ILIVS Illinois Insurance Verification System

What is the ILIVS Illinois Insurance Verification System?

The ILIVS Illinois Insurance Verification System is an electronic liability insurance verification program introduced in 2020 to ensure that all vehicles registered in Illinois comply with the Mandatory Insurance Law (625 ILCS 5/7-601).

The Illinois Secretary of State mandated ILIVS in 2019 to reduce the number of uninsured motorists. As of 2022, roughly 16.3% of Illinois drivers were uninsured, above the national average of about 14%. ILIVS connects electronically with every insurance company that writes vehicle liability policies in Illinois. ILIVS confirms coverage automatically instead of through paper cards or mail-in questionnaires.

ILIVS went live on July 1, 2021, and makes it easier for insured drivers to stay compliant and identify uninsured vehicles more efficiently.

How Does ILIVS Work?

ILIVS verifies the insurance status of every registered vehicle in Illinois at least twice a year. ILIVS matches each vehicle's registration and license-plate record against coverage data that insurers report directly. ILIVS confirms your policy against the specific plate on file with the Secretary of State.

If a vehicle has valid insurance, no action is required from the registered owner, as the system verifies coverage directly with the insurer.

ILIVS checks the vehicle a second time about 30 days after the first attempt fails to confirm coverage. The 30-day gap catches vehicles that were sold, stored, or not driven. The Secretary of State mails the registered owner a registration suspension letter when the second check also fails. The owner then has 30 days from the date on the letter to prove the vehicle carried coverage on the original verification date. The owner works with an insurance agent to prove coverage. The Secretary of State suspends the vehicle's registration (license plates) when the owner misses the 30-day deadline.

ILIVS strengthens enforcement and gets rid of the need to visit a Driver Services Facility to prove insurance coverage manually.

What Should I Do If I Get an Insurance Verification Letter from the Secretary of State?

ILIVS Letter from Illinois Secretary of State

When you get a registration suspension letter from the Secretary of State, you have 30 days from the date on the letter to respond. The letter carries the subject line "ACTION REQUIRED: REQUEST FOR INSURANCE VERIFICATION." Do not visit the DMV. You and your insurer must show the vehicle carried coverage on the verification date printed on the notice. Your insurance agent handles this verification.

Follow these official steps:

Locate your reference number: Find the unique reference number on the letter you received and the requested verification date printed on the official notice from the Secretary of State.
Contact your insurance provider: If you had an active auto insurance policy at the time of the verification date, ask your insurance company to verify your insurance policy electronically with the Illinois Secretary of State
Submit Proof Manually: If your insurance provider cannot verify Electronically with the Secretary of State you must do it manually. Visit the official ILIVS portal from the Secretary of State and manually input your insurance details using the reference number on the letter you received.
If you were uninsured on the requested verification date, immediately get liability coverage to satisfy Illinois minimum insurance requirements.

Call Insurance Navy for a free quote at 888-949-6289 and provide the reference number from your state notice. Lost your letter or ILIVS reference number? No problem! We can retrieve your information using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

ILIVS vs. Manual Proof at a Traffic Stop

Now that ILIVS has been implemented, the way law enforcement checks whether you have active auto insurance has changed. Below is how ILIVS compares with the old method of showing a paper card for proof of insurance.

Feature	ILIVS (Electronic System)	Manual Proof (Paper Card)
How it Works	Automatic insurance check with the states database using the vehicles license plate.	Driver physically presents insurance card or digital insurance card to the police officer.
Action Required	None. ILIVS checks automatically twice a year or during a traffic stop.	Must carry paper cards in the vehicle or have the insurance company's mobile app.
Accuracy	Real time accuracy with direct reporting from insurance carriers.	Issues like presenting expired, lost, or cancelled insurance cards.

How Insurance Navy Can Help You with Electronic Liability Insurance Verification

Insurance Navy provides quality, low-cost auto insurance for all drivers, regardless of blemishes on their driving history. ILIVS compliance does not have to cost much. Minimum-liability coverage in Illinois averages about $602 a year. Full coverage averages about $1,189 a year. Insurance Navy often beats those averages for drivers who need only to satisfy the state's verification requirement.

Did ILIVS find you were uninsured during verification?

Here's how we can help:

Our insurance agents will give you a free auto insurance quote at the best rates.
Verify your insurance coverage electronically with the state and avoid fines or suspension.
Get insurance cards & proof of insurance coverage verification emailed to you instantly.

Whether you need verification or new coverage, we can make it quick and easy!

Penalties for Non-Compliance with Illinois' Mandatory Insurance Law (625 ILCS 5/7-601)

As of July 1, 2021, vehicle owners who fail to maintain valid auto insurance will face harsh penalties, including license plate suspension and fines.

ILIVS Fines & Penalties for First-Time Offenders:

License plate suspension until proof of insurance is provided.
$100 license reinstatement fee to restore registration.
$500 minimum fine for driving without insurance.

Penalties for Repeat Offenders and Second Suspensions Under ILIVS

If you violate Illinois' Mandatory Insurance Law a second time, the penalties get much worse.

A second suspension notice means more expensive consequences, so you must address insurance coverage gaps immediately.

1. Repeat Offender Consequences

If your license plate is suspended for 4 months, your vehicle is unregistered and cannot be driven on public roads.
A $100 reinstatement fee to get your registration back after the suspension period.
A minimum $1,000 fine for driving a vehicle while the plates are suspended due to a previous insurance violation.

