Illinois SR22 Insurance Information

There are a number of reasons why your Illinois driver's license may be suspended requiring you to obtain an Illinois SR22 insurance filing with the Department of Motor Vehicles before they will reinstate your driving privileges or before issuing you a restricted permit including:

• DUI (Driving under the influence)
• Too many moving violations
• Driving on a already suspended license or no license
• Driving without insurance
• Reckless driving
• At fault in a fatal accident
• Failure to pay outstanding tickets, fines, or surcharges
• Parking suspensions
• Failure to pay child support

This is by no means a complete list of the reasons a persons license may be suspended in the state of Illinois but it includes the major reasons for suspension.

What exactly is a Illinois SR22 filing?

Often times an SR22 filing in Illinois is referred to as Illinois SR22 insurance. An SR22 is not really insurance, it is a form that your insurance provider will file on your behalf with the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles. This form is proof of financial responsibility showing that you have taken out an insurance policy with your insurance provider that at minimum meets the state's minimum liability limits.

Illinois minimum liability limits:

• $20,000 for person killed or injured
• $40,000 for person killed or injured, more than one
• $15,000 for property damage

Basically what the form is is an agreement between your insurance provider and the state of Illinois that states that if for any reason during your required SR22 filing period if there is a lapse in your insurance coverage that your insurer is obligated to inform the state of such a lapse. When a lapse in coverage occurs the state will suspended your license and send you a letter informing you of the suspension. You will need to bring your insurance premiums current and re file the SR22 form with the state before being issued another license.

Does Illinois offer a restricted license during the suspension period?

Yes, as long as your suspension was for a reason other than a DUI you will be eligible for a restricted driving permit or RDP. The request for an RDP will be handled through an informal hearing held at any hearing officer location. The informal hearings are held on a walk-in basis.

We suggest that you call ahead to find out if the Hearing Officer on duty is available.

For all DUI offenders you will need to request a formal hearing to see if you are eligible for a MDDP or monitoring device driving permit. It is strongly recommend that you contact an experienced Illinois DUI lawyer to represent you at your formal hearing in order to have the best outcome.

Where are the Illinois Secretary of State Facilities locations?

The Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles has numerous locations throughout the state. To find an office near you please visit the Illinois Secretary of State office locations.

What happens if my Illinois SR22 insurance lapses?

Failure to keep your SR22 insurance in Illinois current will result in your Illinois driver’s license being suspended by the Secretary of State for a second time. If this happens you will need to bring your SR22 insurance premiums current with your insurer and then have them file another SR22 form with the Illinois Secretary of State. On top of that you will have to pay an additional driver’s license reinstatement fee before being issued another license.

If you do not follow the steps outlined above you may face several other consequences. For example:

• If you decide to continue driving on a suspended license and get pulled over you risk additional fines and penalties for driving on a suspended license including having your vehicle impounded.
• Driving without valid proof of insurance also carries a heavy fine in Illinois.

How do I avoid a lapse in my Illinois SR22 insurance coverage?

The easiest way to avoid a lapse in your Illinois SR22 insurance coverage is to start by finding the lowest cost SR22 insurance policy in the state of Illinois from the start. People are often shocked when they get a Illinois SR22 insurance quote from us and see how much they can save over what they had been paying for their SR22 insurance policy. Do yourself a favor and get a quote now and see how much we can help you save on your SR22 insurance in Illinois.