Illinois Car Insurance DUI

Reader’s Question:

I got a DUI in New Jersey where I lived in summer 1997 and I paid all the penalties with that. Since 1998, I have lived in New York without a vehicle. Now almost 10 years after the infraction, I am moving to IL where I will need a vehicle and insurance. Can you tell me the auto insurance consequence for me in Illinois?

Jason

Arlington Heights, IL

You say you have paid and took care all of your penalties for your New Jersey conviction for a DUI so this should include the three year insurance surcharge of $1000 as New Jersey law requires. If this is the case it is possible that this nearly ten year old conviction will not affect your car insurance in IL. What might cause higher insurance rates is that you have not been insured for such a long period of time.

The mandatory minimum insurance in Illinois is 20/40/15, meaning $20,000 for injury or death of one person in an accident up to $40,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident and property damage to of another person for $15,000 . Once you purchase your vehicle in IL, you may shop around online to find the car insurance that you need.