When people talk about “full coverage” car insurance in Illinois, they’re really talking about a bundle of protections—not an official insurance product. It’s important to note that even though “full coverage” provides broader protection, it does not cover everything.
Full coverage usually includes liability (which takes care of others if you're at fault), collision (which pays for your own car in a crash), and comprehensive (which handles things like theft, hail, or hitting a deer). While Illinois law only requires liability insurance and uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) protection, full coverage is often a smart move—especially with the state's icy winters, busy urban traffic, and occasional flooding.
You can think of “full coverage car insurance” as an informal term that refers to a combination of different car insurance coverages. It’s an umbrella term used to describe a combination of coverages that provide broader protection than the minimum insurance requirements. It helps cover both damage you cause to others and damage to your own vehicle. While Illinois only requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage, many lenders or leasing companies will insist that you carry full coverage to protect their investment in the vehicle. Note that “full coverage” offers broad but not complete protection.
When it comes to minimum liability insurance, Illinois drivers must have $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage. Illinois drivers may choose to add Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage, which helps pay for medical bills for you and your passengers regardless of who caused the accident.
As we mentioned above, Illinois requires liability coverage for drivers—$25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage. The two different types of liability coverage are:
It’s important to remember that basic liability coverage is designed to pay for injuries or damages you cause to other people and their property if you're at fault in an accident. However, it doesn't cover your own medical bills or damage to your own vehicle, which is why many drivers opt for additional protections like collision and comprehensive coverage.
Beyond the required liability insurance, many drivers in Illinois also opt for medical coverage, which can help pay medical expenses for both you and your passengers. GEICO offers Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage, which helps pay medical bills for you and your passengers after a covered accident, regardless of fault.
Uninsured/Underinsured motorist (UM/UIM/UMPD) coverage is essential for drivers in Illinois, stepping up to protect you if you’re injured or suffer vehicle damage caused by a driver without sufficient insurance. This includes individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or flee the scene of an accident. In these instances, UM/UIM can help you avoid significant out-of-pocket expenses by taking care of two different types of costs:
In Illinois, UMBI coverage is required as part of your auto insurance policy to help protect you if you're hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough coverage.
Beyond medical considerations, many Illinois drivers also choose to include vehicle coverage to protect against damages to their own car. This can include collision coverage, which covers crashes, and comprehensive coverage, which focuses on non-collision incidents.
Despite the name, “full coverage” doesn’t actually cover everything that can happen on the road. It typically includes liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance, which is a solid level of protection— but it won’t cover things like mechanical breakdowns, routine maintenance, rental car coverage if you’re in an accident, emergency road service, or damage from rideshare driving unless you have specific add-ons.
While full coverage is a great start, it’s not a blanket guarantee for every scenario—knowing your policy’s limits is key.
Here are a few instances that full coverage doesn’t cover:
As we’ve already established, full coverage car insurance isn’t legally required by the state of Illinois. But if you’re financing or leasing a vehicle, your lender will almost always require it to protect their investment.
Also, Illinois is an at-fault state—not a no-fault state—which means the driver responsible for a crash is also financially responsible for the damage. While basic liability insurance and UMBI is all that’s mandated by law, full coverage is often a smart choice for Illinois drivers, especially given the state’s mix of high-traffic urban areas, icy winters, flash flooding, and vehicle theft risks that can leave you vulnerable without extra protection.
Looking for a better idea of how much car insurance will cost you? Use GEICO’s free coverage calculator.
Have an older car, live in a rural area, or operate a vehicle with lots of customized parts? You may require more specialized coverage designed to reflect your unique needs. Other add-ons often included in full coverage are:
Having more coverage doesn’t always have to cost you more money. At GEICO, we’re committed to helping you find a plan that offers well-rounded protection at an affordable price. That’s why we offer different discounts that can help policyholders reduce their premiums:
Looking to get a personalized Illinois car insurance quote based on your unique needs? Get your free quote from GEICO today—it only takes a few minutes and can save you a lot of trouble down the road!