Rules of the Road

CHAPTER 13: OWNING A VEHICLE

Many responsibilities come with owning a vehicle, such as vehicle registration and title, mandatory insurance and special license plates.

Vehicle Registration and Title  |   Mandatory Insurance  |   Temporary Registration Permit  |   Vehicles Purchased in Illinois  |   Vehicles Purchased Out of State  |   License Plates/Registration  |   License Plate Renewals  |   Reduced-Fee License Plates   |   Special License Plates  |   Persons with Disabilities License Plates and Parking Placards

Vehicle Registration and Title

When you register your vehicle, you are providing the state with a record of that vehicle. This registration allows you to use your vehicle on Illinois roadways.

• Some vehicles do not need to be registered in Illinois. Vehicle registration is not necessary for some manufacturers, transporters, dealers, farm equipment, special mobile equipment and out-of-state registered vehicles that travel from state to state for business reasons. States make arrangements, declarations and reciprocal agreements to allow vehicles to cross state borders without being registered in every state.
• To register your vehicle in Illinois, you must have an Illinois Certificate of Title. This document shows that you own the vehicle.
• All vehicles and mobile homes must have a Certificate of Title whether or not they are registered.
• A purchaser of a vehicle must obtain registration for that vehicle prior to its operation on the roadways.
• For more information, please call 800-252-8980.

Back to Top

Mandatory Insurance

All motor vehicles operated in Illinois must be covered by liability insurance. Vehicle liability insurance pays for injuries or damages you may cause with your vehicle to other persons or their property. Vehicle owners are required to provide insurance information at the time of registration renewal. Once the vehicle owner signs the registration or renewal application, he or she affirms the vehicle is properly insured. Some vehicle classes are required to carry higher liability coverage under other laws.

Minimum liability insurance limits are:

• $20,000 for injury or death of one person in a crash
• $40,000 for injury or death of more than one person in a crash
• $15,000 for damage to property of another person

Evidence of liability coverage must be carried by the motorist or in the vehicle and shown to law enforcement officers upon request. Insurance companies must issue Illinois insurance cards to their policyholders for evidence of coverage. Contact your insurance agent or company if you lose your insurance card or the company fails to send you one. Meanwhile, carry in your vehicle some other kind of proof that you have insurance, such as an insurance binder, the current declarations page of your insurance policy, a certificate of insurance or the receipt for your last insurance payment.

Enforcement of the law involves two methods of detection: random computer checks by the Secretary of State’s Office and traffic tickets. Penalties include:

• Minimum $500 fine for driving uninsured.
• Suspension of your vehicle registration until the reinstatement fee is submitted for a first offense. Repeat offenders face a four-month suspension. Your vehicle may not be driven by anyone while its license plates are suspended. The minimum fine for driving a suspended vehicle is $1,000.
• $100 reinstatement fee and proof of insurance.

Individuals receiving court supervision for a mandatory insurance citation are required to file financial responsibility insurance (SR-22) for one year. Failure to do so will result in a driver’s license suspension.

If an insurance company refuses to sell you insurance, apply with other companies. If you still cannot obtain insurance, ask an insurance agent about the Illinois Automobile Insurance Plan. The plan is a state-monitored program for drivers who have difficulty obtaining insurance.

Back to Top

Temporary Registration Permits

When you apply for registration for your vehicle you may be issued a Temporary Registration Permit (TRP). This permit must be displayed in the same place and manner as your rear license plate would normally be displayed. The TRP is valid for 90 days from the issuance date, although it may be reissued if the license plates do not arrive in 90 days. Once your plates are received, the TRP should be removed and replaced with your permanent license plates. For your protection, the permit should be destroyed and discarded upon removal. TRPs are available through Illinois licensed dealers, licensed remittance agencies, currency exchanges and Secretary of State facilities.

Back to Top

Vehicles Purchased in Illinois

You may purchase a vehicle from a licensed Illinois dealer or from a private owner.

Dealer
There are certain laws a dealer must obey when selling you a new or used vehicle. Within 20 days of purchase, the dealer must send the following to the Secretary of State’s office:

• Application for Certificate of Title, license plates or transfer of current plates.
• Properly signed Certificate of Title or Certificate of Origin.
• Separate payments for title/license plate fees and sales tax on the vehicle. Sales tax varies depending on the city or county where the vehicle is purchased.

