The main types of car insurance coverage address different problems: injuries or damage you cause to others, damage to your own vehicle, and injuries involving uninsured drivers. Start with Illinois requirements, then consider your vehicle, loan agreement, budget, and transportation needs. A policy called “full coverage” still has limits and exclusions.
Illinois Drivers Insurance shops multiple carriers to help you compare auto insurance coverage and look for savings. We help good drivers and drivers with tickets or accidents understand their choices. Ask us to compare the same limits and deductibles so you can see what each price buys.
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Which coverage does Illinois require?
Illinois minimum liability limits are $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is also required at minimum limits of $25,000/$50,000. Driving without insurance is illegal in Illinois, and drivers must carry proof of coverage at all times. Higher uninsured motorist limits trigger an underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage requirement. Collision and comprehensive are not required by Illinois law, although your lender may require them under its financing agreement.
Ask the agent to separate state requirements from lender requirements and optional protection. Meeting the legal minimum does not mean every accident cost will be covered. Review the limits you would have available if several people were injured or an expensive vehicle were damaged.
Liability insurance: injury and damage claims by others
Liability coverage includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage coverage for covered losses you cause to others. It does not repair your own car. Think of liability as protection against covered claims made against you and the financial liability that can follow a car accident that injures someone or damages property, rather than protection for everything you own.
When comparing quotes, ask what each number means, what coverage limit applies, whether higher limits are available, and how much the premium changes. Describe the household drivers and how the vehicles are used. An accurate application helps the insurer evaluate the coverage you actually need.
Collision coverage: crash damage to your vehicle
Collision coverage, also called collision insurance, helps pay for covered damage to your car from a crash with a vehicle or object, subject to your deductible and policy terms. The insurer’s valuation and settlement rules matter if the vehicle is a total loss. Do not assume a policy will pay the original purchase price, since the settlement is typically based on the vehicle’s actual cash value.
A deductible is your share of a covered loss. For a simple illustration, an approved $4,000 repair with a $500 deductible would leave $3,500 for the insurer to pay, assuming the policy covers the entire repair amount. This is an example, not a claim estimate.
Ask for more than one deductible option and compare the premium difference with what you could pay after an accident. A lower monthly price may be less useful if the deductible would prevent you from getting the car repaired.
Comprehensive coverage: theft, weather, and other losses
Comprehensive coverage addresses covered non-collision events such as theft, fire, hail, vandalism, and natural disasters. It is different from collision coverage. Check the deductible and any special glass provisions rather than assuming every damage claim works the same way.
Ask how the insurer handles a stolen vehicle, glass damage, or a weather loss. If your car is financed or leased, review the contract before dropping physical damage coverage. For an older paid-off vehicle, compare its actual cash value, the premium, and the amount you could afford to replace yourself.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist protection
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage addresses covered injuries involving an uninsured at-fault driver or hit-and-run driver. Underinsured motorist coverage addresses qualifying injuries when the at-fault driver’s liability limits are lower than your underinsured motorist bodily injury limits. Ask the agent to explain how the limits interact. These injury coverages should not be confused with protection for damage to your car.
Ask separately about uninsured motorist property damage. Illinois guidance describes it as optional protection for vehicle damage caused by an identified, at-fault uninsured driver. Check its terms and deductible, and compare it with collision coverage so you understand how the coverage protects you from out-of-pocket costs when the other driver cannot pay. Do not assume it handles an unidentified hit-and-run in the same way.
Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage can help pay covered medical bills or medical costs after a car accident, regardless of fault. Ask about the limit, who is protected, and how the coverage coordinates with other benefits. Personal injury protection (PIP) is a different coverage used in other states; its benefits depend on state law and the policy. Illinois shoppers should not assume personal injury protection rules from no-fault insurance laws apply to their policy, though PIP is commonly required in no-fault states.
Consider the practical question: if you or a passenger needed care after an accident, what coverage might respond and what medical expenses could remain? MedPay can also supplement health insurance for immediate accident-related care. Have the agent explain the choices instead of selecting a limit solely because it appears in a default quote.
