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State minimums

Illinois Auto Insurance Minimums — What the Law Requires and Why It's Often Inadequate

Illinois is one of only a handful of states where UM is statutorily mandatory and cannot be rejected. That mandate is the real safety net.

By PickRV·Cited primary sources·Updated June 5, 2026

TL;DR

Illinois's minimum auto liability is 25/50/20 — $25K per person BI, $50K per accident, $20K property damage — codified at 625 ILCS 5/7-203. UM is mandatory at 25/50 under 215 ILCS 5/143a-2 (no rejection allowed). Illinois is an at-fault state with modified comparative fault (50% bar) under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. Minimums last raised January 1, 2015.

What this covers

Illinois's 25/50/20 BI/PD statutory minimum codified at 625 ILCS 5/7-203 (Vehicle Code Safety and Financial Responsibility).

Mandatory UM minimum of 25/50 per 215 ILCS 5/143a-2 — Illinois is one of the few states where rejection is not permitted.

Illinois Secretary of State's Mandatory Insurance Verification Law — automated database matching of registrations to active policies.

Modified comparative fault rule (50% bar) under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 — claimants 51%+ at-fault recover nothing.

SR-22 / FR-44 filing schedule for FR-violation drivers, with mandatory three-year posting.

What it does NOT cover

Damages exceeding the per-person ($25K) or per-accident ($50K) caps.

Class A / Class B / Class C motorhomes under standard ISO personal auto forms (residence-use exclusion).

Pulled trailers above the carrier's permitted GVWR (typically 3,000 lb on personal auto).

Commercial / livery / peer-to-peer rental use of a personal vehicle.

Medical liens above the statutory health-care services lien cap (770 ILCS 23/10 limits recoveries to 40% of judgment / settlement).

Real-world examples

Anonymized composite scenarios illustrating typical outcomes.

Illinois UM mandate saved $58K hit-and-run recovery

An Illinois driver was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle on I-90 near O'Hare. Medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage totaled $58,000. Because Illinois law forbids UM rejection, the driver's policy carried the statutory 25/50 UM base plus a $100/300 buy-up. UM paid the full $58,000 claim. In a state where UM is rejectable (e.g. Ohio, Texas), a driver who had checked 'reject UM' would have recovered nothing — the hit-and-run vehicle is by definition uncollectible.

Outcome: Recovery: $58K via UM. The Illinois statutory mandate is the only reason the recovery existed at all.

Illinois driver hit the 50% bar and recovered zero

An Illinois driver involved in a four-way intersection collision was found 55% at fault by a Cook County jury (failure to yield combined with speed). Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 modified comparative fault, claimants more than 50% at fault recover nothing — even with $80,000 in documented damages. The defense moved for directed verdict; the court granted it.

Outcome: Recovery: $0. The 50% bar is absolute; 49% gets a 51%-reduced recovery, 51% gets nothing.

Cost ranges

Industry-typical pricing from published carrier and industry sources. Actual quotes vary by state, vehicle, and driver history.

Illinois state-minimum auto premium$900-$2,200/year

Range varies by ZIP (Chicago metro is the high band) and driving record. Source: III state-by-state premium tables.

Illinois UM buy-up from 25/50 to 100/300+$60-$140/year

Carrier-published delta for raising the mandatory UM above statutory floor.

Illinois SR-22 filing fee$15-$25 one-time + premium surcharge

Mandatory three-year posting after FR violation. Source: Illinois Secretary of State driver services.

What insurance companies don't say

Industry insider knowledge surfaced for educational transparency.

UM is mandatory in Illinois — unique among large states

215 ILCS 5/143a-2 makes UM coverage mandatory at the same minimum as BI liability (25/50). Most states allow rejection in writing — Illinois does not. This single statute changes the risk calculus for every Illinois driver. The trade-off is a higher base premium, but every Illinois insured carries the safety net against hit-and-run and uninsured at-fault drivers.

Modified comparative fault — 50% bar is absolute

735 ILCS 5/2-1116 says claimants more than 50% at fault recover nothing. Unlike pure comparative fault states (California, Florida) where a 90% at-fault claimant still recovers 10%, Illinois cuts off recovery at the 50% line. This is a major settlement-leverage factor — defense counsel pushes for 51% to extinguish the claim.

