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Illinois is an at-fault (tort) state. Drivers must carry at least 25/50/20 in coverage, and the average full-coverage premium is $2,576 a year, 12% below the national average of $2,922. This guide covers what Illinois requires, what drivers pay, the rules on fault, uninsured drivers, penalties, teen drivers and phone use, and how to pay less.
| Minimum coverage | 25/50/20 |
| Fault system | At-fault (tort) |
| Average full coverage | $2,576 a year ($215 a month), 12% below the national average of $2,922 |
| Uninsured drivers | 15.2% (2023), the 17th highest rate of 51 |
| Filing after serious violations | SR-22 |
Illinois requires $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability (Illinois Secretary of State, "Mandatory Insurance"; CarInsurance.com, "US State Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements," updated April 15, 2026).
The minimums are a legal floor, not a recommendation. Property damage limits in particular don't go far when a new car can cost more than the limit to replace, and anything above your limits is your personal responsibility. See how limits and deductibles work and every type of coverage explained.
The average full-coverage premium in Illinois is $2,576 a year, 12% below the national average of $2,922. That makes Illinois the 24th most expensive of 49 (48 states plus D.C.; Alaska and Hawaii aren't in the data) (Experian, "Car Insurance Average Costs by State," published September 9, 2026; full coverage, 12 months to August 2026).
Within Illinois, prices still vary a lot by ZIP code, driving record and car, and 15.2% of drivers on Illinois roads were uninsured in 2023, so the coverage you choose matters as much as the premium.
Your own price depends on your ZIP code, age, driving record, car and coverage. Try our car insurance calculator with Illinois preselected for a personal estimate, and see what determines your car insurance cost.
Illinois uses modified comparative fault with a 51% bar: your damages are reduced by your share of the blame, and you recover nothing if you are more than 50% at fault. (Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, "Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States," updated June 10, 2026)
An estimated 15.2% of Illinois drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 17th highest rate among the 50 states and D.C. (Insurance Research Council, uninsured motorist estimates for 2023, via Insurance Information Institute "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists"). Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when one of them hits you. See coverage types.
Illinois enforces its mandatory insurance law through electronic insurance verification and traffic citations. Insurers report coverage, and vehicles that can't be verified face license-plate suspension. (Illinois Secretary of State, "Mandatory Insurance")
A first-time offender's license plates are suspended until liability insurance is bought and a $100 reinstatement fee is paid online. Repeat offenders serve a four-month plate suspension, and must then buy insurance and pay the $100 fee before the plates are reinstated. A citation for driving uninsured also carries a court fine. (Illinois Secretary of State, "Mandatory Insurance")
A conviction for driving uninsured also follows you into your next policy. In CarInsurance.com's rate analysis, it raised the average full-coverage premium in Illinois from $1,532 to $1,932 a year, an increase of 26% (CarInsurance.com, "Penalty for driving without insurance in every state," updated March 24, 2026; rate analysis).
Beyond the penalties, driving uninsured leaves you personally liable for any damage you cause. See what happens if you drive without car insurance.
Under Illinois's Safety and Financial Responsibility law, an uninsured driver involved in a crash can face suspension and have to file an SR-22 (proof of future financial responsibility) with the Secretary of State. (Illinois Secretary of State, "Safety and Financial Responsibility Law")
Illinois uses graduated driver licensing (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Graduated licensing laws" table):
Adding a teen is usually the biggest single increase in a family's premium. Keeping them on the family policy, a good-student discount and a safe, modest car help most.
A distracted-driving ticket can count against your record and your premium. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Electronic device laws" table)
See how to compare car insurance quotes, or get quotes for your ZIP code.
For questions about a policy, a claim or an insurer's conduct, contact the Illinois Department of Insurance. It handles consumer questions and complaints about insurers in Illinois.
AutoInsuranceQuery editorial team. Last reviewed: September 29, 2026.
