Tens of thousands of drivers take to the roads of Chicago every day. The city’s recent economic growth has put an increasing number of people on the roads, leading to Chicago’s 2019 ranking as the second most congested city in the country. With so many vehicles on the streets, it’s important to make sure you’re driving safely and with the proper coverage.
American Auto Insurance offers all the services and solutions that Chicago drivers need to stay properly insured. Whether you’re looking to meet the state’s minimum requirements, get full coverage insurance, or set up SR22 insurance, we can help.
Required Auto Insurance in Chicago
In the state of Illinois, liability insurance is required for all motor vehicles registered and operated in the state. This means that all drivers on the road must have insurance that will at least cover the property damage and injury that others incur if you’re in an accident. The state’s minimum insurance coverage is:
- $20,000 for damage to another person’s property.
- $25,000 for the injury or death of one person in an accident.
- $50,000 for the injury or death of multiple people in an accident.
All drivers must have their insurance card with them when driving. Upon request, you must show this card to any law enforcement officer.
Illinois uses an Electronic Insurance Verification process that checks registered vehicles for coverage. If the system finds that a vehicle does not have coverage, it will check again in 30 days. If the vehicle is found to be uninsured on two consecutive checks, the driver must provide proof of insurance on the date of the verification attempt. If you cannot prove that your vehicle had the proper insurance coverage at that time, the state will suspend your registration.
To reinstate your registration, you must pay a $100 fine and obtain the required liability insurance. There is a minimum $500 fine for operating an uninsured vehicle in Illinois, and a minimum fine of $1,000 for operating an uninsured vehicle with suspended registration.
American Auto Insurance offers both combined single limit liability insurance and split limit liability insurance. This will help you stay in compliance with all the legal auto insurance requirements in this state.
Full Coverage Auto Insurance in Chicago
Full coverage auto insurance goes above and beyond the state’s minimum requirements for Chicago drivers. A full coverage policy includes the liability coverage that’s mandated by law and adds additional coverage. This may include a greater amount of bodily injury liability and property damage liability. It can also add coverage for damage to your own vehicle and for your own personal bodily injury if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver who doesn’t have insurance to pay for your expenses.
As you’re building a full coverage auto insurance policy, you can also add features like collision coverage that will help pay for damages to your vehicle from a wide range of sources including collision with a tree, object, or vehicle. Comprehensive coverage adds protection from other threats like extreme weather conditions, vandalism, or theft. If you have a newer vehicle that has a great deal of value, it’s important to consider the potential expenses that you could face if you were to seriously damage or even total that vehicle.
You should always carry adequate insurance coverage for your vehicle, as you can’t control all of the potential threats that you may encounter on the road. Chicago saw a 14% increase in speeding in 2020. The state of Illinois experienced an 11% increase in fatal car crashes in just the first three months of 2020.
American Auto Insurance can work with you to come up with an insurance plan that provides the coverage you need to protect the investment you’ve made in your vehicle. We can help you assess the value of your vehicle and select a plan that’s uniquely suited to you.
Chicago SR-22 Proof of Auto Insurance
An SR-22 is a certificate that’s required for high-risk drivers. Alternately known as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, this form verifies that the driver has an active car insurance policy that meets the state’s minimum requirements. An SR-22 is not an insurance policy in and of itself. Rather, it’s a means of verifying that an individual is maintaining the mandated insurance in particular situations. Drivers are often required by the state to obtain an SR-22 if they have:
- A conviction for driving under the influence.
- Repeated or serious traffic offenses.
- To reinstate a license that was suspended or revoked.
- Gotten into an at-fault accident without insurance.
The state of Illinois requires all individuals who are under court supervision with an SR-22 to maintain this certificate for at least three years. If your SR-22 expires before the three-year period is up, the state will immediately suspend your driver’s license.
If you’re in need of an SR-22, we can help you set up the appropriate insurance policy and file for your SR-22 certificate. We will also help you maintain this certificate for the required period of time provided that you make all of your insurance payments in full and on time.
How to Handle an Accident in Illinois
Illinois is a “fault” state, which means that the driver at fault in a car accident must pay for the associated expenses. This is different from “no-fault” states, where each driver must handle their own expenses regardless of who caused the accident. If you’re in an accident, you should contact the police to file a report that will establish who is at fault. Exchange insurance information with the other driver so they can contact your insurance company if needed and you can contact theirs.
Whether you’re currently uninsured or you’re simply looking to compare your options and make sure you’re using the best possible auto insurance policy, we can help. Get a free auto insurance quote today to find out what you can save with American Auto Insurance. We can meet your needs for reliable auto insurance and SR-22 certificates in the Chicago area.
We’ve got the auto insurance Chicago drivers need, whether it’s comprehensive full-coverage insurance, or SR22 insurance. Call us at 773-286-3500 to get a quote for auto insurance in Chicago. You can also call to get a quote for SR22 insurance.
If you live in the Chicago area and need affordable car insurance, then contact American Auto Insurance at 773-286-3500.
