Illinois plans to automate verification of auto insurance within the year to make sure that every vehicle on the road is covered, but the state has yet to have a database required for electronic verification.
The state will begin collecting funds to design and create the database from a council of insurance companies created to reduce vehicle theft and insurance fraud.
Henry Haupt, the spokesperson for the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, said in a public statement that 75 cents will be taken from the council every year to fund the creation of the electronic database. Once the database is created, automated verifications for car insurance will take place at random at least twice a year.
The new law will eventually discontinue and nullify physical insurance cards, as your proof of insurance will be simply your license plate.
To implement the new law, the Illinois Secretary of State will be working closely with every insurance company in the state. The new law will require all insurance companies to provide a list of all their covered drivers, along with other relevant insurance information, to the Secretary of State. All this information will be compiled into the electronic database that keeps track of all the drivers covered with insurance and the amount of coverage each driver has.
The new law goes in line with the same goal of the recent price hikes of car insurances in Illinois: to reduce car collisions.
Versus all other US states, annual car insurance costs in Illinois are greatly influenced by your history of driving violations. For example, a DUI violation will raise your average insurance rate by 126 percent. In other US states, the average increase will only be 72 percent.
As a driver, it is your legal responsibility to have at least basic liability insurance when driving on public roads. According to the Department of Treasury, vehicle owners must have insurance limits of at least $25,000 BI (bodily injury) per person, $50,000 per occurrence, and $20,000 in property damage coverage.
The first and second time you get caught driving without insurance, you will receive a fine between $500 and $1,000. Your succeeding offense can result in the suspension of your driver’s license. If you cause a serious accident while uninsured, you can end up in jail for up to one year.
To help you find the most competitive car insurance rates, Oxford Auto Insurance is here to help. As one of the leading auto insurance agencies in Harvey, Illinois, we always strive to give you flexible payment plans and multiple options – and we do not just stop there. You can also come to us to look for competitive rates for insurance renewals.
For over 65 years, we have been serving Chicago residents with everything they need to know about auto insurance, SR-22 insurance, and motorcycle insurance. We are proud to be a member of the Trusted Choice Insurance Network and the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois.
For more information, get in touch with us today.
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