Illinois Car Registration: How Much Does It Cost to Register a Car in Illinois?

For a standard passenger vehicle, the Illinois car registration fee is $151. If you also need a new Illinois title, the title fee is $165, bringing the standard title-and-registration cost to $316 before any applicable vehicle tax.

Your total can differ if you transfer existing Illinois plates, owe vehicle use tax, choose specialty plates, or register an electric vehicle.

How Much Does It Cost to Register a Car in Illinois?

The standard registration fee for an Illinois passenger vehicle is $151. That amount covers the standard registration/license plates; it does not include a new title or vehicle tax.

Here are the main fees for a standard passenger vehicle:

The $316 total consists of the $165 title fee plus the $151 registration fee. A qualifying plate transfer costs $25, or $190 when a new title is also required.

These figures do not include applicable vehicle taxes or extra charges for personalized, vanity, specialty, or certain vehicle-specific plates.

How Much Is Title and Registration in Illinois?

For a standard passenger vehicle that needs both an Illinois title and registration, the current combined fee is $316 before applicable tax.

A title establishes the vehicle's ownership record. Registration is tied to the vehicle's registration and license plates for operation on public roads.

The standard title fee is $165, while standard passenger registration is $151. A newly acquired vehicle may require both, which is why someone buying and registering a car can pay more than the registration fee alone.

Vehicle tax is separate. For that reason, $316 should not be treated as the final total for every vehicle purchase.

Is It Cheaper to Transfer License Plates or Get New Ones in Illinois?

If you already have Illinois plates that qualify for transfer to your newly acquired vehicle, transferring them can cost less than obtaining a new standard registration.

The current fee is:

• Plate transfer only: $25
• Title + plate transfer: $190

The $190 total includes the $165 title fee and $25 transfer fee.

By comparison, a standard title plus new passenger registration costs $316. For an eligible transaction, that makes title plus plate transfer $126 less in Secretary of State fees.

Not every set of plates can automatically be transferred. The Secretary of State requires the appropriate VSD 190 transaction application and the registration identification card for the plates being transferred, and additional documentation may be required depending on how ownership changes.

How Do I Calculate Illinois Vehicle Use Tax?

Vehicle use tax is separate from Illinois title and registration fees, and the calculation depends on how you acquired the vehicle.

For a vehicle purchased or otherwise acquired from a private party, Illinois generally requires Form RUT-50, Private Party Vehicle Use Tax Transaction. The form is due within 30 days of acquiring the vehicle in Illinois, or within 30 days of bringing it into Illinois if it was acquired outside the state.

For 2026, the RUT-50 calculation uses two main tables:

• If the purchase price or fair market value is less than $15,000, Table A determines the tax based on the vehicle's age.
• If the purchase price or fair market value is $15,000 or more, Table B determines the tax using value ranges.

For example, Table A currently ranges from $465 for a vehicle one year old or newer to $100 for a vehicle 11 years old or older. Table B begins at $850 for a vehicle valued from $15,000 through $19,999.99.

Some local governments also impose their own private-party vehicle use tax, so your location can affect the amount due.

Dealer purchases follow a different process. An Illinois dealer generally submits the applicable sales-tax transaction return, tax payment, title and registration application, and related fees on the buyer's behalf.

The key point is that vehicle tax is not included in the $316 standard title-and-registration fee.

What Is Needed to Register a Car in Illinois?

The exact documents depend on the transaction, but a typical Illinois title-and-registration application may require:

• The original vehicle title
• Proof of insurance
• The printed Electronic Registration and Title application
• The appropriate tax form
• Title and registration payment
• Lien or loan information when applicable

The Secretary of State's checklist says required documents must be valid and correct and that photocopies are not accepted when original documents are required.

Requirements can differ depending on whether the vehicle is new, used, purchased from a private party, bought from a dealer, financed, or brought into Illinois from another state.

For example, a new Illinois resident generally needs an out-of-state title, proof of insurance, the ERT transaction document, applicable tax paperwork, and the required fees. Different documentation may apply when an out-of-state lienholder holds the title.

Can You Register a Car Online in Illinois?

You can start and prepare many Illinois title-and-registration transactions online, but the standard process is not fully online from beginning to end.

The Secretary of State's Electronic Registration and Title system lets you complete and print the Application for Vehicle Transaction(s), VSD 190. It can be used for transactions including:

• Title
• Title and transfer
• Title and registration
• Corrected title

After completing the application, you must provide the required supporting documents and payment. The Secretary of State says applicants can take the paperwork to a facility within seven days or submit the transaction by mail.

One important exception is a transfer-only transaction, which the Secretary of State says cannot currently be completed through the online ERT system.

So, while you can begin the process online, you should not assume that every registration transaction can be completed entirely online.

Conclusion

For a standard passenger vehicle, Illinois car registration costs $151. If you also need an original Illinois title, the standard combined title-and-registration cost is $316 before vehicle tax. A qualifying plate transfer costs $25, or $190 when combined with a new title.

Your final cost may be higher because of vehicle use tax, electric-vehicle fees, specialty plates, or other transaction-specific charges. Check the Illinois Secretary of State and Illinois Department of Revenue requirements that apply to your vehicle before submitting your application.