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Accidents and safety

After an Illinois crash: a calm checklist

In Illinois, call police after any crash with an injury, a death, or more than $1,500 in damage, or $500 if a driver is uninsured. Exchange names, license numbers, insurance and plates. Illinois minimum insurance is 25/50/20.

DMVZone editorial · November 12, 2026 · 4 min read
Quick answer

After an Illinois crash, stop and make sure everyone is OK, calling 911 for any injury. Police must be told about any crash with an injury, a death, or property damage over $1,500, or over $500 if any driver is uninsured. Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, insurance details and plate numbers. Drivers no longer file a separate Illinois Motorist Report.

Call police
Injury, death or $1,500+
If a driver is uninsured
$500+
Motorist Report
No longer required
Minimum insurance
25/50/20
A red car and a blue car approach a residential intersection with no signs or signals from two different directions.

Which police you call depends on where you are: the local police in a city or village, the county sheriff in unincorporated areas, or the Illinois State Police on interstates and many highways. 911 will route you.

At the scene

  1. Stop and turn on your hazard lights.
  2. Check on everyone and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
  3. Call police if the crash meets the reporting rule, or if fault is unclear, a driver leaves or someone seems impaired.
  4. Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, license numbers, insurance and plate numbers.
  5. Take photos of the cars, plates, road and any injuries. Get witness contacts.
  6. Tell your insurance company.

Leaving the scene

Injury or death crash

  • Leaving brings a mandatory license revocation
  • It is a felony

Property damage over $1,000

  • Leaving can bring a license suspension

Insurance minimums

CoverageMinimum
Injury or death, one person$25,000
Injury or death, two or more people$50,000
Property damage$20,000
Good to know

Write down the crash report number the officer gives you. Your insurer will ask for it, and it makes getting the report much faster.

Check yourself3 questions

  1. Above what property damage must an Illinois crash be reported to police, if everyone is insured?

    Answer: C. The threshold is $1,500, or $500 if a driver is uninsured.

  2. Do Illinois drivers still file a Motorist Report?

    Answer: C. IDOT no longer requires drivers to file the Illinois Motorist Report.

  3. What is Illinois's minimum property damage coverage?

    Answer: C. Illinois requires $20,000 for property damage.

After the crash

How do I get my crash report?

Ask the agency that responded: local police, the sheriff or the Illinois State Police.

What if the other driver has no insurance?

Call police, since the reporting threshold drops to $500, and tell your insurer. Uninsured motorist coverage may help.

Is leaving the scene of an injury crash serious?

Yes. It is a felony and the Secretary of State must revoke the driver's license.

Sources

Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.

Rules and fees change. Always confirm the details with the official Illinois DMV or motor vehicle agency before you act. DMVZone practice questions are written to teach the rules and are not copies of the real test.

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