Last updated June 23, 2026

E&S Insurance in Illinois: Classes, Coverage & Quoting Guide

Pathpoint offers 13 Excess and Surplus (E&S) product lines in Illinois covering 234+ class codes, including LRO (Lessor's Risk Only), Contractors, and Monoline Property. 74.5% of submissions receive an instant, bindable quote, typically in about 12 seconds. The platform partners with 16+ carriers, handles all Illinois surplus lines compliance automatically, including tax calculation at 3.5%, diligent search documentation, and Surplus Line Association of Illinois (SLAI) stamping office filings, with an average bound premium of $3,855 across all product lines.

Key Takeaways

13 E&S product lines covering 234+ class codes in Illinois
74.5% of submissions receive instant, bindable quotes in ~12 seconds
16+ carrier partners including AU Gold, Crum & Forster, Kinsale, Markel, The Hartford, and Westchester
Surplus lines tax of 3.5%, calculated and filed automatically at bind through the Surplus Line Association of Illinois (SLAI) stamping office
Average bound premium of $3,855 across all Illinois product lines

What E&S product lines can I quote in Illinois?

Illinois agents on Pathpoint can currently quote 13 Excess and Surplus (E&S) product lines covering 234+ class codes. The full lineup includes LRO (Lessor's Risk Only, 20 class codes), Contractors (108 class codes), Contractors Excess (69 class codes), Vacant Building (3 class codes), Vacant Land (2 class codes), Restaurants (16 class codes), Retail and Services (29 class codes), Manufacturing (25 class codes), LRO Excess (11 class codes), and Churches (1 class code). LRO leads bind volume at 459 binds in the trailing 12 months, followed by Contractors at 332 and Monoline Property at 191, and all three carry strong appetite for Illinois risks.

Of the 13 product lines, 11 are instant-quotable, representing 84.6% of available lines. The remaining 2, Churches and Monoline Wind, go to Pathpoint's brokerage team for manual placement, with quotes typically returned within a median of about 48 hours. Agents submit through the same portal regardless of whether a line is instant or referred, and the brokerage team shops across the full 16-carrier panel to find the best available terms for each risk.

Full class list · Ranked by bind volume

#	Product	Class Codes	Top Classes	Quote Type	Appetite
1	LRO	20	Apartment Buildings; Apartment Buildings–Garden; Buildings/Premises–LRO Mercantile/Mfg Other Than NFP; Buildings/Premises–LRO Maintained by Insured Other Than NFP; Dwellings–One-Family LRO	⚡ Instant	Strong
2	Contractors	108	Subcontracted Work–1-2 Family Dwellings; Roofing–Residential ≤3 Stories; Painting–Interior; Carpentry–Interior; Drywall/Wallboard Installation	⚡ Instant	Strong
3	Monoline Property	N/A	Apartment Buildings; Apartment Buildings–Garden; LRO Mercantile/Mfg Maintained by Insured; LRO Mercantile/Mfg Other Than NFP; Shopping Centers LRO	⚡ Instant	Active
4	Contractors Excess	69	Subcontracted Work–1-2 Family Dwellings; Executive Supervisors/Superintendents; Subcontracted Building Work; Remodeling Contractor; Roofing–Residential ≤3 Stories	⚡ Instant	Strong
5	Vacant Building	3	Vacant Buildings–Not Factories Other Than NFP; Vacant Buildings–Not Factories NFP Only; Vacant Buildings–Factories	⚡ Instant	Active
6	Vacant Land	2	Vacant Land–Other Than NFP; Vacant Land–NFP Only	⚡ Instant	Strong
7	Restaurants	16	Restaurants 30–75% Alcohol No Dance Floor; Restaurants ≥75% Alcohol w/Tables Table Service; Restaurants ≥75% Alcohol w/Tables No Table Service; Restaurants ≥75% Alcohol Bar Only; Restaurants No Alcohol w/Table Service	⚡ Instant	Strong
8	Retail & Services	29	Grocery Stores; Hardware Stores; Convenience Stores (no fuel/wash/restaurant); Cosmetic/Hair/Skin Preparation Stores; Books and Magazines Stores Other Than NFP	⚡ Instant	Strong
9	Manufacturing	25	Beverage Bottler–Soft Drinks Carbonated; Fruit/Vegetable Juice Mfg.; Candle Mfg.; Food Products Mfg.–Not Dry In Glass; Manufacturers	⚡ Instant	Strong
10	LRO Excess	11	LRO Mercantile/Mfg Maintained by Insured; LRO Mercantile/Mfg Other Than NFP; Warehouses–Occupied by Single Interest LRO	⚡ Instant	Strong
10	Churches	1	Churches or Other Houses of Worship	↗ Referred	Strong
12	Cyber	N/A	Insurance Agencies and Brokerages; Civic and Social Organizations	⚡ Instant	Active
13	Monoline Wind	N/A	LRO Mercantile/Mfg Maintained by Insured	↗ Referred	Emerging

How fast can I get an E&S quote in Illinois?