Gap coverage for a financed or leased car
Gap insurance may address an eligible difference between a total-loss settlement based on actual cash value and the remaining car loan or lease balance. Its exclusions and limits matter most for newer financed vehicles whose value may drop faster than the loan balance. It is not a substitute for collision or comprehensive, and it does not promise to repay every charge included in a loan.
Ask whether you already purchased gap protection through your financing agreement before buying another product. An insurance company may offer it as part of an auto policy or as a separate product. Compare its cost, eligibility, cancellation terms, and treatment of deductibles or other balances. A lender’s requirement for physical damage insurance is not the same as a requirement to purchase gap coverage.
Rental reimbursement and roadside assistance
Rental reimbursement, an optional coverage under a car insurance policy, helps with eligible temporary transportation costs after a covered loss, subject to daily and total limits. It is different from insurance for a car you rent on vacation. Ask when coverage under the insurance policy starts, how long it lasts, and whether the limit would cover a suitable replacement vehicle.
Roadside or towing coverage is another separate option. Optional add-on coverages often include roadside assistance as well as rental reimbursement. Check the service limits, geographic restrictions, and whether you already have similar benefits elsewhere. Buying overlapping benefits does not necessarily increase the amount available for one event.
What does “full coverage” actually mean?
People often use “full coverage car insurance” to describe liability plus comprehensive and collision, and many drivers use the label this way when comparing car insurance coverage options. It is an informal label, not a standard promise that all losses are covered. Ask for a written list of coverages, limits, deductibles, drivers, vehicles, and endorsements under the auto policy.
Explain any delivery, ridesharing, or business use before buying. Ask about rideshare insurance or other appropriate protection before using your vehicle for app-based work; personal and platform policies may apply differently during each stage of a trip. Also identify regular drivers and household members. Questions about borrowing a car are covered in our guide to whether insurance follows the car or the driver.
Compare coverage and price together
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Use the same drivers, vehicles, and effective date for each quote. You choose coverages, pay premiums, and report a claim when a covered loss occurs.
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Match liability coverage limits and uninsured motorist limits before comparing prices.
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Match comprehensive and collision deductibles.
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Check optional benefits, restrictions, lender requirements, and what each insurance company includes.
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Review the total premium, initial payment, installment fees, and discounts.
Ask about discounts you qualify for, but compare the final price rather than the advertised percentage. Good driving, eligible multi-car arrangements, or other circumstances may affect available options. A claim or renewal can change the premium; no guide can promise that rates will never rise after a particular accident.
If the state requires an SR-22, tell the agent before purchasing and read our Illinois SR-22 explanation. The filing is separate from selecting the coverages and limits that fit your needs.
Illinois Drivers Insurance can help you review available carriers, compare costs, and choose among suitable coverage options. Have your current declarations page handy if you are switching companies, and confirm the replacement effective date before ending existing coverage.
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Car insurance coverage questions
Does liability insurance cover repairs to my car?
No. Liability addresses covered injury or property damage claims by others. Ask about collision, comprehensive, and any applicable uninsured motorist property damage protection for your vehicle.
Is comprehensive insurance required in Illinois?
Illinois law does not require comprehensive coverage, but a lender or leasing company may require it under your agreement.
Is uninsured motorist coverage optional in Illinois?
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is required. Uninsured motorist property damage is a different, optional coverage. Ask the agent to explain both on your quote.
Is a higher deductible always better?
No. A higher deductible may reduce the premium, but it increases your share of a covered loss. Compare the savings with what you could realistically pay.
Does rental reimbursement insure a vacation rental car?
Rental reimbursement addresses eligible transportation expenses after a covered loss to your insured car. Ask separately about coverage for a vehicle you rent for a trip.
Reviewed October 7, 2026. Sources: Illinois Department of Insurance shopping guide and NAIC auto insurance guidance. Coverage depends on the policy and claim facts.
