A 3-minute lesson from the Illinois course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Illinois requires every vehicle to carry liability insurance, which pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. If you cause a crash without it, the state can suspend your license and plates until you prove you can pay.
Know the rule
All vehicles operated in Illinois must be covered by liability insurance, which covers injuries or damage to other persons or their property caused by a vehicle crash.
If you're at fault in a crash with death, injury or property damage and have no liability insurance, you must post security (a guarantee of payment). IDOT sets the amount.
If you don't post the security, your license may be suspended until the lawsuit is settled. The vehicle owner's plates and registration may also be suspended.
The suspension lasts until you provide proof of financial responsibility and keep the insurance for three years from the date the proof is first filed.
Your insurance company files the SR-22 directly with the Secretary of State, which monitors your coverage for a period set by law. If the insurance lapses or is canceled, your license is suspended.
An uninsured driver causes a crash that damages another car and doesn't post security. Their license can be suspended until the lawsuit is settled. To get it back, they must file proof (like an SR-22) and keep insurance for three years.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What is the minimum liability coverage required for property damage to another person in a crash?
$10,000
$50,000
$25,000
$20,000
Answer: $20,000
Illinois requires at least $20,000 in coverage for property damage.
A mandatory insurance conviction brings a minimum one-month suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee.
True
False
Answer: False
False. Mandatory insurance convictions carry a minimum three-month loss of driving privileges and a $100 reinstatement fee, with no driving permit available.