All drivers should carry insurance, both for safety reasons and to avoid harsh state penalties. In Illinois, a minimum of bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist insurance must be carried by all drivers. Of course, there are still some folks who don't abide by the law. 

An Illinois independent insurance agent can help you get equipped with all the car insurance you need, past your state's required minimums. They'll even get you covered long before it's time to file a claim. But first, here's a closer look at what happens if you drive without insurance in Illinois. 

What Are the Car Insurance Requirements in Illinois? 

Like all other states, Illinois has its own car insurance requirements. Drivers in Illinois must carry the following coverages before they're legally allowed to operate a vehicle on the road:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident
• Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person; $50,000 per accident

An Illinois independent insurance agent can help you get equipped with your state's minimum requirements for car insurance, plus any additional coverage you need to feel safe behind the wheel.

What Are the Penalties for Driving without Insurance in Illinois?

Despite Illinois's state minimum requirements for car insurance, there are still a good number of drivers on the road without any or enough coverage. In fact, a reported 13.7% of drivers in Illinois are uninsured, which is higher than the national average of 13%.

Driving without coverage in Illinois comes with serious consequences. Check out the table below for Illinois's penalties for driving without car insurance. 

How Does Illinois Differ from Neighboring States?

Illinois's neighboring states have minimum coverage requirements of their own, as well as individual penalties for driving without insurance. Iowa requires drivers to carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage at a minimum, and penalizes drivers with a $250 fine or community service on their first offense of driving without insurance.

Indiana also requires bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage at a minimum for all drivers. Drivers can be penalized by a $250 fine and reinstatement fee, as well as have their licenses suspended on their first violation of driving without insurance. So in contrast to its neighboring states, Illinois's penalties for driving without insurance are a bit harsher.

What Does Car Insurance Cover in Illinois?

What your car insurance covers will depend on which type of policy you get. Here's a look at the state's minimum coverage requirements for starters.

• Bodily injury liability: Covers injuries that the policyholder and other family members listed on the policy cause to a third party in an accident.
• Property damage liability: Covers property damage to a third party caused by the policyholder or someone driving their car with permission.
• Uninsured motorist: Covers the policyholder if they get hit by another driver who doesn't carry any or enough coverage of their own, or one who flees the accident scene in a hit-and-run.

If you drive in Illinois, you're required to carry at least these forms of car insurance. An Illinois independent insurance agent can help you get covered before you hit the road, in order to avoid any state penalties. 

What Other Types of Car Insurance Do I Need?

While all states have a minimum set of car insurance requirements, it's important to at least consider adding more coverages to your policy. Additional types of car insurance are designed to protect your vehicle as well as you and your passengers from various disasters. 

The following coverages are often added to car insurance policies:

• Collision: Covers the policyholder's car in the event of a collision, such as with another vehicle or piece of property. 
• Comprehensive: Covers the policyholder's vehicle against various disasters other than collision such as fire, theft, vandalism, storm damage, windshield breakage, and collisions with large animals. 
• Personal injury protection: Covers the policyholder's injuries, as well as injuries to their passengers, after an accident.

Your Illinois independent insurance agent can help recommend all the additional coverages you might benefit from adding to your state minimum required car insurance. 

How Do You Get Car Insurance in Illinois?

Getting car insurance in Illinois is easy, especially if you work with an independent insurance agent. Illinois independent insurance agents can shop and compare multiple carriers for you, finding you quality coverage at the most affordable rate. But before that, you can first check out our top picks for car insurance in Illinois.

Best Illinois Car Insurance Companies

How an Illinois Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You

Independent insurance agents are fully equipped to protect drivers against commonly faced disasters. Illinois independent insurance agents shop multiple carriers to find providers who specialize in car insurance. 

They can deliver quotes from a number of different sources and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.