Guide to auto insurance in Illinois
When getting an auto insurance quote for Illinois, it should meet at least the following insurance coverage or financial responsibility at a minimum:
20/40/15 – This is shorthand for the liability policy limits required which means you need a minimum coverage of:
- $20,000 for death or injury to one person;
- $40,000 for death or injury to two or more people; and
- $15,000 for property damage to others
- Important: You must also have uninsured/underinsured coverage in the same amounts as your bodily injury coverage
Nearly all car insurance policies have a provision that will adjust your coverage from the minimums required in your state to the minimum insurance or proof of financial responsibility in another U.S. state. So you do not need to get a new insurance policy for each state you are driving through. However, if you buy a policy in a low limits state (e.g. Illinois or Idaho) but actually live in a high limits state (like Alaska), insurers will only write a policy where your car is principally garaged. So if your home is in Alaska, you should buy the minimum limits for Alaska.
Illinois’ required insurance limits are low, considering the cost of repair and damages likely to occur in an accident. If you are in a serious collision and the damages you caused are greater than the coverage limits you purchased, you may be personally liable to pay for those damages that exceed your insurance coverage.
Illinois Auto Insurance Regulations
Illinois is a modified comparative fault state with a 50% rule. This is a legal defense that means that a plaintiff can recover for an injury, reducing the amount that the plaintiff can recover based on the percentage of which the plaintiff is at fault if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury is less than 50%. If the plaintiff’s fault level reaches 50% or more, he or she cannot recover any damages resulting from the accident.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
In Illinois, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a misdemeanor offense. If you are 21 years or older, if you have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of .08% or higher while driving, Illinois law presumes you are driving under the influence. Illinois has enhanced penalties for DUIs in which your BAC is .16% or greater. If you are under 21, a lower BAC may apply to you.
1st DUI
You will automatically have your license suspended for a minimum of 1 year. You can be sentenced for up to 1 year in jail. Your vehicle registration will be suspended for a year. Fines can vary from up to $2500.00. If convicted of a DUI with a BAC of .16% or greater, you may be fined an additional $500.00 and be required to complete 100 hours of community service. An ignition interlock device may be ordered on your car after license and vehicle registration suspensions are completed. A SR-22 is required for restoration of license after suspension.
2nd DUI
You will automatically have your license suspended for a minimum of 5 years. You can be sentenced for up to 1 year in jail, with 5 days mandatory or 240 hours of community service. Your vehicle registration will be suspended. Fines can vary from up to $2500.00. If convicted of a DUI with a BAC of .16% or greater, you may be fined an additional $1250.00 and may have additional jail time imposed. An ignition interlock device may be ordered on your car after license and vehicle registration suspensions are completed. A SR-22 is required for restoration of license after suspension.
Top Ten Car Insurance Companies in Illinois
In Illinois, the top ten of auto insurance companies ranked by market share looks as follows:
- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
- Allstate Insurance Company
- American Family Mutual Insurance Company
- Country Mutual Insurance Company
- Illinois Farmers Insurance Company
- Geico General Insurance
- Progressive
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
- Travelers Insurance
- Farmers Mutual
