SPRINGFIELD –– Illinois' newly designed license plates are now being distributed to passenger car owners who have registrations expiring in March, Secretary of State Jesse White said today. New, smaller renewal stickers designed to accommodate the new design plates also are being issued to B-truck and motorcycle owners who have registrations expiring in March.
It is now too late to mail applications and guarantee delivery of new plates and stickers before the March 31 expiration date. Anyone driving a vehicle on or after April 1 with an expired March 2002 sticker will be subject to a $75 fine for improper registration.
White said motorists can purchase the new plates and stickers online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com, by using the "TouchTone Renewal" system, or by visiting a Driver Services facility.
New design plates are being issued based on the renewal month. All passenger plates will be distributed by July 2002, while B-trucks, motorcycles and all other plate categories will receive new plates in 2003.
Illinois motorists, by law, have the right to retain their current letter and number combinations on their new design plates. If a motorist chooses to retain the number, he or she will be given a 120-day Temporary Renewal Sticker to affix to the old license plate until the new plates are manufactured and delivered to the motorist.
If a motorist does not care to retain his or her current letter and number combination on the new plates, random-number plates are available immediately over the counter at 116 Driver Services facilities. Those facilities also issue renewal stickers for B-trucks and motorcycles.
Temporary Renewal Stickers issued when ordering new design plates and B-truck and motorcycle renewal stickers for 2003 also are available at about 2,500 financial institutions statewide for a slight additional fee.
Pre-printed renewal applications have been mailed to 933,586 passenger car, B-truck and motorcycle owners who renew their registrations in March.
A list of facilities selling plates and stickers is below.