Private Owner
If you buy your vehicle from someone other than a dealer, within 20 days of purchase the Secretary of State’s office must receive the following:

• Application for Certificate of Title, license plates or transfer of current plates.
• Properly signed Certificate of Title in the seller’s name.
• Payment of title/license plate fees.
• Payment of Vehicle Use Tax. This tax is based on the model year of the vehicle if the selling price is less than $15,000. If the selling price is $15,000 or more, the tax is based on the selling price. An RUT-50 tax form must be submitted along with the correct tax payment. The check must be made out to Illinois Department of Revenue. If you junk your vehicle, you are exempt from this tax; however, you must obtain a Junking Certificate from the Secretary of State.

Back to Top

Vehicles Purchased Out of State

If you purchase a vehicle out of state, the following items must be sent to the Secretary of State’s office to obtain a Certificate of Title and license plates:

• Application for Certificate of Title, license plates or transfer of license plates.
• Payment of title/license plate fees. The amount is shown on the application.
• Certificate of Origin signed by the car dealer if your vehicle is new, or a properly signed Certificate of Title if your vehicle is used. For both new and used vehicles, you also must have a Bill of Sale from the dealer.
• Recent registration ID card if you are transferring license plates.
• Payment of sales or use tax.

Back to Top

License Plates/Registration

Most vehicles are required to have two license plates. License plate frames should not cover any of the information on the license plates. License plates covers are not allowed.

• Passenger vehicles, trucks and vans must display two plates, one on the front and one on the rear.
.
• When a vehicle is sold, the license plates should be removed and kept by the seller. In Illinois, license plates remain with the owner, not the vehicle.
• Motorcycles, motorized pedalcycles, trailers, semitrailers and buses registered under the apportionment provisions display one license plate on the rear of the vehicle
.
• Truck-tractors and apportioned straight trucks have one license plate on the front of the vehicle.

When you receive your license plates and/or sticker, you also will receive a vehicle registration ID card. This should be carried in your vehicle or with you when you are driving.

Back to Top

License Plate Renewals

As a courtesy of the Secretary of State, about 60 days before the license plates for your vehicle expire, you will receive a renewal notice. If any vehicle information has changed, you must submit proof that the registration has been transferred to another vehicle. License plates may be renewed online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com, by mail, by visiting a Secretary of State facility, or by calling the toll-free number listed on the renewal notice. License plates also may be renewed at certain banks, savings and loans, currency exchanges, credit unions and remittance agencies.

License plates must be renewed annually according to the following schedule:

• January to December - passenger vehicles, small trucks weighing 8,000 lbs. or less, motorcycles and specialty license plates. The month of expiration is on the license plate sticker.
• December 31 - recreational vehicles (RVs), recreational trailers (RTs), honorary consular vehicles and other categories.
• June 30 - trucks and trailers (second division vehicles). Some small trucks (8,000 lbs. or less) may expire in other months.

License Plates Registration Fees
License plates registration fees must be paid annually. A $20 late fee is assessed on plates renewed 30 days or more past the expiration date. In addition to the below fees, vanity and personalized plates and some other plate categories carry additional fees.

Back to Top

Reduced-fee License Plates

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities who qualify for Circuit Breaker tax relief through the Illinois Department on Aging are eligible for reduced license plate fees for their passenger vehicles and recreational vehicles. A discount card from the Secretary of State and an application for license plates may be presented at a Driver Services facility for a reduced fee of $24. One discount per year is allowed. For more information on the Circuit Breaker program, contact: Illinois Department on Aging, Circuit Breaker Program,P.O. Box 19003,Springfield, IL 62794-9003, 800-624-2459

Back to Top

Special License Plates

For an additional fee, you may have your license plates personalized with your name, initials or other words. Personalized and vanity plates are issued for passenger vehicles, second division vehicles weighing 8,000 lbs. or less, motorcycles, vehicles operated by persons with disabilities, recreational vehicles, recreational trailers and antique vehicles. Please allow at least 45 days from the time you place your order. Information regarding specialty plates that can be personalized is available in our online License Plate Guide. An additional fee is required. Requests for personalized or vanity plates may be made through Pick-a-Plate or submitted in writing to:

Secretary of State
Special Plates Section
524 Howlett Building
Springfield, IL 62756

Delivery of personalized and vanity plates takes more time than standard plates. Please allow at least 45 days from the time you place your order.

