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Illinois Auto Insurance Requirements
The Illinois auto insurance requirements stipulated by law are:
- Liability Coverage – Pays for bodily injury to another person or property damage you cause due to the negligent operation of a vehicle. It may also pay if the accident was caused by a member of your family living with you or a person using your vehicle with your permission. The coverage may also pay for a legal defense if you’re sued because of the accident. Liability coverage is often split into two separate coverages:
- Property Damage (BI) – Pays for damage to another person’s car or property such as fences, buildings, utility poles, signs, and trees. Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/7-203) (625 ILCS 5/7-203) requires BI limits of at least $20,000 per person per accident and $40,000 total per accident.
- Property Damage (PD) – Pays for damage to another person’s car or property such as fences, buildings, utility poles, signs, and trees. Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/7-203) requires PD liability limits of at least $15,000 per accident.
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage (UM) – Covers you for your bodily injury caused by a hit-and-run driver or an at-fault driver who has no auto liability insurance. Currently, Illinois law (215 ILCS 5/143a) requires uninsured motorist limits of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. For additional premium, you may buy higher limits to pay for claims that exceed those amounts.
- Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Insurance (UIM) – Pays the difference between your UIM limits and the liability limits of the at-fault driver, if lower than your UIM limits. Illinois law (215 ILCS 5/143a-2) requires this type of coverage if you purchase higher limits of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UM).
Please note that these are minimums required by Illinois state law, not suggested coverage amounts. The simple fact is, each state’s minimum requirements are typically inadequate to sufficiently cover your costs should you be involved in a major accident. The shortfall will have to be made up out of your own pocket. Obviously, having to pay this difference could easily destroy one financially. Therefore, it is highly recommended to get much higher coverage amounts. Consult pages elsewhere on this site for recommendations in this regard.
Illinois Auto Insurance Requirements – More Information
For more information regarding auto insurance requirements in Illinois contact the state’s insurance regulatory agency:
ILLINOIS – DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
320 West Washington Street
Springfield, IL 62767-0001 United States
Phone: 217-782-4515
FAX: 217-524-6500
Web: http://www.state.il.us/ins
Description: Chicago Office: TDD 312-814-2603
Note that this information is provided for as a general guide and is for reference purposes only and should in no way be considered legal advice. Contact the regulatory agency for the state in question for definitive answers that apply to that state.
