Vehicle owners in Illinois are required to carry liability and uninsured motorist protection in order to be in compliance with state law. Personal injury protection is not mandatory, but many drivers add this type of coverage to their policy. The advantage of PIP is that medical costs will be covered immediately. Insurance companies often will honor a claim involving PIP much more rapidly than when health insurance is used to cover the costs of injuries sustained in a traffic accident.Adding PIP To An Auto Coverage PolicyInsurance providers in Illinois will automatically issue a quote that includes uninsured motorist protection and the state minimum liability coverage, which is 20/40/15. The shopper will usually be asked if he or she would like to add PIP as an optional coverage. Personal injury protection generally starts at around $5,000, but customers can double or even triple this amount. Illinois is not a no-fault state, meaning that insurance coverage does not have to include immediate protection for anyone suffering injuries in an automobile accident. However, carrying PIP means that the insured will not have to wait for a decision about liability and who was At Fault in an accident involving bodily injuries and medical costs.Personal injury protection varies according to the provider and the amount taken out on the policy. It is a good idea to ask an insurance agent about what PIP may or may not cover. In some cases the passengers as well as driver will be included on the policy. The coverage may also extend to all adult drivers in the household who use the insured's vehicle. Children injured while riding on a public school bus may also be covered under certain PIP policies.Shopping For Affordable PIP InsuranceSome insurance companies offer several different levels of personal injury protection. When using a comparison site to shop for car insurance, customers will be able to add this optional protection to see how it affects the total monthly payment. Personal injury protection can be rather expensive, but if multiple vehicles are insured and the policy extends to other members of the household, PIP becomes less of a financial burden.It is important to note that PIP is not a substitute for uninsured motorist protection. All drivers must carry UM protection in the state of Illinois. Personal injury protection is used to take care of emergency medical bills, but uninsured motorist protection will likely cover the remaining expenses as well as damage to the insured's vehicle should it be struck by a driver not carrying proper liability protection.