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Illinois License PlateIllinois license plates are metal plates attached to motor vehicles registered in the state to help identify them and their owners (individuals or businesses). These plates typically display license numbers, which are the official identities of vehicles to which they are registered. In addition, Illinois license plates have stickers indicating when the tags expire. All forms of motor vehicles, including autocycles, motorcycles, semi-trailers, trailers, buses, trucks, and truck tractors, require license plates in the state. Per 625 ILCS 5/3-413, license plates or digital registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than the following must be attached to the front and rear sides:
License plates or digital registration plates of all vehicles in the state must be securely affixed to vehicles in a horizontal position to prevent them from swinging. The only exception is vehicles with rear-motorized forklifts. A motorcycle license plate may also be fastened vertically, but it must be visible to everyone. The license plate issued for a trailer, semi-trailer, motorcycle, or autocycle must be attached to the rear of such motor vehicles. On the other hand, the registration plate issued for an apportioned truck or a truck tractor in Illinois must be fastened to the front. A license plate measured from the bottom to the ground must be at least 5" from the ground.
The Vehicle Services Department of Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) issues the following categories of vehicle license plates:
Illinois License Plate Design and FormatsIllinois license plates come in different designs, but a standard plate contains alphanumeric characters, usually starting with two letters, while the rest are numerals. Motor vehicles like commercial vehicles, trailers, and other regular vehicles use seven characters, while motorcycles use six characters. Customized Illinois license plates can have between two and seven characters as plate numbers.
Standard license plates in Illinois manifest the state's rich culture and history. They have a blue and white background with stickers showing when license plates will expire. In addition, standard Illinois license plates feature the famous profile of Abraham Lincoln, with the word "LAND OF LINCOLN" written at the bottom of the plates. The state's name, ILLINOIS, is written in block letters on the license plates. Specialty plates display unique characters showing support for special interests, an organization, or a cause. On the other hand, Illinois personalized license plates can show vehicle owners' preferred alphanumeric characters.
Standard Plates
Specialty Plates and Personalized Plates
Illinois Vanity License PlateAlso called personalized license plates, vanity license plates in Illinois are plates with alphabets or numerals preferred and chosen by vehicle owners to make their vehicles stand out. In Illinois, these plates reflect the personalities of vehicle owners or any messages they wish to communicate. Illinois vanity license plates are valid and recognized when the vehicles on which they are affixed are taken on out-of-state tours.
Before you can obtain a vanity license plate in Illinois, you must check the availability of your preferred plate number using the Pick-A-Plate Portal provided by the SOS. To do this, select "Passenger" from the drop-down menu, enter your preferred plate number, and click "Check Availability". You can only have one to seven letters or a maximum of three numbers for vanity license plates, while personalized plates can have numbers and alphabets with a space between numbers and letters. While choosing a vanity/license plate in Illinois, make sure not to use a space between numbers or intermix numbers and letters. Also, do away with punctuation symbols and offensive combinations or foreign words.
You can continue with your registration if your preferred license plate number is available. Typically, you will need your current license plate number and the last four numbers of your vehicle identification number (VIN). Once you enter these details and the expiration year of your current license, submit your request. However, you will not be awarded your license plate selection until you complete the required verification and pay the necessary fees. It costs $123 to switch to vanity license plates and $76 for personalized license plates.
Most Popular Illinois Special Plate NumbersCommonly used special plates in Illinois include those listed below:
Illinois License Plate LookupIllinois license plate lookup involves searching for vehicle information using certain parameters on a license plate. A license plate search usually requires the state of registration and the full license plate number. Looking up license plates in Illinois is something residents should consider when looking to buy used cars, as it can help them uncover the history and evaluate the current status of their potential acquisition. Besides trying to find vehicles' histories, people can also search plate numbers to obtain certain details about their (vehicle) owners.
The results of an Illinois license plate lookup will reveal various information, including the following:
You can look up an Illinois vehicle license plate using Recordsfinder or any other third-party website. No free license plate lookup will disclose a vehicle owner's personal information in line with the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). With a number plate search, you will only get vehicle-related information such as the make, color, model, and year of manufacture. You basically need the state's name and a vehicle license plate number to perform a license plate lookup in Illinois. Only authorized individuals or entities can get comprehensive details of vehicles from license plate lookups.
