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Expert Advice for Illinois

All Articles on Illinois

Best Car Insurance Companies in Illinois
We’re ranking Gainsco as the overall best car insurance provider in Illinois, but Clear Cover, Dairyland, Progressive, and Safeco also rank well.
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Andrea Barrett
The 5 Best Auto Shops in Chicago
Whether you’re looking for a simple tire change or extensive collision repair, there’s an auto shop in Chicago that will be perfect for your needs.
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Patrick Price
How to Get an Illinois Learners Permit
Once you turn 15, you can apply for an instruction permit—but don’t head to the DMV without reading our guide first.
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Katherine Duffy
Can You Get Car Insurance Without a Driver’s License in Illinois?
You can get car insurance in Illinois without your driver’s license, but you may need to go through a specialized insurer.
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Shannon Fitzgerald
The Best Gap Insurance Companies in Illinois
Gap insurance isn’t a requirement in Illinois, but it’s still a good idea for financed vehicles. For the best rates, check out your options with your insurance provider.
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Liz Jenson
How To Find Low Income Car Insurance in Illinois
Illinois does not provide state services to support low-income drivers with insurance, but there are a few ways to save on your car insurance in Illinois.
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Jaya Anandjit
All about Non-Owner Car Insurance in Illinois
An Illinois non-owner car insurance policy can ensure liability protection and prevent a lapse in coverage if you don’t have a car.
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Andrea Barrett
How to Get Roadside Assistance in Illinois
Illinois drivers can find roadside assistance offerings through auto clubs, credit card companies, or as additional coverage on their insurance policies.
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Melanie Krieps Mergen
How to Get Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance in Illinois
If you need an SR-22 in Illinois but don’t own a car, you can get non-owner car insurance and ask your insurer to file an SR-22 on your behalf.
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Talullah Blanco
Gifting a Car vs. Selling for $1 In Illinois
In Illinois, it doesn’t really matter whether you sell your vehicle for a dollar or gift it to someone unless it’s a family member. Here’s what to know.
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Thidas Senanayaka
The Pros and Cons of Living in Illinois
Living in Illinois can be exciting, provided that you’re able to afford the higher taxes and find a job in a suffering job market.
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Liz Jenson
How To Pay Your Illinois Excise Tax
Illinois may not charge an excise tax on your vehicle itself, but the state does charge excise taxes on parking and fuel.
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Liz Jenson
How to Register a Car in Illinois
You can register your car in Illinois at your local Secretary of State facility. Bring your Application for Vehicle Transaction and a form of payment with you!
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Alita Dark
What To Do If You’re In a Car Accident Without Insurance But Not At Fault In Illinois
If you’re in a crash without insurance in Illinois, you may be eligible for compensation—but you’ll face penalties for driving uninsured.
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John Davis
2023 Illinois CDL Requirements Guide
Requirements for an Illinois commercial driver’s license include age restrictions, knowledge tests, and skills tests. Read more here!
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Liz Jenson
Buying a Car In Illinois From Out Of State
Buying a car in Illinois from out of state can be complicated, but the process for registering an out-of-state vehicle is fairly straightforward.
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R.E. Fulton
What Counts As Proof of Residency In Illinois?
You can use a phone bill or bank statement as proof of residency in Illinois, but personal mail won’t count.
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R.E. Fulton
Illinois Windshield Replacement Law
Illinois windshield replacement laws don’t require auto insurance companies to waive your deductibles.
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Tiffany Leung
How To Get an Illinois Motorcycle License
You’ll need to pass a motorcycle safety course, driving and written tests, or both to get a motorcycle classification added to your Illinois license.
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Pat Roache
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois: Do You Need It?
Illinois drivers are required by law to have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Learn more here.
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Rob Shapiro
Illinois Teenage Driving Laws: What Teens and Parents Need to Know
To keep teen drivers safe, Illinois implements rules and restrictions for each phase of its Graduated Driver Licensing program.
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Shannon Fitzgerald
What Happens When You Get a 2nd DUI in Illinois
A second DUI offense in Illinois is usually charged as a Class A misdemeanor resulting in jail time. Here are the details.
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Shannon Fitzgerald
Everything You Need to Know About Illinois Towing Laws
Police and private property owners can tow your vehicle if it’s illegally parked in Illinois. You have 21 days to retrieve your towed vehicle
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Jacqulyn Graber
The Best Naperville Towing Service
If you are looking for the best Naperville towing service, check out these five companies.
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David Ghanizadeh-Khoob
How To Find the Best Elgin Towing Service
If you are looking for a fast and reliable towing service, we can tell you whom to call!
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Claire Beaney
What is the Driving Age in Illinois?
Under Illinois’s Graduated Drivers Licensing Program, you need to be 15 to get an instruction permit and cannot have a fully unrestricted license until you turn 18.
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Amber Reed
What You Need to Know About Emissions Testing in Illinois
In Illinois, most vehicles more than four years old that were built in 1996 or later require emissions testing every two years.
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David Ghanizadeh-Khoob
How To Find the Best Arlington Heights Towing Service
Looking for the most experienced, reliable, and professional Arlington Heights towing service? We’ve got you covered.
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Bonnie Stinson
Illinois License Plates
Jerry helps you save money on car insurance and walks you through all the license plate options in Illinois.
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Kate Kirby
How to Deal with Rising Gas Prices in Illinois
Certain parts of Illinois suffer from higher-than-average gas prices with prices topping off above $5.00/gallon—but prices vary significantly by county.
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Jacqulyn Graber

