Illinois car licensing

More information on completing vehicle title transactions can be found at our guide on Title Transfers in Illinois , which will help you properly transfer the title from one owner to another.

Members of the Armed Forces who are not residents of Illinois must maintain proper registration and insurance of their vehicles in their home state, or risk being pulled over and fined by the police.

Illinois residents in the military should follow the same procedures as described in the vehicle registration section above. You will receive regular license plates at the SOS office when you register your vehicle. If you would like a specialty plate or personalized license plate, you can get one for an extra fee.

Ordering special license plates will take 60 to 90 days to arrive after the application is filed with the Secretary of State. The TRP is a cardboard license plate that must be attached where the rear license plate normally lives, and is valid for 90 days from the date of registration.

You will receive another TRP to use until your new license plates arrive. Make sure to note the transfer when filling out your Application for Vehicle Transactions. Find all the information you need to finish your moving requirements with the DMV. There are a number of different fees that you may be required to pay depending on the type of vehicle, vehicle weight, or license plate you have.

The most common types of Illinois vehicle registration per year fees are:. Emissions testing is not required to register a vehicle in Illinois. Vehicles do need to get regular emissions tests, so you may want to find out if your new vehicle is due for emissions testing. Remember to print out your transactions receipt. If you renew online before your previous registration expired, the receipt shows proof your registration has been renewed.

This receipt is valid for 30 days after your previous registration's expiration date. To renew your registration by phone, call the Illinois SOS at and:. To renew your vehicle registration by mail , return your signed renewal notice and payment by mail to the address listed on your renewal notice. If you did not receive a renewal notice , you can submit the following by mail to renew your registration:. To renew your vehicle registration in person , visit your local Illinois DMV office and:.

NOTE : If you have not signed up to receive your notice through email, you must renew your registration in person. Still confused about the Illinois mandatory insurance requirements?

Illinois Car Licensing and Registration Guide. Compare Car Insurance Quotes. Enter your info. Compare companies. Lock-in your price. Be done.