Crashes, insurance and registration in Illinois

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list the steps to take at a crash scene.
• You can explain when an Illinois crash report must be filed.
• You can state the minimum liability insurance limits in Illinois.
• You can describe what happens if you drive without insurance.
• You can explain how a vehicle is titled and registered after you buy it.

What you need to know and understand

• A crash report must be filed if anyone is killed or injured, or property damage is more than $1,500 ($500 if any vehicle involved is uninsured).
• The Rules of the Road says a driver has 30 minutes to report a crash; failure to report can bring a fine of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail.
• Minimum liability insurance is $25,000 for one person's injury or death, $50,000 for more than one person, and $20,000 for property damage.
• Proof of insurance must be carried in the vehicle or on you, and an electronic insurance card on a phone is accepted.
• A conviction for driving uninsured brings a suspension of at least three months and a $100 reinstatement fee, with no driving permit available.
• Registration must be renewed every year; passenger vehicles pay $151, plus a $20 late fee if renewed more than a month late.
• Illinois passenger vehicles display two plates, and plates stay with the owner when a car is sold.

At the scene of a crash

If you hit an unattended car or property, stop away from traffic, leave your name, address, phone number and plate number, notify police and file any required report. Leaving the scene of a crash where someone was hurt or killed leads to criminal charges and license revocation.

1. Stop in a safe, well-lit public place that does not block traffic, if you can.
2. Help anyone who is injured if needed or asked.
3. Call 911 straight away.
4. Warn other drivers with your hazard flashers, and flares if you have them.
5. Swap names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers and plate numbers with everyone involved.
6. Make the police report. If no officer comes, report at the nearest police station; in rural areas contact the county sheriff or Illinois State Police.

Insurance and financial responsibility

All vehicles driven in Illinois must have liability insurance at or above the 25/50/20 minimums. Owners affirm the car is insured when they register or renew, and the SOS runs random computer checks. Driving uninsured can bring fines, suspension of your license and registration, and trouble renewing plates.

If you are at fault in a crash without insurance, the Safety Responsibility Law can require you to post security to cover damages. Some drivers, including those convicted of DUI, must file proof of financial responsibility (an SR-22 from an insurer) and keep it for years.

Title, registration and plates

• Buying from a dealer: the dealer sends the title application and fees to the SOS within 20 days.
• Buying privately: the SOS must receive your application, the signed title, fees and Vehicle Use Tax within 20 days.
• You may get a Temporary Registration Permit valid for 90 days, displayed where the rear plate goes.
• Keep the registration ID card in the vehicle or with you when driving.
• Display a plate on the front and the rear; plate covers are not allowed.
• Certain vehicles in Cook, DuPage and Lake counties, and parts of Kane, Kendall, McHenry, Will, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties, must pass an emissions test before registration can be renewed.

Common mistakes

• Driving away from a minor bump in a parking lot without leaving your details. You must leave your information and notify police.
• Keeping your insurance card at home. You must be able to show proof of insurance when an officer asks.
• Leaving the plates on a car you sold. In Illinois the plates belong to you, not the vehicle.
• Forgetting the annual registration renewal. A $20 late fee applies after one month.

Test yourself: Crashes, insurance and registration in Illinois

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Sharing the Road in Illinois and What to Do After a Crash
• Owning a car, keeping and losing your license in Illinois
• Illinois safe driving rules, emergencies and required car equipment