Registering and titling a vehicle in Illinois: new residents, purchases and renewals

How to title and register a vehicle in Illinois after buying from a dealer or a private seller or moving from another state, plus renewal options, insurance rules and license plates, from the Illinois Secretary of State.

Guide · Illinois · Vehicle registration · Titles · updated October 29, 2026

Vehicle titles, registration and license plates in Illinois are handled by the Vehicle Services Department of the Illinois Secretary of State, the same office that issues driver's licenses. You can apply at a Secretary of State facility (DMV) or by mail. Some private businesses also help: remittance agents are authorized by the Secretary of State to accept title and registration fees and charge a handling fee, and a number of currency exchanges and banks sell renewal stickers. This guide covers buying a vehicle, moving to Illinois, renewing, insurance and plates.

The basics

One form covers most vehicle transactions: the Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (VSD 190). It is used for title and plates, plates only, a sticker, a title transfer, a corrected title and a duplicate registration card. You can complete and print it online through the Electronic Registration and Title (ERT) system, pick one up at a facility, or call 800-252-8980.

Title applications can be submitted in person or by mail to:

Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Department, 501 S. 2nd St., Room 014, Springfield, IL 62756.

The Secretary of State lists the original title fee at $165 and a standard passenger plate registration at $151. Its FAQ gives $316 as the total for a standard vehicle. Titles are always mailed; the FAQ says this takes about three to four weeks after the application is received.

Before you submit, the Secretary of State suggests you check that:

• The vehicle details on the title match the application
• The title is properly assigned from the seller to you
• The odometer reading and date of sale are filled in on the back of the title
• The VIN on the title matches the one on the dash or door

Buying a vehicle

From an Illinois dealer

The dealer submits the paperwork for you. This includes the sales tax return (Form ST-556) and tax payment, the title and registration application, the surrender document (the old title or certificate of origin) and the fees. The FAQ says you get a Temporary Registration Permit (TRP) on a new vehicle purchase. It is valid for 90 days and is displayed in place of the rear plate until your plates arrive.

From a private seller

The seller signs the title over to you on the back. The FAQ says the title must show the signed and printed names of all sellers and buyers and an odometer certification. If two names are on the title, both must sign. The title does not need to be notarized.

You then submit Form VSD 190, the $165 title fee and the signed title. Tax applies to all vehicle sales between individuals. You file Form RUT-50 and pay the tax separately to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The tax is based on the vehicle's model year if the price is under $15,000, or on the price if it is $15,000 or more.

After a private purchase, the FAQ says you may drive the vehicle for 24 hours with the title in your possession to get it to an agent or a Secretary of State facility. If you mailed your application yourself, you may drive while displaying a signed copy of it in the lower-right corner of the windshield.

Moving to Illinois with a vehicle

The Secretary of State says new residents have 30 days after establishing residence to apply for an Illinois title and registration, as long as the vehicle is properly registered in another jurisdiction. You must visit a Secretary of State facility.

The checklist for new residents lists what to bring:

• Form VSD 190 with your name and Illinois address, the odometer reading and the vehicle description (year, make, model, VIN, body type, purchase date)
• Names and addresses of any lienholders
• Original signatures of all owners
• Your out-of-state title. If a lienholder holds it, bring a copy of the title, certificate of origin, out-of-state registration or bill of sale, plus a copy of the loan agreement
• Applicable fees and taxes

Vehicles titled and registered in another jurisdiction for 3 months or more before the move are exempt from Illinois tax. You still complete a Department of Revenue form (RUT-50 or RUT-25) showing the exemption. Leased vehicles need extra documents, such as the lease agreement. For the license side of a move, see the Illinois driver license and ID card guide.

Renewing your registration

You renew every year by buying a plate sticker. The Secretary of State mails a renewal notice as a courtesy, but it says keeping your registration current is your responsibility. If you are not making changes, you can renew:

• Online, with your renewal notice or your Registration ID and PIN. Payment is by credit or debit card or e-check, and a processing fee applies to cards. The sticker arrives in 5 to 10 business days.
• By phone at 866-545-9609, with a credit card.
• By mail, with your signed renewal notice and a check to the Illinois Secretary of State. Allow 30 days.
• In person at a DMV, currency exchange or participating bank. Payment by cash, check, traveler's check or credit card.

Your Registration ID and PIN are on your renewal notice and on any registration card for the same plate. If you have none of these, call 800-252-8980 (in Illinois) or 217-785-3000 (outside Illinois).

You cannot renew online if your vehicle information is wrong or the sticker must go to an out-of-state address. In the Chicago and Metro-East St. Louis areas, the vehicle must have passed an emissions test before you renew online.

Insurance

The Secretary of State says liability insurance is required for all motor vehicles that must display plates and are driven. Trailers are exempt. It verifies each vehicle's policy electronically at least twice a year. If coverage cannot be confirmed, the registration can be suspended, and reinstating it requires insurance and a $100 fee. Drivers convicted of driving uninsured face a minimum fine of $500.

License plates

The FAQ explains that Illinois vehicles carry two plates, which law enforcement relies on for identification. Replacement fees listed by the Secretary of State are $20 for a sticker, $6 for one plate and $9 for two. Plates that are peeling, chipping or rusting can be replaced for free online. Personalized and specialty plates are ordered through the Pick-A-Plate service. A plate switch from standard to personalized does not require a TRP.

To visit an office, see the Illinois DMV visit guide and the Illinois DMV office list.