Illinois law requires that all motor vehicles operated in Illinois must be covered by liability insurance. Vehicle liability insurance pays for injuries or damages you may cause with your vehicle to other persons or their property. Vehicle owners are required to provide insurance information at the time of registration renewal. Once the vehicle owner signs the registration or renewal application, he or she affirms the vehicle is properly insured. Some vehicle classes are required to carry higher liability coverage under other laws.

Illinois requires for a personal passenger vehicle one carries Liability limits of 20/40/15. This refers to Bodily Injury Liability limits of $20,000/$40,000, Property Damage Liability limits of $15,000, and Uninsured Motorist coverage so you should keep these state mandated coverages on your vehicles at all times.

If you get caught driving without insurance, you face a fine and suspension of your license plates. You can be penalized for driving without insurance in any vehicle according to the Illinois Division of insurance so before you drive any one's car, be sure there is a valid insurance identification card that you can show law enforcement.

The typical penalty for a first offense of driving without insurance in Illinois is a $500 fine and a 60 day suspension of your registration. The suspension of your vehicle registration will last until a reinstatement fee is submitted for a first offense. Repeat offenders face a 4 month suspension. Your vehicle may not be driven by anyone while its license plates are suspended. The minimum fine for driving a suspended vehicle is $1,000. A $100 reinstatement fee and proof of insurance is required when getting your plates back.

In 2006 IL Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a law increasing penalties for those caught driving without car insurance. This law now suspends the licenses for drivers convicted of driving without car insurance and requires them to pay a $100 fine to reinstate their licenses.

This 2006 law amended existing Illinois Vehicle Code and the Unified Code of Corrections, which penalizes motorists without insurance with a fine of $500 to $1000. Drivers convicted while on suspension for a similar violation will have their licenses suspended for an additional 6 months.

Individuals receiving court supervision for a mandatory insurance citation, or who have been convicted of three or more violations, are required to file financial responsibility insurance (SR-22) for three years. Failure to do so will result in an additional driver’s license suspension.

Through provisions of the IL Safety and Financial Responsibility Law, motorists are held responsible for accident damages both administratively and through the court system. A driver that has been involved in an accident without having valid insurance in many cases is required to file proof of FR through the SR-22 form for a period of 1 to 3 years.

If you fail to pay for the other party's damages you caused then they may take you to court and seek a judgment against your for their repairs. Under this procedure, the person who suffered damages from the uninsured takes action in court and then the court orders the uninsured motorist to satisfy the judgment.

If the judgment is unsatisfied (unpaid) for 30 days, the court can order the IL Secretary of State (SOS) to suspend the individuals driving and registering privileges. The suspension remains in effect until the requirements set forth by the court are met. If the judgment is for $500 or more, FR insurance (SR-22) must be filed for 3 years.

For more information on what penalties you could be facing and what is required of you for being in an accident while driving without insurance you can contact the court listed on your citation (if you were ticketed for being uninsured) and/or check with the Safety and Financial Responsibility Section of the Drivers Services Department of the SOS.

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