- Driving without insurance is illegal in every state in the country and will cost you hefty fines and inability to drive due to driver’s license suspension
- Illinois is an at-fault state where the driver who causes a collision will be held responsible for property or physical injuries to the victim
- Besides the fines and license suspension, people who have uninsured vehicle violation on their record will pay more on insurance
- To get the best insurance policy possible, extensive research should be done, and dozens of companies should be compared
Driving in Illinois is a privilege enjoyed by over 8 million people who reside there. These individuals have seen all the requirements and strict rules that one must follow to avoid legal issues.
After all, it is no secret that irresponsible on-the-road behavior can lead you to jail and cost thousands of dollars.
An example of driver’s irresponsibility is operating an uninsured vehicle, something that is forbidden by the federal and state law in Illinois. So, why exactly do you need insurance that is deemed necessary by the people in power to create and pass laws?
If you are uninsured and need affordable car insurance, enter your ZIP code above and compare at least three to four policies today!
The Purpose of Car Insurance
Before answering this question, it seems more appropriate to define what a car insurance policy is. Purchasing an insurance policy is mandatory, because this is the primary financial protection of any person operating a motor vehicle.
What that means is that those that pay their monthly coverage, although they may never get any use out of it, will have something to fall back on in case of an accident.
One of the purposes of the policy, therefore, is to protect drivers who might be at-fault in an accident.
Since the victim may sue the guilty party for monetary compensation, insurance companies will often be the ones paying the costs. Furthermore, property damage to your vehicle will usually be covered by that same insurance policy you have regularly been paying.
Do not confuse the insurance policy for regular maintenance, however. No provider will allow a driver to simply bill them for every oil change or tire rotation. These are wear-and-tear costs not under the jurisdiction of insurance companies.
Minimum Requirements in Illinois
State-to-state insurance laws vary, which is why some people will have to pay a lot more for their coverage. In Illinois, the minimum requirements for an auto liability coverage are as follows:
- $20,000 for the injury or death of one person (yourself, a passenger, another driver, pedestrian, etc.)
- $40,000 for the injury or death of more than one person in a single accident
- $15,000 for property damage
- Mandatory uninsured motorist coverage
People will have to buy insurance that must meet these thresholds at least.
Illinois is an at-fault state where drivers who caused the accident will be the ones paying for the damages. It is, therefore, critical for drivers to obtain coverage that meets the aforementioned standards.
It may seem counterintuitive to feel scared about getting caught driving without insurance as long as you are driving safely. But technology has enabled the authorities in the United States to have a closer look at any wrongdoings that might be taking place.
Therefore, say hello to license plate scanners! These devices are now actively used by federal, state, and local governments to keep a close tab on what millions of American might be doing.
It is true that a police officer must have probable cause to detain you at any time, but if they scan your vehicle and find out that your car has not been insured, they just got probable cause to initiate a traffic stop.
What happens if you get caught driving without insurance?
If for some reason you are caught red-handed with a vehicle that is uninsured, you are looking at pretty severe consequences. In the best-case scenario where this is only the first or second time you were caught, you are looking at:
- A fine anywhere from $500 to 1,000
- License suspension for three months
- A reinstatement fee of $100
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K95VFM1B0t8
If you have not learned your lesson and this is the third or fourth time you are caught, you will:
- Pay a flat fine of $1,000
- Get your license suspended for three months
- Pay another $100 to reinstate it after 90 days
If you think that you can keep driving that same vehicle, operating an uninsured vehicle on a suspended license will add another six months of suspension.
Also, as of January of 2012, the state of Illinois created another law about this issue — if you are caught for a third or subsequent offense that causes vehicle damage or personal injury to another person, you will have to pay a $2,500 fine.
— Towing
As of 2017, driving without insurance can be grounds for getting your vehicle towed. The following two scenarios apply:
- You are pulled over by police and are not carrying car insurance
- You have been convicted of driving without insurance in the past 12 months
Then, you will have to go through more fees to get your vehicle out of the impound, and these costs rack up fast.
— Other Side Effects of Driving Without Insurance
Even though there are many consequences mentioned, this is not where it ends.
Drivers who have a violation of this nature on their record are looking at skyrocketing insurance premiums and will be deemed as high-risk drivers that bring additional liability to the company.
To combat potential costs that might arise if the driver makes another violation, the insurance companies will charge that driver hefty rates to get the money from them ahead of time.
Do Not Let Your Insurance Policy Lapse!
When you fail to pay your insurance premium, your policy will become invalid, which is known as the policy lapsing for a non-excusable reason.
If you are lucky, you may be able to get your coverage back for the same rate if your company has what is called a grace period; if not, which is often the case, you will have to pay pricy reinstatement fees, and your premiums might rise.
An example of how a policy lapses is when you do not get your paycheck until Monday and your premium was due on Friday. Even though you are only two days late, your policy has become invalid due to inability to make a payment on time.
Also, if you keep violating traffic laws and getting into accidents that are your fault, your insurance company may drop you entirely, and you will have no policy with them anymore.
To ensure you are not in this situation, here are some tips that might help:
- Pay your insurance on time or early
- Drive safely and avoid getting citations
- Communicate with the insurance company about any changes or issues
If you are a first-time driver and none of these problems sound familiar, or if you have to look for a new insurance provider because you got dropped from your current one, there is a simple solution. Utilize online shopping to find the best quote and coverage.
There are hundreds of insurance companies in the United States, all of them competing with each other. The competition is done by undermining one another’s rates and options by offering something cheaper.
By looking at many providers, you can make an educated decision on what is the best alternative to go with.
To save time and multitask through this research, you can take advantage of online websites that offer multi-company comparisons. Here, all the rates, applicable charges, deductibles, special-case considerations, and more will be listed.
Drivers can rely on these websites to show them hours worth of research data that will ease their process!
Looking to save on auto insurance? Try our FREE online quote tool and start comparison shopping today by entering your ZIP code below!