ILCS » Chapter 625 · Act 5
Illinois Compiled Statutes

625 ILCS 5/7-601 (2026)

Required liability insurance policy

✓ current as of May 2026
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(625 ILCS 5/7-601) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 7-601)
    Sec. 7-601. Required liability insurance policy.
    (a) No person shall operate, register or maintain registration of, and no owner shall permit another person to operate, register or maintain registration of, a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway in this State unless the motor vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy.
    The insurance policy shall be issued in amounts no less than the minimum amounts set for bodily injury or death and for destruction of property under Section 7-203 of this Code, and shall be issued in accordance with the requirements of Sections 143a and 143a-2 of the Illinois Insurance Code, as amended. No insurer other than an insurer authorized to do business in this State shall issue a policy pursuant to this Section for any vehicle subject to registration under this Code. Nothing herein shall deprive an insurer of any policy defense available at common law.
    (b) The following vehicles are exempt from the requirements of this Section:
        (1) vehicles subject to the provisions of Chapters 8
    
or 18a, Article III or Section 7-609 of Chapter 7, or Sections 12-606 or 12-707.01 of Chapter 12 of this Code;
        (2) vehicles required to file proof of liability
    
insurance with the Illinois Commerce Commission;
        (3) vehicles covered by a certificate of
    
self-insurance under Section 7-502 of this Code;
        (4) vehicles owned by the United States, the State of
    
Illinois, or any political subdivision, municipality or local mass transit district;
        (5) implements of husbandry;
        (6) other vehicles complying with laws which require
    
them to be insured in amounts meeting or exceeding the minimum amounts required under this Section; and
        (7) inoperable or stored vehicles that are not
    
operated, as defined by rules and regulations of the Secretary.
    (c) Every employee of a State agency, as that term is defined in the Illinois State Auditing Act, who is assigned a specific vehicle owned or leased by the State on an ongoing basis shall provide the certification described in this Section annually to the director or chief executive officer of his or her agency.
    The certification shall affirm that the employee is duly licensed to drive the assigned vehicle and that (i) the employee has liability insurance coverage extending to the employee when the assigned vehicle is used for other than official State business, or (ii) the employee has filed a bond with the Secretary of State as proof of financial responsibility, in an amount equal to, or in excess of the requirements stated within this Section. Upon request of the agency director or chief executive officer, the employee shall present evidence to support the certification.
    The certification shall be provided during the period July 1 through July 31 of each calendar year, or within 30 days of any new assignment of a vehicle on an ongoing basis, whichever is later.
    The employee's authorization to use the assigned vehicle shall automatically be rescinded upon:
        (1) the revocation or suspension of the license
    
required to drive the assigned vehicle;
        (2) the cancellation or termination for any reason of
    
the automobile liability insurance coverage as required in item (c)(i); or
        (3) the termination of the bond filed with the
    
