Registering a Vehicle in Illinois

Illinois titles and registrations are processed through the same agency that handles your driver's license — the Illinois Secretary of State. Most paperwork uses a single multi-purpose form, the VSD 190, but the fees stack up quickly: $165 for the title alone, $151 for an annual passenger plate, plus a Vehicle Use Tax that's tiered by vehicle age and value.

The 30-day deadline

Illinois gives new owners 30 days from the date of purchase or the date you become an Illinois resident to title and register the vehicle. Penalties for late title transfer start at $20 for the first month and rise to $30 thereafter, plus interest on any unpaid Vehicle Use Tax.

What you'll need to bring

• The signed Certificate of Title from the seller (or the dealer's manufacturer's certificate of origin for a new vehicle).
• A completed VSD 190 — Application for Vehicle Transaction(s).
• An RUT-50 Vehicle Use Tax form for private-party purchases, or an RUT-25 for out-of-state dealer purchases.
• An odometer disclosure, either on the title or on a separate Form VSD 333 for older titles.
• A passing emissions test certificate if the vehicle is registered in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Madison, Monroe, or St. Clair counties (vehicles 1996 and newer; 4 model years exempt).
• Proof of Illinois liability insurance meeting the 25/50/20 minimum.
• Your Illinois driver's license or state ID.
• Payment for the title fee, registration fee, Vehicle Use Tax, and any local taxes.

Fees

Illinois has some of the higher one-time vehicle fees in the country:

• Title fee: $165.
• Standard passenger registration: $151 per year (includes $148 plate fee + $3 surcharge).
• Truck (B-plate, 8,000-pound class): $153 per year.
• Motorcycle: $41 per year.
• Personalized plate: additional $94 first year, $25 renewal.
• Title transfer correction: $50 (Form VSD 333).

Vehicle Use Tax

Illinois charges a Vehicle Use Tax on private-party purchases that's tiered by vehicle age and price. For most cars under 10 years old purchased for $15,000 or more, the tax is 6.25% of the purchase price (statewide). For older or lower-value vehicles, the tax is a flat amount that ranges from $25 (vehicle 11+ years old) to $390 (newer vehicle, $30,000+ purchase price). Cook County, Chicago, and several home-rule municipalities add their own local vehicle tax — Chicago alone adds $90 for cars and $138 for trucks.

License plates

Illinois issues either a numeric "AB 12345" passenger plate format or one of more than 100 specialty plate designs (university, military, environmental, "Choose Life"). Standard plates and stickers are issued at the Driver Services Facility for new registrations. Specialty plates are mailed in 4-8 weeks after a separate application and additional fee. Antique plates are available for vehicles 25+ years old.

Out-of-state vehicles

If you're moving to Illinois from another state, you have 30 days to title and register the vehicle. Bring the out-of-state title (signed over to you), the most recent registration card, an odometer reading, proof of identity, two proofs of Illinois residency, and proof of insurance. Vehicles from emissions-test states usually still need an Illinois emissions test if your new ZIP code falls in one of the nine emissions counties.

Leased vehicles

For a leased vehicle, the leasing company is the legal owner and applies for the title. The lessee pays the registration fee and the Vehicle Use Tax (if a private-party transaction is involved) and signs the VSD 190 as the registered driver. The title is mailed to the leasing company; the lessee receives only the registration card and plates.

For broader registration questions, see the national vehicle registration guide and the VIN decoder tool.