A reverse license plate number search allows you to obtain related information about a vehicle using the vehicle's license plate number or VIN. With Recordsfinder, you can perform a reverse license plate number search on any vehicle registered in Illinois. However, you need a DPPA-allowable reason to do a reverse license plate lookup on any vehicle and must be approved to do that.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Illinois?The Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) issues standard license plates after vehicle registration. Generally, new residents in the state have 30 days to obtain an Illinois title and complete vehicle registrations after establishing residency. The state primarily accepts vehicle registration applications through its Electronic Registration and Title System (ERT). The ERT allows you to complete and print an Application for Vehicle Transactions (VSD 190) online. You must provide certain supporting documents to verify the following information as part of the application:
If a vehicle is leased, then you need the following documents:
Additional documentation, such as the following, may be needed for some Illinois license plate categories:
To complete an Illinois vehicle registration application/transaction, you must submit your completed VSD 190 application (printed from the ERT), necessary supporting documentation, and payment to the SOS within 7 days of completing the Application for Vehicle Transaction Form in any of the following ways:
The costs of registering a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, B-Truck, and a small trailer with Illinois standard license plates are listed below:
The Secretary of State (SOS) only accepts checks and money orders as means of payment.
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and Commercial License Plate in IllinoisCommercial license plates are issued for vehicles used primarily for business purposes, like those used for carrying freight or other goods and merchandise for commercial purposes. On the other hand, passenger license plates are standard plates issued for passenger vehicles like vans, cars, and SUVs. They are the most common types of license plates everywhere, including Illinois. Below are the major differences between Illinois passenger license plates and commercial plates:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Type | Issued for sport utility vehicles and vehicles weighing 8,000 lbs or less designed primarily for the purpose of carrying passengers, including passenger vehicles pulling light or recreational trailers | Issued for vehicles weighing not less than 10,000 lbs and those designed to carry at least 15 people and operated by contract carrier transporting employees or those transporting nine or more individuals in exchange for direct compensation |
| Plate Design | Contains the regular license plate number and other regular features like the state's name and the inscription "LAND OF LINCOLN" | Besides the regula features of an Illinois license plate, commercial license plates contain some one or two alphabets at the extreme end of the plate showing the commercial vehicle type. The letters include LY for Delivery (for-hire) vehicles, CV for vehicles used for funeral services, charity, taxis, and busses, and D is for semi-trailers, trailers, and tow trucks |
The requirements for obtaining Illinois passenger license plates and commercial license plates are largely the same. However, an application for a commercial license plate requires suitable insurance, and the application cannot be initiated online. It requires a visit to the nearest SOS facility.
How To Renew License Plate in IllinoisVehicle registrations are valid for one year in Illinois and must be renewed annually by applying to the Secretary of State (SOS). Vehicle registrations and, by extension, license plates in the state can be renewed by mail, online, or in person. Typically, the SOS will send you a renewal notice reminding you of the impending expiration of your vehicle registration.
Use the Online License Plate Renewal Portal to apply for Illinois vehicle registration renewal. You will need your Registration ID and PIN, which you can find on your current registration and the renewal notice sent by the SOS. Enter both information in their respective fields on the portal and submit the request. The SOS accepts personal checks or credit cards (Discover, Visa, American Express, or MasterCard) as a form of payment for online vehicle registration renewal applications. Expect an additional charge if using a credit card for payment.
For in-person Illinois license plate renewal, visit the nearest SOS facility, participating bank, or currency exchange with your renewal notice. You can use checks, cash, traveler's check, or credit card as a means of payment. You will be charged a bank processing fee for the transaction if you pay with a credit card.
You can also mail your vehicle registration renewal request to the SOS in Illinois. All you need do is sign your name on the bottom area of your renewal notice and send it alongside a check (payable to the Illinois Secretary of State) by mail to the SOS at:
Illinois Secretary of StateIf you do not have a current registration card or did not receive a renewal notice from the SOS, contact the Public Inquiry Division at (217) 758-3000 (if outside Illinois) or (800) 252-8980 (toll-free in Illinois). A staff of the division will give you your PIN and Registration ID after verification to enable you to apply for your vehicle renewal registration. The cost of renewing an Illinois standard license plate is $151, while a personalized plate's renewal costs $158. Vanity license plate owners pay $164. Allow about 30 days for the SOS to deliver your renewal sticker by mail.
How To Transfer a License Plate in IllinoisTo transfer an Illinois license plate from your old vehicle to a new one, you must complete the Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) Form (VSD 190). You can fill out the form online using the Electronic Registration and Title System (ERT) and print it. Alternatively, you can call the SOS's Public Inquiry Division at (800) 252-8980 (Illinois only) to request a VSD 190 Form or complete the form when visiting the nearest SOS facility. While completing the VSD 190 Form, select "Title and Transfer" or "Transfer" if what you intend to do is to transfer current plates between your old vehicle and a new one.
To complete your Illinois license plate transfer request, visit the nearest SOS facility in person to submit the completed VSD 190 Form and the most recent vehicle registration ID card for the license plate you intend to transfer. Include a completed Affirmation of Correction Form (VSD 393) if the old vehicle was registered in two or more names and there are individuals whose names will not appear as owners of the new car.
It costs $25, payable to the Illinois Secretary of State, to transfer a license plate from a person's old vehicle to a new one in the state. Generally, license plates belong to vehicle owners in Illinois, not their vehicles, which is why they can transfer license plates to any other vehicle they own.