All Questions on Illinois

What’s the best driving route from Chicago to Nashville?
I want to take my boyfriend to check out the music scene in Nashville. What’s the best driving route to get there from Nashville?
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Sarah Gray
What are the best activities to do in Chicago?
I grew up in Milwaukee, but I’ve never made the trip down to Chicago. The Bucks are playing the Bulls, so I thought I’d go to the Windy City for a few days. What are some of the best things to do in Chicago?
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Eric Schad
What’s the best route to Florida from Chicago?
I have to attend a business conference in Florida in a few weeks, and I’m not big on flying. What’s the best route to get there from Chicago?
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Andrea Barrett
How do you renew a driver's license in Illinois?
I’ll be traveling next month, but my Illinois license will expire while I’m away. How do I renew it so it’s valid for the duration of my trip?
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Andrea Barrett
What’s the best route from Chicago to Yellowstone National Park?
I’m planning a cross-country road trip for next summer and trying to map out some destinations. Right now, I’m planning on attending a concert in Chicago, and then I know I want to visit Yellowstone National Park. What’s the best route to Yellowstone from Chicago?
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Jacqulyn Graber
What’s the best route from Chicago to California?
My friends and I are planning a road trip from Chicago out to California. What’s the best route for us to take that will allow us to find some cool stops along the way?
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Sarah Gray
What’s the best route from Indianapolis to Chicago?
I live in Indianapolis, and I’ve got an interview in Chicago next week that I plan to drive to. What’s the best route to take?
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Sarah Gray
What are the best outdoor activities in Illinois?
The family and I are taking an RV to explore the great outdoors in Illinois. This will be our first road trip there and we need some ideas on things to do. What are the best outdoor activities in Illinois?
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Mariza Morin
How much is it to renew a driver’s license in Illinois?
Is it expensive to renew your driver’s license in Illinois? Mine is expiring soon but I’m on a tight budget right now because I just graduated college, so I’m worried that it might cost a lot.
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Liz Jenson
How do I renew my driver’s license online in Illinois?
Does Illinois offer an online driver’s license renewal service or will I have to do it in person? The last time I went to renew my license I stood in line for almost two hours, so I’d like to avoid that if possible.
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Liz Jenson
What national forests are in Illinois?
I live in the Chicago area, and I’d really like to adventure to other areas of the state once the weather gets warm. I’d love to visit a national forest, but I’m not sure if Illinois has any. If it does, what national forests are in Illinois?
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Shannon Fitzgerald
Where can you go camping in Illinois?
My partner and I love living in Chicago, but we want to escape the city life for a bit this summer and go on a camping trip. Where are the best camping spots in Illinois?
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Macy Fouse
What are the penalties for a fake insurance card in Illinois?
I have a friend whose insurance expired, but they haven’t renewed it so they just use a card they made at home. What are the penalties for not having proper proof of insurance in Illinois?
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Andrea Barrett
What are the biggest insurance companies in Illinois?
I just moved to Chicago to pursue a master’s degree at Northwestern. While I’m here, I’m going to buy a car to explore the surrounding area. I’ll need car insurance, but I’m not sure which insurer is best. What are some of the biggest insurance companies in Illinois?
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Eric Schad
What are some unusual places to visit in Illinois?
I’m staying with my grandparents in Illinois over summer break, and I want to take the time to do some weird tourist activities. What are some cool places for me to check out in IL?
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Sarah Gray
Can you turn left on a red in Illinois?
I’m a little fuzzy on Illinois’ left turn rules; it’s been a while since I took my driving test. Can you turn left on a red in Illinois?