2. Additional Consequences:

If you get a ticket for a traffic violation or get into an accident while uninsured, you may face the following fines listed below.

$500 minimum fine for driving without insurance.
$1,000 minimum fine for driving with plates suspended from a prior insurance violation.

The longer you're uninsured, the more major consequences you'll face. For multiple violations, you'll get longer suspension periods, higher reinstatement fees, and more legal penalties.

Ignoring Illinois insurance laws can lead to more legal action, significant fines and other consequences.

To avoid these penalties, ensure your vehicle is insured, and your coverage is electronically verified through ILIVS.

Contact Insurance Navy today for a free quote for Cheap Car Insurance in Chicago within minutes.

Call 1-888-949-6289, email customerservice@insurancenavy.com, or get free car insurance quotes online.

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ILIVS Frequently Asked Questions

What is ILIVS?

ILIVS (Illinois Liability Insurance Verification System) is an electronic system the Illinois Secretary of State uses to check if vehicles registered in Illinois have an active insurance policy. It sends an electronic request to insurance companies to verify that a car has active insurance coverage.

Why was ILIVS created?

ILIVS was created to enforce Illinois insurance laws and reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road. Ensuring all registered vehicles have insurance helps keep everyone safe and prevents financial burdens from uninsured drivers.

Who must use ILIVS?

All vehicle owners in Illinois must have at least the minimum required liability insurance and abide by the ILIVS verification process. It applies to all registered vehicles, so every driver has the coverage needed as per state law.

How does ILIVS verify insurance coverage?

ILIVS submits an initial verification attempt by sending an electronic request to insurance providers to determine whether a vehicle has an active liability insurance policy. You do not need to provide proof of insurance unless your insurance can't be verified through the system.

What is the minimum insurance requirement in Illinois?

Illinois State law requires all drivers to have a minimum amount of liability insurance.

To pass ILIVS verification, your auto insurance policy must have the following listed below:

$25,000 for bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
$20,000 for property damage liability per accident.
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for uninsured-motorist coverage.

These requirements ensure enough financial protection for all parties involved in an accident.

Do I need to do anything to get verified?

No. If your insurance is active, ILIVS will verify your coverage without you having to do anything. The system will check with insurance providers electronically to see if your policy is active.

How often does ILIVS check insurance status?

ILIVS conducts random electronic insurance verification checks at least twice a year. This ensures that all registered vehicles remain insured and that there is no gap in coverage.

What if ILIVS can't verify my insurance?

If ILIVS can't verify your insurance, you'll receive a verification request letter from the Illinois Secretary of State. This letter will ask you to provide proof of valid liability insurance to comply with state law.

How do I respond to an insurance verification request?

You have 30 days from the date on the letter to respond. Contact your insurance provider to update your policy information and report it to ILIVS. You may also need to submit proof of insurance to the Secretary of State's office.

Can I submit proof of insurance manually?

In most cases, your insurance company will electronically verify your coverage with ILIVS. However, if requested, you can submit proof of insurance to the Illinois Secretary of State at https://ilivs.com/index_ilivs.aspx to clear any discrepancies.

What happens if I don't provide proof of valid insurance?

Suppose you don't provide proof of valid insurance when requested. In that case, you may face penalties, including fines, suspension of your vehicle license plates, and possible suspension of your vehicle registration. Complying with ILIVS is necessary to avoid legal and financial penalties from the Secretary of State.

What information does law enforcement see with ILIVS?

During a traffic stop, law enforcement only sees basic verification status on whether the vehicle has an active auto insurance policy. To protect drivers privacy, officers do not have access to financial data, coverage limits, premium costs, or claims history.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

Non-compliance carries several penalties. The Secretary of State suspends your vehicle's registration (license plates) until you insure the vehicle and pay a $100 reinstatement fee at ILIVS.COM. Driving uninsured carries a minimum fine of $500. Driving on plates already suspended for a prior insurance violation carries a minimum fine of $1,000. Repeat offenders also serve a 4-month suspension.

How do I reinstate my registration after a suspension?

To reinstate your vehicle registration after a suspension due to lack of insurance, you must provide proof of active coverage and pay a $100 reinstatement fee to the Illinois Secretary of State. Once you meet these requirements, your registration will be restored.

Can I drive if my registration is suspended due to ILIVS non-compliance?

No. Driving with a suspended registration is illegal. You may face additional fines, legal penalties, and further suspension of your driving privileges if caught.

What if I have insurance, but ILIVS says my vehicle is uninsured?

If ILIVS says your vehicle is uninsured despite having valid insurance, contact your insurance provider. Have them verify that your policy information was reported correctly to the system. If your provider updates your information, that should clear up any discrepancies.

Are antique or non-operational vehicles subject to ILIVS verification?

Vehicles with valid antique plates are generally exempt from ILIVS verification. Non-operational vehicles registered with the Illinois Secretary of State must still have insurance.

What if I change insurance providers?

When you change insurance providers, your new insurance company should report your updated coverage to ILIVS. But double-check that your new policy information was submitted to avoid verification issues.

What if I no longer own the vehicle?

Suppose you sell, trade, or otherwise dispose of the vehicle. In that case, you must update the Illinois Secretary of State's records to avoid verification requests or penalties.