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Illinois · SR-22

Illinois SR-22 Insurance

An Illinois SR-22 is a certificate an Illinois-licensed insurance company files electronically with the Secretary of State to prove you carry at least the state’s minimum auto liability coverage. It is required for reinstatement after specific suspensions and revocations and usually has to stay in place for three years without any lapse.

Speak with a licensed agent or carrier(833) 411-2537

Calls are answered by a licensed insurance agent or carrier, not by SR22AutoIns.com. Calls may be recorded or monitored.

Illinois at a glance
SR-22 · ILLINOIS
Filed with
Illinois Secretary of State
Filed by
Your IL-licensed insurer
Minimum limits
25/50/20
Typical term
3 years, no lapse
Cancellation form
SR-26

How the Illinois SR-22 filing actually works

The SR-22 is not an insurance policy. It is a one-page state form that your insurer transmits to the Illinois Secretary of State certifying that you are covered by an active auto liability policy meeting the state minimums. The Secretary of State matches the filing to your driver record; once your reinstatement conditions are otherwise satisfied, the SR-22 clears the financial responsibility requirement for driving in Illinois.

If the underlying policy cancels, lapses, or fails to renew, the insurer is required to notify the state by filing an SR-26. That notification typically triggers an immediate suspension, and the three-year clock restarts once you reinstate with a new SR-22.

What Illinois requires

Illinois currently requires liability limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 for property damage (25/50/20). Your SR-22 has to be attached to a policy that meets or exceeds those limits. Most drivers with an SR-22 requirement buy from non-standard or specialty carriers, because standard companies often decline to write coverage after a serious driving event. There is nothing wrong with a non-standard carrier as long as it is licensed in Illinois and files the SR-22 electronically with the Secretary of State.

(833) 411-2537

Calls are answered by a licensed insurance agent or carrier, not by SR22AutoIns.com. Calls may be recorded or monitored.

Cities and metros we cover

Illinois SR-22 rules are statewide, but the driving environment, the nearest Secretary of State Driver Services facility, and the mix of carriers writing in your ZIP change city by city. Pick your metro below for a local overview.

Major Illinois metros

10 cities

Secondary Illinois cities

20 cities

Additional Illinois cities we cover

20 cities

Chicago neighborhoods (by ZIP)

Chicago is large enough that the nearest Driver Services facility and the practical driving context vary by neighborhood. The ZIPs below have their own overview pages. Every other Illinois ZIP is listed on our coverage-area directory.

See the full Illinois ZIP directory →

FAQ

Illinois SR-22 questions

Where do I file an SR-22 in Illinois?
You do not file it yourself. Your insurance company files the SR-22 electronically with the Illinois Secretary of State's Office of the Secretary of State, Driver Services Department. Confirm the current process at ilsos.gov.
Does the SR-22 stay with the state or with my policy?
Both. The state records the filing on your driver record until the mandatory period ends, and your insurer maintains the underlying auto liability policy that supports the filing. If the policy cancels, the insurer must file an SR-26 with the state.
What are the Illinois minimum liability limits an SR-22 has to certify?
Illinois currently requires 25/50/20 liability limits: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 property damage. Your SR-22 policy has to meet or exceed those minimums. Confirm the current numbers at ilsos.gov.
How long do I have to keep the SR-22 in Illinois?
Three years from the date of reinstatement in most cases. A lapse resets the clock, so keeping the policy continuously in force is the fastest way through. See our SR-22 timeline page for details.
Do I need an Illinois-licensed insurance company?
Yes. The SR-22 has to come from an insurance company authorized to transact business in Illinois. An out-of-state policy generally cannot be used to satisfy the Illinois filing requirement.
What if I moved to Illinois with an out-of-state SR-22?
You will normally need a new Illinois SR-22 filing tied to an Illinois-licensed carrier. Confirm the specific requirements with the Illinois Secretary of State at ilsos.gov and with any state that still has an obligation on your record.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Requirements, forms, fees, and timelines change. Confirm current requirements directly with the Illinois Secretary of State at ilsos.gov before acting.

Next step

Talk to a licensed Illinois agent or carrier

Calls are answered by a licensed insurance agent or carrier, not by SR22AutoIns.com. We do not sell insurance and cannot file an SR-22 on your behalf.

(833) 411-2537

Calls are answered by a licensed insurance agent or carrier, not by SR22AutoIns.com. Calls may be recorded or monitored.