Understanding Liability Car Insurance in Illinois: What Drivers Need to Know
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Most states require auto insurance to drive a vehicle on public roadways, and Illinois is no exception. In Illinois, you're required to have liability insurance before you hit the road to protect yourself and other drivers.
But what is liability car insurance in Illinois? We'll cover that, the state minimum coverage amounts, the risks of sticking to minimum insurance coverage, and more below.
Overview of Illinois Liability Car Insurance
Liability auto insurance is a must if you plan on driving on public roadways in Illinois. Without it, you’re putting yourself, other drivers, and your financial life at risk. Though liability car insurance in Illinois doesn’t cover your vehicle in an accident, it does safeguard your other assets. It also protects other people in the accident by paying for repairs and any medical expenses.
What Does Liability Car Insurance in Illinois Cover?
A liability insurance policy takes care of the other party’s financial needs when you're the at-fault party in a car accident, including repairing their vehicle or property damaged in the accident and paying medical bills stemming from injuries the accident caused. These coverages are known as property damage liability and bodily injury liability.
Illinois Minimum Insurance Requirements
The minimum Illinois insurance requirements are:
- Bodily injury liability (BIL): This coverage pays any medical bills for the other parties in an accident if you’re at fault. It also covers funeral expenses if there’s a death in an accident you’re at fault for. Illinois requires a minimum of $25,000 in BIL coverage for one person and $50,000 per accident if more than one person is injured or dies.
- Property damage liability (PDL): This coverage handles the cost of repairing or replacing any property damaged in an accident you’re at fault for. This can be a car, fence, home, and more. Illinois requires at least $20,000 in PDL coverage.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UM): This coverage is a safety net for you if you’re in an accident with a driver who lacks sufficient insurance. In this case, you wouldn’t have to sue the other driver for your medical bills, as your insurance company would pay these. The minimum uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage available in Illinois is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, but you can always opt for more.
Keep in mind that you can always add other coverages on top of Illinois liability insurance requirements to enhance your protection. We’ll dive into the common options for car insurance in Illinois later.
Review the insurance requirements of your state:
The Risks of Carrying Only Minimum Coverage
While carrying minimum liability auto insurance in Illinois keeps you in the state’s good graces, it may not be enough. If you get into an accident and you’re found to be at fault, your insurer will pay the victim's medical and repair expenses up to the coverage you opted for. If you have only the minimum coverage, this is up to $20,000 for property and $25,000 or $50,000 for injuries.
If the crash is severe or the vehicle or property you damaged is expensive to repair, the costs can easily exceed the minimum liability insurance in Illinois. If you hit these coverage caps, the victim may sue you for any remaining balance.
Additional Coverage Options in Illinois
Car insurance companies in Illinois offer a range of optional coverages to help you enhance your protection. These optional coverages can help fill the gaps Illinois minimum liability coverage leaves. In addition, some auto lenders may require them if you financed or leased your vehicle.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage gives you compensation if your vehicle gets damaged in anything other than a collision. This includes fire, hail, flooding, theft, vandalism, and more. This coverage usually includes a deductible ranging from $0 to $1,000, which is how much you pay out of pocket before the insurance kicks in. For example, if a hailstorm did $1,000 in damage and you have a $500 deductible, you’d pay $500, and the insurance would pay the rest.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage compensates you if your vehicle is damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault. So, if you were in a rear-end collision and were at fault, your liability coverage would fix the other party’s vehicle, and collision coverage would pay to fix yours. Like comprehensive coverage, collision coverage has up to a $1,000 deductible.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD)
This covers repairs to your vehicle if an uninsured driver is at fault for the accident. This only covers identified drivers and does not include hit-and-run accidents. State law requires a maximum deductible of $250 for this coverage.
Take Action: Get the Right Car Insurance Today!
Purchasing at least the state minimum car insurance coverage lets you comply with state law and protect your wallet. This prevents you from being prosecuted for driving without insurance, which carries a minimum fine of $500. Keep in mind that you must always carry proof of insurance when you're driving.
EverQuote can help you get the necessary insurance at the lowest cost. Our online tool allows you to compare multiple car insurance quotes at once so you can secure cheap car insurance in Illinois.