Secretary of State.
    All State employees providing the required certification shall immediately notify the agency director or chief executive officer in the event any of these actions occur.
    All peace officers employed by a State agency who are primarily responsible for prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal, traffic, or highway laws of this State, and prohibited by agency rule or policy to use an assigned vehicle owned or leased by the State for regular personal or off-duty use, are exempt from the requirements of this Section.
    (d) No person shall operate a motor vehicle registered in another state upon the highways of this State unless the vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy. The operator of the vehicle shall carry within the vehicle evidence of the insurance.
(Source: P.A. 100-202, eff. 1-1-18; 100-828, eff. 1-1-19.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 66 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: Progressive Universal Ins. v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins., 828 N.E.2d 1175 (Ill. 2005).
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Progressive Universal Ins. v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins., 828 N.E.2d 1175 (Ill. 2005). · cites it 6× “Section 7-601 of the Vehicle Code provides, in pertinent part: "No person shall operate * * * a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway unless the motor vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy.”
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Burke, 2016 IL App (2d) 150462 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “State Farm argues that Illinois public policy regarding uninsured motorist coverage as is relevant to this case is embodied in sections 143a and 143a-2 of the Insurance Code (215 ILCS 5/143a, 143a-2 (West 2010)) and in section 7- 601(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS…”
Thounsavath v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2018 IL 122558 (Ill. 2018). · cites it 2× “¶ 10 The appellate court noted that, under section 7-601(a) of the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law (Financial Responsibility Law) ( 625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 2012) ), a part of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Vehicle Code), no one may operate a motor vehicle…”
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Universal Underwriters Ins. Co., 735 N.E.2d 1032 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 3× “In Griffin, the First District Appellate Court held that section 7-601(a) of the Code (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 1996)), establishes the minimum amount of insurance that a car dealership must provide its test drivers.”
Fuller v. Snyder, 752 N.E.2d 1212 (Ill. App. Ct. 2001). · cites it 4× “Universal asserts that the phrase in its policy, "minimum limits provision law," unambiguously refers to the mandatory insurance provision of section 7-601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Code) (625 ILCS 5/7-601 (West 1998)), which references the following limits in section 7-203…”
People v. Nash, 947 N.E.2d 350 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 2× “No person shall operate a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway unless the vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a), 3-707(a) (West 2008)), and every operator of such a motor vehicle shall carry within the vehicle evidence of…”
Zurich Am. Ins. v. Key Cartage, Inc., 923 N.E.2d 710 (Ill. 2009). · cites it 3× “We noted, however, that section 7-317(b)(2) of the Financial Responsibility Law defines a motor vehicle liability policy as one which "shall insure the person named therein and any other person using or responsible for the use of such motor vehicle or vehicles with the express…”
Thounsavath v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2018 IL 122558 (Ill. 2018). · cites it 2× “¶ 10 The appellate court noted that, under section 7-601(a) of the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law (Financial Responsibility Law) (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 2012)), a part of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Vehicle Code), no one may operate a motor vehicle or…”
Steinberg v. Universal UnderWriters Ins., 650 N.E.2d 14 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “There is a difference between a policy which insures certain vehicles and those who operate them, and a policy which insures certain drivers and the vehicles they operate.”
Grinnell Mut. Reinsurance Co. v. Haight, 697 F.3d 582 (7th Cir. 2012). “See 625 ILCS 5/7-601 (a); 625 ILCS 5/7-317(b)(2); Schultz v.”
Nelson v. Artley, 2015 IL 118058 (Ill. 2015). · cites it 3× “¶ 14 Section 7-601(a) of the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 2010)) mandates liability insurance coverage for automobiles and other motor vehicles designed to be used on a public highway.”
Direct Auto Ins. Co. v. Merx, 2020 IL App (2d) 190050 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “Subject to certain exceptions not pertinent here, section 7-601(a) of the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law (Financial Responsibility Law) (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 2014)), which is part of the Illinois Vehicle Code, requires liability insurance coverage…”
Show all 66 citing cases →
— 625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) — 49 cases
Progressive Universal Ins. v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins., 828 N.E.2d 1175 (Ill. 2005). “Section 7-601 of the Vehicle Code provides, in pertinent part: "No person shall operate * * * a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway unless the motor vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy.”
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Burke, 2016 IL App (2d) 150462 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). “State Farm argues that Illinois public policy regarding uninsured motorist coverage as is relevant to this case is embodied in sections 143a and 143a-2 of the Insurance Code (215 ILCS 5/143a, 143a-2 (West 2010)) and in section 7- 601(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS…”
Thounsavath v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2018 IL 122558 (Ill. 2018). “¶ 10 The appellate court noted that, under section 7-601(a) of the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law (Financial Responsibility Law) ( 625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 2012) ), a part of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Vehicle Code), no one may operate a motor vehicle…”
People v. Nash, 947 N.E.2d 350 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011). “No person shall operate a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway unless the vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a), 3-707(a) (West 2008)), and every operator of such a motor vehicle shall carry within the vehicle evidence of…”
Thounsavath v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2018 IL 122558 (Ill. 2018). “¶ 10 The appellate court noted that, under section 7-601(a) of the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law (Financial Responsibility Law) (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 2012)), a part of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Vehicle Code), no one may operate a motor vehicle or…”
— 625 ILCS 5/7-601(b) — 6 cases
Progressive Universal Ins. v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins., 828 N.E.2d 1175 (Ill. 2005). “Section 7-601 of the Vehicle Code provides, in pertinent part: "No person shall operate * * * a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway unless the motor vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy.”
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Universal Underwriters Ins. Co., 735 N.E.2d 1032 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). “In Griffin, the First District Appellate Court held that section 7-601(a) of the Code (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 1996)), establishes the minimum amount of insurance that a car dealership must provide its test drivers.”
Nelson v. Artley, 2015 IL 118058 (Ill. 2015). “¶ 14 Section 7-601(a) of the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 2010)) mandates liability insurance coverage for automobiles and other motor vehicles designed to be used on a public highway.”
Nelson v. Artley, 2015 IL 118058 (Ill. 2015).
Nelson v. Artley, 2015 IL 118058 (Ill. 2015).
— 625 ILCS 5/7-601(b)(2) — 1 case
Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Key Cartage, Inc. (Ill. App. Ct. 2008).
— 625 ILCS 5/7-601(b)(3) — 2 cases
Nelson v. Artley, 2014 IL App (1st) 121681 (Ill. App. Ct. 2014).
Nelson v. Artley, 2014 IL App (1st) 121681 (Ill. App. Ct. 2014).
— 625 ILCS 5/7-601(b)(6) — 7 cases
Zurich Am. Ins. v. Key Cartage, Inc., 923 N.E.2d 710 (Ill. 2009). “We noted, however, that section 7-317(b)(2) of the Financial Responsibility Law defines a motor vehicle liability policy as one which "shall insure the person named therein and any other person using or responsible for the use of such motor vehicle or vehicles with the express…”
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Universal Underwriters Ins. Co., 735 N.E.2d 1032 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). “In Griffin, the First District Appellate Court held that section 7-601(a) of the Code (625 ILCS 5/7-601(a) (West 1996)), establishes the minimum amount of insurance that a car dealership must provide its test drivers.”
Nat'l Interstate Ins. Co. v. Moore (C.D. Ill. 2024).
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Hertz Claim Mgmt. Corp. (Ill. App. Ct. 2003).
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (Ill. App. Ct. 2008).
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