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Bianca (Bee) Davis
How old do you need to be to rent a car in Illinois?
I’ve never been to Chicago before, so I’m flying there sometime this year. However, I want to travel to St. Louis to see the Cardinals play the Cubs. I’m only 22 years old, so I’m worried that I won’t be able to rent a car—what age do I need to be to rent a car in Illinois?
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Eric Schad
Why is gas so expensive in Illinois?
I can’t find any gas stations with affordable prices in Illinois right now. I even drove outside of Chicago just to see if I could find a better price, and the rates were still crazy! Why is gas so expensive right now?
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Liz Jenson
Where are the rest stops on I-55 in Illinois?
My husband and I are planning a road trip mostly following Route 66, from Chicago all the way to Santa Monica. We split up our planning by different states, but I can’t find the rest stops on I-55 in Illinois. There seems to be some conflicting information online. Where are the rest stops on I-55 in Illinois?
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Matt Terzi
Where are the toll roads in Illinois?
I’m moving to Chicago for a job in about a month, but I’m originally from Peoria. I’m going to be traveling back and forth between the two cities quite a bit, and I’m worried about how expensive it’ll be if I’m stuck taking toll roads. Where are the tolls located in Illinois?
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Eric Schad
Is I-94 a toll road in Illinois?
I’m from southern Illinois, and I’m taking a road trip from Springfield to Milwaukee. I’ve never driven this route before, so I want to plan ahead and avoid toll roads if I can. Is the I-94 stretch through Illinois a toll road?
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Eric Schad
Is I-55 in Illinois a toll road?
I live in Southern Illinois just outside of St. Louis, and I want to take a road trip up to Chicago for a hockey game. I’d rather not take a toll road if I can help it, but I’m fairly certain I have to take I-55 all the way. Are there any stretches of I-55 in Illinois that are toll roads?
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Eric Schad
How to pay for a toll road in Illinois?
I’ve lived in Illinois my entire life, but I’m moving to the Windy City for a job. I’m going to live in a suburb and commute to work, so I’m probably going to take toll roads to my office. How do I pay the toll in Illinois?
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Eric Schad
Are there toll roads in Illinois?
I’m going on a cross-country road trip that goes through Illinois. I’ve never driven through the state before, so I want to be prepared and plan my route. Does Illinois have any toll roads?
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Eric Schad
Is I-80 a toll road in Illinois?
I’m going from Iowa to South Bend, Indiana, to see my beloved Fighting Irish play their football home opener. However, I’ve never taken the route before, and I want to avoid toll roads if possible. In Illinois, is I-80 a toll road?
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Eric Schad
Do Illinois toll roads take credit cards?
I want to travel through Illinois, and the route I mapped has several toll roads. However, I never carry cash with me, so I want to know if I can just pay with my card. Will Illinois allow me to pay the toll by credit card?
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Eric Schad
How do toll roads work in Illinois?
I just moved to Chicago for a job, but since it’s so expensive in the city, I’m looking at places in the suburbs. The only issue is that I’m probably going to need to take toll roads to go to work. Can you tell me how toll roads work in Illinois?
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Eric Schad
How much are toll roads in Illinois?
My husband and I are moving to the Chicago suburbs, and we’ll both commute to work in the city. I don’t really want to take the train if I can avoid it, but I will if tolls are too expensive. What are the prices of toll roads in Illinois?
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Eric Schad
How can I clean my driving record in Illinois?
I have accumulated a few speeding citations over the years and hope to clear my record and start fresh. Is it possible to clean my driving record in Illinois?
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Maxine Boyko
Where was the Mitsubishi Eclipse made?
Are all Mitsubishi vehicles made in Japan and imported or do they have factories elsewhere?
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Jacqulyn Graber

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