Get Insured

DUI (Driving under the influence) of either alcohol or drugs is one of the most serious offenses for a motorist in Illinois. That did not stop the 37,126 arrests in 2012 for DUI or for refusing the breathalyzer test according to the Secretary of State’s office.

How is a DUI defined?

Failure of chemical testing means a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was .08 or more or the test showed a trace of other drugs. If an Illinois driver refuses to submit to chemical testing in another state, his/her driving privileges will be suspended. A statutory summary suspension does not apply to a person with a BAC of less than .08. If a person has a BAC of more than .05, and additional evidence such as an open container warrants a DUI arrest, the outcome of the court case will determine if penalties apply.

If you receive a DUI your driving privileges will almost definitely be suspended. In fact, 93% of all drivers with a DUI conviction received a Statutory Summary Suspension.

Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP)

• A first-time DUI offender may obtain an MDDP from the Secretary of State to allow unlimited driving during the statutory summary suspension. (A first-time offender is a driver who has not received a previous statutory summary suspension in the past five years, been convicted of DUI or assigned court supervision for DUI in Illinois, or been convicted of DUI in another state within 5 years.)
• An offender must have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) installed and maintained on any vehicle driven during the suspension period. An offender may drive anywhere at any time once the permit is issued and the BAIID installed.

Restricted Driving Permit (RDP)

• If eligible, a person convicted of DUI may apply to the Secretary of State’s office for an RDP.
• A multiple offender is not eligible for an RDP during the statutory summary suspension period.

For drivers under 21 there is Zero Tolerance.

• First offense suspension of driving privileges for 3 months for a BAC of more than .00; suspension of driving privileges for 6 months for refusal to submit to or failure to complete testing.

• Second offense suspension of driving privileges for 1 year for a BAC of more than .00; suspension of driving privileges for 2 years for refusal to submit to or failure to complete testing.

Penalties for DUI

The penalties for a DUI conviction are severe:

• A First Conviction is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum revocation of driving privileges for 1 year (2 years if driver is under age 21); suspension of vehicle registration.
• Second Conviction is a Class A misdemeanor with mandatory minimum imprisonment of 5 days or 240 hours of community service; revocation of driving privileges for a minimum of 5 years for a second conviction within 20 years; suspension of vehicle registration.
• Third Conviction (Aggravated DUI) is a Class 2 felony; revocation of driving privileges for a minimum of 10 years; suspension of vehicle registration.

Driving privileges may be reinstated at the end of the statutory summary suspension period. Before driving privileges can be reinstated:

• Other suspensions or revocations on the driving record must be cleared.
• A $250 reinstatement fee must be paid to the Secretary of State,
• If a repeat offender, a $500 reinstatement fee must be paid to the Secretary of State’s office.

Proof of financial responsibility and minimum liability insurance is required before reinstatement or issuance of an RDP. Insurance must be submitted on an SR-22 certificate for a minimum of three years.

If you need SR22 because of a DUI, Active Insurance can help you.

For more information about DUI in Illinois there is a DUI Fact book from the Secretary of State’s office.

Insurers are increasingly using insurance scores when calculating auto insurance rates. The scores are calculated by credit bureaus and each insurance company that uses insurance scores has their own formula developed for them which is somewhat unique. While an insurance score is not exactly the same as credit score, credit is a component of the calculation.

If you have been late on a few payments or have accounts in collection you may not receive the best rate from an insurance company which uses insurance scoring. It’s important to know that age, race, income, employment and interest rates do not affect the insurance score. You will find positive insurance scores among both rich people and poor people. It does not discriminate by income level.

Most but not all insurance companies use insurance scoring. Active Insurance works with many insurers who do not use insurance scoring. This means that if you do not have the best credit history you will still be eligible for the best rates from Active Insurance. This is one of the benefits of working with an independent agent like Active Insurance. We can find the best rate for you, whether or not your credit is stellar.

Click here for more information about insurance scoring.

No wheels? You may need car insurance anyway and here’s why.

Just because you don’t have a car, doesn’t mean you don’t need insurance. In fact, you can buy a specific type of insurance designed for people who sometimes drive but don’t own a car of their own. Non-owners car insurance is a smart choice in a few situations that you should know about.

Who Buys Non-Owner Car Insurance?

This kind of car insurance is well named. It’s for people who have a driver’s license but don’t own a car. This insurance is affordable because it doesn’t cover the car, it just covers you, the driver, for liability. It also assumes that because you don’t own a car, you don’t drive often. The policy usually pays for damages or injuries caused to someone else if you caused an accident while driving.

When Do You Need Non-Owner Car Insurance?

Now that you understand what non-owners car insurance pays for, you probably have an idea of when it might come in handy. If you drive a car that doesn’t offer coverage for you as a driver, you need your own policy. This can be true if you share a car with a roommate.

Non-owners car insurance can also be a smart buy for those who borrow or rent cars frequently. This often applies to city dwellers who can drive but don’t own a car because parking space rents are high. A non-owners policy gives you the comfort of knowing you have insurance, rather than paying for liability from a rental agency or wondering what random coverage may exist on a car you borrow from a friend.

Proof of Car Insurance

Some people need a non-owners policy because they were caught driving without car insurance. The state can require you to buy car insurance that meets state financial responsibility laws or else give up your drivers license. You must file a form to prove you have the required insurance, often called an SR22. The form is standard in many states.

Not Always an Option

You should know that the insurance company might refuse to issue a non-owners policy if you have regular access to a car that could potentially cover you as a driver, such as one owned by a family member living in the same household. In that case, you would need to ask your relative to add you to their existing car insurance policy.

A non-owners policy will not cover anyone but you under any circumstances. These policies follow the driver, not the car.

Let Active Insurance Help

Let Active Insurance help you get the non-owners coverage you need, whether you rent a car, drive a friend’s car frequently or rent cars. We’ll help you find the right policy for you. When you call us, you talk to someone right away who will work hard to find you the coverage you need. Give us a call at (773) 278-9700.