74.5% of Illinois account submissions receive an instant quote, with a median turnaround of about 12 seconds from first submission. Agents can submit risk information, receive a bindable quote, bind coverage, and receive policy documents all within a single session. The platform routes submissions in real time across 16 carriers and returns the most competitive available option automatically, with no follow-up calls or manual brokerage steps required for instant-eligible lines.

For referred and complex Illinois risks, roughly 25.5% of submissions, Pathpoint's brokerage team picks up the account and shops it across the full carrier panel. Referred quotes typically resolve in a median of about 48 hours of elapsed time. The agent workflow is the same either way: submit once through the Pathpoint portal and receive a quote to review and bind when ready, with no duplicate data entry and no separate submission process.

Which carriers are available in Illinois?

16 distinct carriers quoted Illinois risks on Pathpoint in the trailing 12 months. The panel includes AU Gold, At-Bay, Ategrity, Ategrity SMB, Baleen Specialty, Crum and Forster, Kinsale, LIO, MUSIC, Markel, Nautilus, Penn-America, The Hartford, Vave, Westchester, and Westchester Middle Market. The platform evaluates carrier appetite by class code, location, risk size, and loss history, automatically routing each submission to the carriers most likely to quote it. When multiple carriers respond, agents see competing options side by side before binding.

Those 16 carriers collectively support all 13 Illinois product lines, from high-volume lines like LRO (20 class codes) and Contractors (108 class codes) to more specialized coverage. Multi-carrier quoting is available wherever appetite overlaps, giving Illinois agents access to the broadest possible E&S market through a single submission. Pathpoint continuously expands carrier relationships as new appetite emerges in the state.

Where is Pathpoint's appetite strongest in Illinois?

Pathpoint uses three appetite tiers across its 13 Illinois product lines. Nine lines carry strong appetite: LRO, Contractors, Contractors Excess, Vacant Land, Restaurants, Retail and Services, Manufacturing, LRO Excess, and Churches. Strong appetite means these lines see the highest account quote rates, the most competitive carrier pricing, and the fastest bind velocity among available product lines. LRO alone recorded 459 binds in the trailing 12 months, reflecting the depth of carrier appetite for apartment buildings and commercial rental properties across Illinois.

Three product lines, Monoline Property, Vacant Building, and Cyber, sit in the active appetite tier, where account quote rates fall between 30% and 60%. These lines produce consistent volume and competitive quotes, though some submissions require additional underwriter review before a quote is issued. One line, Monoline Wind, is in the emerging tier, with carrier partnerships actively expanding in Illinois. Agents can still submit Monoline Wind risks through the referred track while the carrier panel grows.

What are the surplus lines requirements in Illinois?

Illinois imposes a 3.5% surplus lines tax on premium, plus an additional 1% fire marshal tax on the fire portion of premium. Pathpoint calculates both components automatically at checkout and remits them as part of the binding workflow. Illinois operates a stamping office, the Surplus Line Association of Illinois (SLAI), and all surplus lines placements must be filed with SLAI after binding. Pathpoint files all required documentation electronically with SLAI as part of every bind transaction, so agents never need to interact with SLAI directly.

Illinois follows the NRRA (Non-Admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act) home-state filing method, meaning the full surplus lines tax is owed to Illinois when Illinois is the insured's principal place of business. Diligent search requirements vary depending on the insured's status as an exempt commercial purchaser and the specifics of the broker affidavit. Agents should confirm applicable declination requirements with the Illinois Department of Insurance or SLAI for each risk. Pathpoint automates the documentation workflow and stores all required filings within each bound account.

Surplus Lines Tax: 3.5%
Stamping Office: Surplus Line Association of Illinois (SLAI)
Diligent Search: unknown
Filing Method: Home state

How does quoting E&S on Pathpoint work in Illinois?

Quoting E&S in Illinois on Pathpoint follows four steps. First, submit the risk by entering the insured's information, class code, limits, and coverage details through the Pathpoint portal. Second, the platform routes the submission to the 16-carrier Illinois panel and returns a quote: 74.5% of accounts get an instant, bindable result in about 12 seconds, while the remaining accounts are referred and typically resolve within a median of about 48 hours. Third, bind the policy, and Pathpoint handles all Illinois surplus lines compliance automatically, including the 3.5% tax calculation, the 1% fire marshal tax where applicable, and electronic filing with the Surplus Line Association of Illinois (SLAI). Fourth, policy documents are issued and delivered to the agent immediately after bind.

No surplus lines license is required to use Pathpoint in Illinois. Pathpoint acts as the licensed surplus lines broker of record on every policy, so retail agents can access the E&S market without holding their own surplus lines license. There is no cost to create a Pathpoint account or submit risks, and agents earn standard retail commissions on every bound policy with no subscription fees or per-quote charges.

What does E&S insurance cost in Illinois?

