Illinois Compiled Statutes
215 ILCS 5/121 (2026)
Transacting business without certificate of authority prohibited
✓ current as of May 2026
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(215 ILCS 5/121)
(from Ch. 73, par. 733)
Sec. 121.
Transacting business without certificate of authority prohibited.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any company to enter into a contract of
insurance as an insurer or to transact insurance business in this State,
without a certificate of authority from the Director; provided that this
subsection shall not apply to contracts procured by agents under the
authority of section 445, nor to contracts of reinsurance.
(2) The following acts, if performed in this State, shall be included
among those deemed to constitute transacting insurance business in this
State:
(a) maintaining an agency or office where contracts are executed which
are or purport to be contracts of insurance with citizens of this or any
other State;
(b) maintaining files or records of contracts of insurance; or
(c) receiving payment of premiums for contracts of insurance.
(3) Any company that violates any of the provisions of subsections (1)
and (2) of this section shall be guilty of a business offense and shall be
required to pay a penalty of not less than $100 nor more
than $1000 for each offense, to be recovered in the name of
the People of the State of Illinois by the State's Attorney of the county
in which the violation occurs and the penalty so recovered shall be paid
into the county treasury. Each day in which a violation occurs shall
constitute a separate offense.
(4) The failure of a company to obtain a certificate of authority shall
not impair the validity of any act or contract of such company and shall
not prevent such company from defending any action
in any court of this State, but no company transacting insurance business
in this State without a certificate of authority shall be permitted to
maintain an action in any court of this State to
enforce any right, claim or demand arising out of the transaction of such
business until such company shall have obtained a certificate of authority.
Nor shall an action be maintained in any court of this
State by any successor or assignee of such company on any such right, claim
or demand originally held by such company until a certificate of authority
shall have been obtained by such company or by a company which has acquired
all or substantially all of its assets.
(Source: P.A. 83-345.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases, 1995–2006 · leading case: Gen. Ins. Co. of Am. v. Robert B. McManus, Inc., 650 N.E.2d 1080 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995).
Gen. Ins. Co. of Am. v. Robert B. McManus, Inc., 650 N.E.2d 1080 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). “That section, now section 121 — 4 (215 ILCS 5/121 — 4 (West 1992)), concerns unauthorized insurance companies and provides, in part: "If any such unauthorized insurer fails to pay any claim or loss within the provisions of such an insurance contract, any person who assisted or…”
Daniels v. Bursey, 313 F. Supp. 2d 790 (N.D. Ill. 2004). “We agree with Defendants that Plaintiffs cannot sue Defendants under 215 ILCS 5/121 for operating an insurance business without a license, because there is no private right of action.”
Homeward Bound Servs., Inc. v. Illinois Dep't of Ins., 365 Ill. App. 3d 267 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006). “, was conducting insurance business and was thus subject to the Illinois Insurance Code (Code) (215 ILCS 5/121 et seq. (West 2002)). Since Homeward Bound did not have the requisite insurance certificate, the Department issued a cease and desist order.”
Am. Deposit Corp. v. Schacht, 84 F.3d 834 (7th Cir. 1996). “It should be noted that if this state regulation is not legitimately classified as “insurance business” under 215 ILCS 5/121 (forbidding transaction of “insurance business” in Illinois by companies not possessing an Illinois certificate of authority), the Illinois Insurance Code…”
Am. Deposit Corp. v. Schacht, 84 F.3d 834 (7th Cir. 1996). “See infra section IV 3 It should be noted that if this state regulation is not legitimately classified as "insurance business" under 215 ILCS 5/121 (forbidding transaction of "insurance business" in Illinois by companies not possessing an Illinois certificate of authority), the…”
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