Illinois License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)An Illinois Department of Transportation's (ITD) policy prohibits sharing, selling, or disclosing personal information provided by vehicle owners to any unauthorized person or individual. Such information includes name, address, driver's license number, telephone number, email address, and Social Security Number (SSN). This ITD policy complies with the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), which only permits the disclosure of information contained in vehicle records to approved entities and individuals for legal purposes. Authorized entities include government agencies, law enforcement agencies, and licensed investigators. In other words, unless you qualify under DPPA laws, finding a license plate's owner in Illinois is illegal. You will be committing a state and federal offense if you do so under false pretense.
If you need to find a license plate owner in Illinois, it is best to contact the police or any other law enforcement agency to assist. While you cannot legally look up a vehicle owner's personal information unless authorized, Recordsfinder and other third-party websites provide a reliable means of searching a license plate for a car's basic information. With VINs, people can obtain records of over 269 million vehicles in the United States because vehicle plate numbers are linked to VINs in the public vehicle records. Generally, you will be able to find basic information like a vehicle's make, color, model, and year of manufacture.
Yes. You can get a replacement license plate in Illinois by submitting an application to the Secretary of State (SOS) online. Alternatively, you can apply in person at a local SOS facility or submit an Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) Form (VSD 190) by mail to the SOS. Where a person seeks license plate replacement following the loss of both license plates, they will be issued new plate numbers unless they specifically request to keep the old license plate numbers. If you lost only one plate and intend to keep the same plate number, submit the sticker/license plate replacement form and fee to the SOS office, and you will be issued a new plate with the same number. The Illinois SOS charges $6 for a single license plate and $9 for a pair.
In Illinois, the police are legally allowed to run license plates and can find a range of information when they do so, including the following:
Yes, with a plate number, it is possible to look up an Illinois license plate for free. Various online services will permit you to conduct a free initial license plate search for limited information. A person may want to conduct a free license plate lookup in the state for several reasons. For example, residents are encouraged to search license plates when purchasing used vehicles to find out whether such cars have been reported stolen. License plate search can also provide someone with a vehicle history and prevent them from buying a fraudulent or damaged vehicle or a vehicle with a cloned VIN. In addition, a free Illinois license plate lookup can help you determine the market price of a used car, which in turn influences how to bargain the price.
Use Recordsfinder, a reliable third-party website, whenever you need to search a license plate in Illinois. The website will provide an authorized individual or entity with a range of information on the vehicle whose license plate is being searched, including the following:
All Illinois-issued vehicle registrations and, by extension, license plates expire one year after issuance and must be renewed annually to keep them active/current. It is illegal to drive with an expired vehicle registration in the state. You will only enjoy a 30-day grace period if you were not notified of the expiry date by mail. Typically, the SOS will send you a renewal notice before your license plates expire. You may be charged with driving on an expired license plate if caught operating a motor vehicle with an expired registration. Typically, Illinois fines offenders $90 for driving vehicles with expired stickers/vehicle registrations and a late fee of $20 in addition to the cost of the sticker.
No. License plates issued by the Illinois Department of State belong to vehicle owners. Hence, no state law requires them to return the plates if they sell their vehicles or move permanently to another state. If you sell your car, you can transfer the license plate attached to it to another vehicle owned by you because it is considered your property. Although the state will not penalize you for not surrendering your Illinois license plates when you relocate to another state, you may return them if you wish. Typically, you will have to register your vehicle in the new state and obtain new license plates.
The state allows vehicle owners to keep their Illinois license plates even when they move to another state. No Illinois law requires you to return your license plate when moving out of the state permanently. However, depending on the rules in your new state, you can only use your Illinois license plates for a limited period and must apply for vehicle registration in that state. Once your vehicle is registered, the state will issue you new license plates. Illinois will not penalize you for keeping license plates issued in the state as long as you do not use them after they expire. You may choose to destroy the plates or return them to the SOS if you wish.
The size of a standard license plate in Illinois is 12" x 6" with an artwork dimension of 11" x 5.25". License plates are designed in such a way that they accommodate four or five full-sized (3.5" high) engraved characters and a suffix that runs along the center horizontally.
A vehicle owner who has filed a valid registration application with the SOS can operate a newly acquired vehicle in Illinois with a Temporary Registration Permit (TRP). They can also obtain TRPs from licensed vehicle dealers, currency exchangers, or remittance agents. You can only drive with an Illinois TRP on the back of your vehicle for 90 days after issuance. It is an offense to use it beyond its validity period. You can obtain another Temporary Registration Permit (from an SOS facility only) if you have not received your permanent vehicle registration before the current TRP expires.
Illinois license plates can be renewed by renewing the vehicle registrations on which they are attached, and you can do that by applying online, by mail, or in person:
You must apply for replacement license plates if they are stolen or defaced, or if you lost one or both of your Illinois license plates by using any of the following three ways: