average hides big local differences. Insurers price by [ZIP code](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/costs/zip-code/), so a Chicago address can cost more or less than a downstate one; city pages for Illinois are listed below. Your [driving record](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/costs/driving-record/), [vehicle](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/costs/vehicle/) and claims history also move the price. The [location index](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/) compares every state.

## Teen and older drivers in Illinois

Illinois licenses teens in stages, which shapes how much supervised driving they have before they drive alone. According to the IIHS licensing table:

| Rule | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Learner's permit holding period | 9 months |
| Supervised driving required | 50 hours, 10 at night |
| Night limit for intermediate licenses | 10 p.m. Sun.-Thu. or 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. until 6 a.m. |

Adding a teen raises most premiums. Our [teen driver guide](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/drivers/teen-drivers/) explains how to keep that increase down.

Older drivers saw a change in 2026. Illinois used to require a road test at license renewal from age 75. For renewals from July 1, 2026, the road test starts at age 87. From age 79, drivers must still prove their vision at every renewal and renew in person. See [senior drivers](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/drivers/senior-drivers/).

## Speeding and road deaths in Illinois

IIHS counted 1,177 traffic deaths in Illinois in 2024. Per person, the rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people was below the national 11.5 per 100,000 people, and per mile driven, 1.13 per 100 million miles was below the US 1.19 per 100 million miles. Speeding was a factor in 36% of deaths, above the national 29%.

Driving near the state line? Compare the rules in [Indiana](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/indiana/), [Wisconsin](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/wisconsin/), [Iowa](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/iowa/), [Missouri](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/missouri/) and [Kentucky](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/kentucky/).

## FAQ

### Is uninsured motorist coverage mandatory in Illinois?

Yes. Every Illinois auto policy must include uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured coverage is added when you choose UM limits above that minimum.

### What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Illinois?

A fine of more than $500, up to $1,000, plus a 3-month license suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee. Repeat offenses and crashes that injure someone carry heavier penalties.

### Is Illinois a no-fault state?

No. Illinois is an at-fault state. The driver who causes a crash is liable for the damage, and PIP is not required. MedPay is optional.

### Why did I get an insurance verification letter in Illinois?

The Secretary of State's verification program could not match your vehicle to an active policy. That can happen after a change of insurer, when records do not match, or after a lapse. Contact the program and your insurer to fix the record.

### Do older drivers in Illinois need a road test to renew?

For renewals from July 1, 2026, the road-test requirement starts at age 87, up from 75. Vision checks and in-person renewal still apply from age 79.

## Sources

- [Illinois Department of Insurance, Auto Insurance Shopping Guide](https://idoi.illinois.gov/consumers/consumerinsurance/auto-insurance-shopping-guide.html) — required liability and uninsured motorist coverage
- [Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois Insurance Verification System](https://idoi.illinois.gov/consumers/consumerinsurance/sos.html) — the Secretary of State's verification program under Public Act 100-0373
- [Illinois Compiled Statutes, 625 ILCS 5/3-707](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K3-707.htm) — fines, suspension, reinstatement fee and the proof-of-insurance defense
- [Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws](https://www.aldoi.gov/Consumers/StateAutoLaws.aspx), as of October 28, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists), as of October 28, 2026
- [Illinois Department of Insurance, Contact Us](https://idoi.illinois.gov/aboutus/contactus.html), as of October 28, 2026
- [Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois Secretary of State - Illinois Insurance Verification System](https://idoi.illinois.gov/consumers/consumerinsurance/auto/sos.html), as of October 28, 2026
- [Illinois General Assembly, 625 ILCS 5/7-304](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K7-304.htm), as of October 28, 2026
- [IIHS-HLDI, Older drivers (research area)](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/older-drivers), as of October 28, 2026
- [IIHS-HLDI, Graduated driver licensing laws table](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table), as of October 1, 2026
- [IIHS-HLDI, Older drivers: License renewal procedures table](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/older-drivers/license-renewal-laws-table), as of October 1, 2026
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state), as of June 1, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf), as of February 13, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-20222023-auto-insurance-database-report), as of February 13, 2026
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025