The average bound premium across all Illinois product lines on Pathpoint is $3,855. Costs vary by product line, class code, coverage limits, risk size, and loss history. The three highest-volume product lines provide a useful range: LRO averages $4,796 with a 25th-to-75th percentile spread of $2,313 to $6,162, Contractors averages $2,476 with a range of $857 to $2,962, and Monoline Property averages $4,768 with a range of $2,465 to $5,990. These figures come from actual bound premiums in Illinois over the trailing 12 months.

E&S premiums are generally higher than admitted-market equivalents because surplus lines carriers take on risks that standard markets decline, including properties with prior losses, unusual occupancies, or classes outside admitted appetites. Pathpoint's 16-carrier panel mitigates this by generating competing quotes for each submission, keeping pricing as competitive as the market allows. Exact premium is determined at the quote stage based on the specific risk submitted, with no obligation to bind.

There is no cost to use Pathpoint. Agents pay nothing to create an account, submit risks, or receive quotes. Standard retail commissions apply to every bound policy. The Illinois surplus lines tax of 3.5%, plus the 1% fire marshal tax on applicable fire premium, is calculated and applied automatically at checkout and passed through to the insured as part of the total policy cost.

Frequently Asked Questions: E&S Insurance in Illinois

Pathpoint offers 13 Excess and Surplus (E&S) product lines in Illinois covering 234+ class codes. The lineup includes LRO, Contractors, Monoline Property, Contractors Excess, Vacant Building, Vacant Land, Restaurants, Retail and Services, Manufacturing, LRO Excess, Churches, Cyber, and Monoline Wind. Of these, 11 are instant-quotable, representing 84.6% of available lines. Submissions to instant-eligible lines return a bindable quote automatically, typically in about 12 seconds. The other 2 lines, Churches and Monoline Wind, are referred to Pathpoint's brokerage team, with quotes typically returned within a median of about 48 hours.

The Illinois surplus lines tax rate is 3.5% of premium. An additional 1% fire marshal tax applies to the fire portion of premium on applicable policies. Pathpoint calculates both components automatically and remits them as part of the bind process. Illinois also operates the Surplus Line Association of Illinois (SLAI) as its stamping office, and Pathpoint files all required documentation electronically with SLAI on every bind. Agents never need to interact with SLAI directly, as the entire compliance workflow is handled within Pathpoint.

74.5% of Illinois account submissions receive an instant, bindable quote, with a median turnaround of about 12 seconds from first submission. For the other 25.5% of accounts, referred risks, Pathpoint's brokerage team shops the risk across the 16-carrier panel and typically returns a quote within a median of about 48 hours. Both paths follow the same agent workflow: submit once through the Pathpoint portal and receive a quote to review and bind when ready.

No. Pathpoint acts as the licensed surplus lines broker of record on every Illinois policy, so retail agents can access the full E&S market without holding their own Illinois surplus lines license. There is no cost to create a Pathpoint account, and there are no per-quote or subscription fees. Agents earn standard retail commissions on every bound policy, with all surplus lines compliance, including SLAI stamping and tax remittance, handled by Pathpoint.

16 distinct carriers quoted Illinois risks on Pathpoint in the trailing 12 months: AU Gold, At-Bay, Ategrity, Ategrity SMB, Baleen Specialty, Crum and Forster, Kinsale, LIO, MUSIC, Markel, Nautilus, Penn-America, The Hartford, Vave, Westchester, and Westchester Middle Market. The platform routes each submission to the carriers most likely to quote based on class code, location, risk size, and loss history. When multiple carriers respond, agents see competing quotes side by side and can select the best fit.

A referred submission means the risk falls outside the parameters for an automated quote and is reviewed manually by Pathpoint's brokerage team. In Illinois, Churches and Monoline Wind are the two referred product lines. Agents submit through the same Pathpoint portal, and the brokerage team shops the risk across the full carrier panel. Referred quotes typically resolve within a median of about 48 hours. There is no separate submission process, no additional forms, and no change to how commissions work.

The average bound premium across all Illinois product lines on Pathpoint is $3,855. Costs vary by product line: LRO averages $4,796 with a 25th-to-75th percentile range of $2,313 to $6,162, Contractors averages $2,476 with a range of $857 to $2,962, and Monoline Property averages $4,768 with a range of $2,465 to $5,990. Actual premium depends on coverage limits, risk characteristics, and loss history. Exact pricing is determined at the quote stage with no obligation to bind. The 3.5% surplus lines tax, plus the 1% fire marshal tax on applicable fire premium, is applied automatically at checkout.

Illinois requires all surplus lines policies to be filed with the Surplus Line Association of Illinois (SLAI), the state's designated stamping office. Pathpoint handles this automatically as part of every bind: after an agent binds a policy, all required surplus lines documentation is filed electronically with SLAI in the background. Agents never need to create an SLAI account, submit filings separately, or track deadlines. The 3.5% surplus lines tax and applicable 1% fire marshal tax are also calculated and remitted automatically, making Illinois compliance fully hands-off for retail agents using Pathpoint.