(800) 641-7488 
Updated for 2026: This guide explains the current Illinois Insurance Verification System process using information from the Illinois Secretary of State and ILIVS.
Illinois uses the Illinois Insurance Verification System (ILIVS) to confirm that registered vehicles have the liability insurance required by state law. Each vehicle’s insurance is verified at least twice each year. If the system cannot confirm coverage, the Illinois Secretary of State may send the registered owner a notice explaining what must be done and the date by which the owner must respond.
If you received an ILIVS letter, do not ignore it. The correct response depends on whether the vehicle was insured on the verification date printed in the notice, was uninsured on that date, or had already been sold, stored or taken out of service.
Important: Purchasing insurance today can establish current coverage, but it does not prove that the vehicle was insured on an earlier verification date. Respond accurately and follow the instructions printed on your notice.
1. Read the ILIVS Notice and Check the Due Date
The letter should include a reference number, the vehicle information, the insurance verification date and a response deadline. Keep the notice nearby because you will need its reference number when using the official ILIVS website.
A notice means the electronic system could not confirm the required coverage. It does not always mean that you were uninsured. A mismatch can occur when vehicle, policy or identifying information does not line up correctly. Acting before the deadline gives you time to determine what happened and provide an accurate response.
2. Determine Whether You Had Insurance on the Verification Date
If the vehicle was insured
Contact the insurance company or agent that handled the policy in effect on the verification date. Ask them to review the vehicle identification number, policy dates and other information connected to the vehicle. If coverage was active, the insurance representative can provide the available coverage information through the ILIVS process.
If the vehicle was not insured
Obtain current Illinois auto liability insurance before driving the vehicle. Current coverage may be required to restore the vehicle’s registration, but it does not change whether coverage existed on the earlier verification date. Follow the instructions in the notice and confirm the vehicle’s status through ILIVS.
If the vehicle was sold, stored or inoperable
Do not simply ignore the letter. ILIVS provides response options for situations in which a vehicle was sold, stored, inoperable or no longer associated with the plates. Use the reference number from the notice and submit the option that truthfully describes the vehicle’s status.
3. Get the Illinois Auto Insurance You Need
If the vehicle is registered and will be driven, it must have coverage that satisfies Illinois law. Illinois drivers generally must carry at least:
- $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person;
- $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident;
- $20,000 of property damage liability per accident; and
- $25,000/$50,000 of uninsured-motorist bodily injury coverage.
These are minimum limits, not a recommendation for every driver. The right limits depend on your vehicle, household, assets and coverage needs. Insured ASAP can help you compare Illinois car insurance options using the same driver, vehicle and coverage information. For a realistic monthly-price reference, review Insured ASAP’s 2026 Illinois car insurance cost study.
4. Confirm Your Status Through ILIVS
After the appropriate information has been submitted, return to the official ILIVS website and use the reference number from your letter to check the vehicle’s status. Do not assume that purchasing a policy alone has completed the state process.
The Illinois Secretary of State controls the registration record and determines whether a suspension has been cleared. Your insurance agent can help with the insurance portion, but the agent cannot guarantee when the state’s record will update.
What to Do If Your Illinois License Plates Are Already Suspended
If the registration is already suspended, no one may drive that vehicle until the suspension is removed. The Illinois Secretary of State states that a person whose plates are suspended may drive a different vehicle only when that other vehicle is properly insured.
- Obtain current liability insurance for the suspended vehicle.
- Use the reference number from the suspension letter to access ILIVS.
- Complete the steps shown for the vehicle’s record.
- Check the ILIVS status before driving the vehicle again.
For official instructions, review the Illinois Secretary of State’s Mandatory Insurance page or call the Secretary of State information line at 800-252-8980.
Is an ILIVS Suspension the Same as an SR-22 Requirement?
No. ILIVS checks whether a registered vehicle has liability insurance. An Illinois SR-22 is a separate proof-of-financial-responsibility filing that may be required for a driver’s license matter. Some people may have both issues at the same time, but an ILIVS notice does not automatically mean that every vehicle owner needs an SR-22.
Illinois License Plate Suspension FAQ
How often does Illinois verify vehicle insurance?
According to the Illinois Secretary of State, each vehicle’s liability insurance is verified at least twice each year.
Why did I receive a notice if I already had insurance?
The electronic system may not have matched the vehicle and policy information. Contact the company or agent that insured the vehicle on the date shown in the notice and ask them to review the record.
Can I buy insurance after receiving an ILIVS notice?
Yes, you can purchase current coverage. However, a new policy does not prove that coverage existed on an earlier verification date. Follow the notice and respond accurately.
Can I drive while my license plates are suspended?
No one may drive the suspended vehicle until the registration suspension is removed. Check the official record before putting the vehicle back on the road.
What if I no longer own or drive the vehicle?
Use the response options on ILIVS and the reference number from the notice. The system provides instructions for vehicles that were sold, stored or inoperable.
Need Current Illinois Auto Insurance?
Insured ASAP can help you compare coverage options and provide the insurance information needed for the ILIVS process when available. The Illinois Secretary of State makes the final decision about registration status.