Illinois Mandatory Insurance Verification Law matches every plate

Since 2015, the Illinois Secretary of State runs daily automated matches between registered plates and active liability policies (data flows from carriers under 625 ILCS 5/7-602). Non-matches trigger a 'Verification Notice' demanding response within 30 days. Ignoring it = registration suspension and $100 reinstatement fee.

Illinois caps medical-provider liens at 40% of recovery

770 ILCS 23/10 caps the aggregate of all medical-services liens against an injury settlement at 40% of the gross recovery (or 33⅓% for individual providers). This protects the injured party's net — Illinois personal-injury attorneys factor this cap into every settlement calculation.

Illinois recognizes bad-faith claims under 215 ILCS 5/155

Illinois carriers acting in bad faith face statutory damages of attorney fees + costs + up to 60% of the unpaid amount or $60,000, whichever is greater (215 ILCS 5/155). Document every interaction; preserve adjuster communications.

State variations

ILIllinois

Illinois minimum: 25/50/20 BI/PD + 25/50 mandatory UM. Source: 625 ILCS 5/7-203 + 215 ILCS 5/143a-2. Regulator: Illinois Department of Insurance (idoi.illinois.gov).

FAQ

What are Illinois's auto insurance minimums?

25/50/20 BI/PD — $25K per person bodily injury, $50K per accident bodily injury, $20K property damage — codified at 625 ILCS 5/7-203. Plus mandatory UM at 25/50 under 215 ILCS 5/143a-2. Last raised January 1, 2015.

Why is UM mandatory in Illinois?

The Illinois legislature determined that uninsured-driver protection should be universal, not optional. 215 ILCS 5/143a-2 requires carriers to include UM at policy issuance — and unlike most states, there is no rejection option. The mandate ensures every Illinois insured has recourse against uninsured or hit-and-run drivers.

Is Illinois at-fault or no-fault?

At-fault, with modified comparative fault under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. The at-fault driver's liability carrier pays. Recovery is reduced by the claimant's percentage of fault, but claimants more than 50% at fault recover nothing.

What is the 50% bar?

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, a claimant whose percentage of fault is greater than 50% cannot recover any damages. At exactly 50%, recovery is reduced by 50%. At 51%, recovery is zero. This is the central settlement-leverage rule in Illinois auto litigation.

Does Illinois recognize bad-faith claims?

Yes. 215 ILCS 5/155 provides statutory remedies against carriers acting in bad faith — attorney fees, costs, and up to 60% of the unpaid amount or $60,000 (whichever is greater) in additional damages. Document every claim interaction.

Does my Illinois personal auto policy cover my motorhome?

Usually no. Standard ISO Personal Auto Policy forms exclude motorhomes under the residence-use exclusion. Class A, Class B, and Class C all typically need specialty RV coverage. Pulled trailers above ~3,000 lb GVWR are also commonly outside personal-auto scope.

When to consult a broker

Talk to a licensed Illinois insurance broker before any vehicle insurance purchase and before listing a personal RV on any peer-to-peer marketplace. The 25/50/20 statutory minimum plus mandatory 25/50 UM is the legal floor — adequate protection in Illinois typically requires 100/300/100 BI/PD plus the same on UM/UIM, plus a $1M personal umbrella. Use the NAIC consumer portal at content.naic.org/consumer.htm to verify Illinois agent/broker license numbers through the Illinois Department of Insurance.

Sources

[1]Illinois Department of Insurance — Illinois state insurance regulator + consumer portal
[2]625 ILCS 5/7 — Illinois Vehicle Safety and Financial Responsibility — Statutory minimum liability requirements
[3]215 ILCS 5/143a-2 — Mandatory UM/UIM — Mandatory uninsured-motorist coverage rules
[4]735 ILCS 5/2-1116 — Modified Comparative Fault — 50% bar comparative fault rule
[5]Illinois Secretary of State — Mandatory Insurance Verification — Insurance verification program + SR-22 filing
[6]III — Auto Insurance Basics — Auto insurance coverage definitions
[7]NAIC — Auto Insurance Buyer's Guide — Industry-standard buyer's guide
[8]NAIC — Consumer Insurance Search — Broker license verification + complaint portal

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