Back to Top

Persons With Disabilities License Plates and Parking Placards

The Office of the Secretary of State issues special license plates and parking placards to persons with disabilities who qualify under the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities.

License Plates
A person with permanent disabilities may obtain Persons with Disabilities license plates for vehicles titled in his/her name. An immediate family member residing in the same household may obtain two sets of plates if the qualifying person with disabilities does not own a vehicle and must rely on someone else for transportation. Corporations, school districts, Limited Liability Companies, nursing homes, convalescent homes and special education cooperatives transporting eligible persons may obtain these plates as well.

Parking Placards
Because a parking placard is issued to the authorized holder and not to a vehicle, it may be used in any vehicle in which the holder is driving or is a passenger. When parked, the placard must be properly displayed hanging from the rearview mirror or placed on the dashboard so it is clearly visible to law enforcement. Failure to properly display a parking placard may result in a ticket. Remember to remove the placard before the vehicle is in motion to prevent damage or excessive exposure to sun. Also, the placard can obstruct the driver’s view if left hanging from the mirror.

• Permanent placards are blue and issued to persons with a permanent disability. The placards expire in April 2010.
• Temporary placards are red and valid for the length of time indicated by the certifying physician, not to exceed six months if issued by the Secretary of State and 90 days if issued by a local municipality.
• Organization placards are green and issued to organizations that transport persons with disabilities. The placards expire in April 2010.

Parking Privileges
>Persons with Disabilities plates and parking placards are not transferable. The authorized holder must be present and must enter or exit the vehicle at the time the parking privileges are being used. Vehicles properly displaying Persons with Disabilities plates and parking placards are exempt from parking meter fees or time limitations, except at meters, signs or other markings with time limitations of 30 minutes or less. Persons with Disabilities plates and parking placards do not permit vehicles to park in areas where parking is prohibited. Vehicles also are prohibited from parking in any manner that creates a traffic hazard.

Penalties for Misuse
It is illegal to:

• Park in an access aisle – the vertical lines adjacent to the parking space for persons with disabilities. The access aisle reserves room for persons with disabilities to safely enter and exit their vehicle. You can be ticketed for parking in an access aisle.
• Use Persons with Disabilities plates or a parking placard if the holder is not present. State law requires the authorized placard or license plates holder be present and enter or exit the vehicle when parking privileges are used.
• Park in a metered space using Persons with Disabilities plates or a parking placard if the authorized holder is not present.
• Providing false information on an application.
• Assisting someone in providing false information on an application.
• Loaning a placard for someone to park illegally in an accessible space.
• Altering a parking placard.
• Using a fraudulent parking placard.
• Using a lost or stolen parking placard.
• Making a fraudulent parking placard.
• Selling or otherwise distributing a fraudulent parking placard.

Fines for any of the above offenses can range from $500 to $2,000, in addition to a possible drive’s license suspension. Police officers may confiscate a placard if they believe it is being used illegally. Police officers have clear authority to enforce parking laws on private property, such as at a mall or grocery store.

For more information or to apply for Disability License Plates or a parking placard, contact:,
Secretary of State,
Disability License Plates/Placard Unit,
501 S. Second St., Rm. 541,
Springfield, IL 62756,
217-782-2709,
800-252-8980 (voice),
888-261-7864 (TTY),
or visit our Persons with Disabilities section.

Back to Top

This edition of the Illinois Rules of the Road is as accurate as possible at the time of publication. The manual gives drivers information on obtaining a driver’s license, driver’s license laws, traffic safety issues and general information regarding Illinois traffic laws and ordinances. The language of the Illinois Compiled Statutes is condensed and paraphrased and does not cover every law or explain every possible situation that motorists may face while operating a motor vehicle. The manual also provides highway safety information not in the law. It is intended as a tool for drivers and should not be cited as a legal authority in court.