If you’ve recently bought a car and are ready to start shopping for coverage, you might ask: What happens if you drive without insurance? In Illinois, driving uninsured is illegal and comes with serious consequences. The risks are steep, from fines to license suspensions and required SR-22 filings. Here's what you need to know.
Common Questions About Driving Without Insurance in Illinois
Driving without insurance in Illinois could result in serious penalties. The answers below address the most common questions about tickets, fines, court appearances, license suspensions, and what happens if you are caught without car insurance.
Is It Illegal to Drive Without Insurance in Illinois?
Yes, it is illegal to drive without insurance in Illinois. Like most states, Illinois requires every vehicle to be covered by liability insurance. This means that whether you're caught in an accident or pulled over in a routine stop, driving without car insurance can result in legal and financial penalties.
Minimum liability insurance requirements in Illinois:
In Illinois, drivers must carry minimum liability insurance coverage, which includes:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
- $20,000 property damage per accident
Failure to maintain this coverage can result in a no-insurance ticket, license suspension, or worse. It is illegal to drive without insurance.
What Happens If You Get Caught Driving Without Insurance?
Getting caught driving without insurance in Illinois can happen in several ways:
- A police officer pulls you over for a traffic stop
- An accident occurs
- The Illinois Insurance Verification System (ILIVS) detects a lapse in coverage
Penalties for driving without insurance include:
- A fine for driving without insurance: $500–$1,000 for a first offense
- A no insurance ticket and citation on your driving record
- License suspension and license plate suspension
- A $100 reinstatement fee to regain driving privileges
- An additional $1,000 fine if your plates were already suspended
- Requirement to file SR-22 insurance in Illinois for up to three years
These are just the consequences for a first offense. Repeat violations carry harsher penalties, longer suspensions, and increased insurance costs.
Can You Go to Jail for Driving Without Insurance in Illinois?
In most cases, the answer is no. Driving without insurance is classified as a petty offense in Illinois and does not carry jail time as a standard penalty. However, that does not mean there are no serious consequences.
If you are caught driving without insurance multiple times or fail to appear in court after receiving a no insurance ticket, your situation may escalate. Judges can impose additional penalties or refer cases for further legal action. While jail time for driving uninsured is rare, repeat violations or noncompliance with court orders could result in harsher outcomes.
What Happens If You Get Into an Accident Without Insurance?
Illinois is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for the accident must pay for damages. If you cause an accident without insurance, you're personally liable for all medical costs, property damage, and legal judgments.
If you're the victim of an accident caused by an uninsured driver, you may:
- Sue the driver in court
- Rely on uninsured motorist coverage if your policy includes it
Either way, driving uninsured opens the door to costly legal and financial fallout.
How To Reinstate Your License and Plates After a No Insurance Violation
If your license or license plates are suspended due to a no insurance ticket in Illinois, you must:
- Provide proof of insurance
- Pay a $100 license reinstatement fee
- File SR-22 insurance in Illinois for mandatory monitoring
Subsequent violations may result in longer suspension periods, higher reinstatement costs, and stricter monitoring.
Can I Drive Someone Else's Car Without Insurance?
You may drive someone else’s car without personal insurance as long as the vehicle itself is insured. In most cases, insurance follows the car, not the driver.
Still, you should:
- Confirm you’re allowed to drive the vehicle under the owner's policy
- Carry proof of insurance in the car
You could be held personally liable if you're involved in an accident and the vehicle's policy does not fully cover the incident.
Get Cheap Auto Insurance or SR-22 Coverage at United Auto Insurance
Avoid unnecessary costs and legal trouble. Whether you need cheap auto or SR22 insurance, United Auto Insurance can help you get covered quickly and affordably. Call 773-202-5000 or use our free auto insurance quote tool today.
NEW - ILIVS Illinois Insurance Verification
ILIVS is a new State program that aims to crack down on uninsured motorists by requiring all drivers to verify their insurance. The goal is to reduce the number of Illinois motorists driving while uninsured. This upgrade to the state’s mandatory insurance verification program began enforcement on July 1, 2021.
Auto insurance is the law in Illinois. If you don’t have it, the new Illinois Insurance Verification System will catch it.
According to Secretary of State Jesse White, “The message is simple: if you don’t have auto insurance, get covered now. It is the law.”
https://www.unitedautoinsurance.com/ilivs-electronic-verification-illinois/