How to register a car in Illinois
All vehicles must be registered with the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) office. If you have just moved to Illinois, you must register your vehicle within 30 days in person at the SOS office. Auto insurance must be purchased prior to registering the vehicle.
Registration of a new resident
If you are a new resident and wish to register your vehicle, you must provide the following:
- Completed Vehicle Transaction Application Form
- Proof that you live in Illinois
- Registration and title
- Description of the vehicle, such as make, model, year, VIN, and date of purchase.
- Tax forms that depend on whether you bought from a private seller or dealer
- Registration fee which is $101
- Tax fees that are based on the value of the car
Once you buy or receive a car in Illinois, whether you bought it or inherited it, you have 20 days to register it. If you buy it from a dealer, they send all documents to the SOS office. It is important to double check with the dealer to make sure everything is complete. If you bought a car from a private seller, you must personally register the car at your local SOS office.
Vehicle Registration
To register any vehicle, you must provide the following:
- Completed Vehicle Transaction Application
- Title deed signed by the previous owner
- Addresses and names of copyright holders, if applicable
- Completed Odometer Disclosure Application for Transfer of Ownership
- Tax Form RUT-50 Vehicle Tax Transaction for Individuals
- Pay the registration fees, which are 101 USD.
- Taxes depend on the value of the car
Non-Illinois military personnel must have auto insurance and proper registration of their vehicles in their home state. Failure to do so may result in a law enforcement officer stopping you and risking a fine.
Illinois does not require emissions testing to register a vehicle. However, vehicles must pass regular emissions tests. You can do this by submitting your VIN to the Ownership and Registration Request page, which will tell you if you need an emissions test.
If you have additional questions about this process, be sure to visit the Illinois CyberDrive SOS website.
