How Much Does It Cost To Register a Car in Illinois in 2025
Illinois operates a centralized vehicle registration system through the Secretary of State, with uniform fees statewide for most services. The state's registration costs include base fees, title charges, and various local requirements including city stickers in certain municipalities.
Base Registration Fees by Vehicle Type
Illinois charges annual registration fees that vary by vehicle classification, with most passenger vehicles subject to the same base rate regardless of age or weight.
Standard Passenger Vehicles
| Vehicle Type | Annual Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicle | $151 |
| Personalized passenger plate | $158 |
| Vanity passenger plate | $164 |
Motorcycles
| Vehicle Type | Annual Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard motorcycle | $41 |
| Personalized motorcycle | $48 |
| Vanity motorcycle | $54 |
Illinois truck registration fees are based on weight classifications and intended use.
Light Trucks (B-Truck Classification)
| Vehicle Type | Annual Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| B-Truck (standard) | $151 |
| B-Truck personalized | $158 |
| B-Truck vanity | $164 |
Medium Commercial Trucks (C-Truck Classification)
| Vehicle Type | Annual Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| C-Truck | $218 |
Heavy Commercial Trucks
Illinois commercial truck fees vary significantly based on gross vehicle weight and registration type:
Farm Registration:
- Starts at $250 for lighter farm vehicles
- Fees increase with weight and capacity
Mileage Tax Registration:
- Base fee starts at $183
- Ranges up to $1,525 for vehicles 77,001-80,000 lbs
Flat Weight Registration:
- Varies by specific weight category
- Generally more expensive than mileage-based registration
Local and County Fees
Chicago City Sticker Requirements
Chicago requires all vehicle owners residing in the city to purchase annual city stickers, creating significant additional costs for Chicago residents.
Chicago City Sticker Fees:
| Vehicle Classification | Annual City Sticker Fee |
|---|---|
| Passenger (P) - 4,500 lbs or less | $95.42 |
| Large Passenger (LP) - 4,501+ lbs | $159.12 |
| Senior citizen discount | Available |
Chicago City Sticker Penalties:
- Late fee: $60 ($30 for senior-discounted stickers)
- Monthly prorated back charges may apply
- Minimum $200 ticket for non-compliance
- Additional fees for continued violations
Cook County Wheel Tax
Cook County imposes a vehicle license fee (wheel tax) on vehicles registered in the county.
Cook County Wheel Tax Features:
- 30-day grace period after due date
- Late fee: $25 during grace period
- Higher late fees after grace period expires
Other Municipal Requirements
While most Illinois municipalities do not impose additional vehicle fees, some local jurisdictions may have specific requirements or fees similar to Chicago's city sticker system.
Mandatory Processing and Administrative Fees
Title Fees
Illinois charges uniform title fees statewide for vehicle ownership transfers.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Original title (new vehicle) | $165 |
| Title transfer | $165 |
| Duplicate title | $95 |
Administrative and Processing Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Replacement sticker | $20 |
| Replacement plate (single) | $6 |
| Replacement plates (pair) | $9 |
| Registration ID card update | $3 |
Regional Requirements and Inspection Fees
Emissions Testing Areas
Illinois requires emissions testing in designated counties, primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area and surrounding regions.
Emissions Testing Requirements:
- Required in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties
- Also required in parts of Grundy, Kendall, and other designated areas
- Biennial testing required starting when vehicles turn 4 model years old
Emissions Testing Costs:
- Standard test fee: $20
- Voluntary emissions test: $20 (for out-of-area vehicles)
- Retest fee: Additional $20 if vehicle fails initial test
Emissions Testing Exemptions:
- Vehicles 3 model years old or newer
- Vehicles 25 model years old or older
- Electric vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Certain commercial vehicles
The remaining Illinois counties do not require emissions testing.
Safety Inspections
Illinois does not require periodic safety inspections for most private vehicles, with emissions testing being the primary mandatory inspection requirement.
Specialty License Plates
Illinois offers various specialty and personalized license plate options with additional fees beyond standard registration costs.
Personalized License Plates
Personalized plates allow custom letter combinations selected by the vehicle owner.
| Component | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initial issuance (newly acquired vehicle) | $47 |
| Initial issuance (currently titled vehicle) | $36 |
| Annual renewal fee | $7 additional |
| Plate replacement fee (if over 3 months to expiration) | $29 |
Vanity License Plates
Vanity plates display either letters only (up to 7) or numbers only (up to 3).
| Component | First-Time Cost | Annual Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Newly acquired vehicle | $410 ($165 title + $151 registration + $94 vanity fee) | $164 |
| Currently titled vehicle | $245 ($151 registration + $94 vanity fee) | $164 |
Specialty Organization Plates
Illinois offers numerous specialty plates supporting various organizations and causes, with fees varying by specific plate type and organization.
Trailer Registration Fees
Recreational Trailers
| Weight Category | Annual Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| 3,000 lbs or less | $18 |
| 3,001-8,000 lbs | $39 |
| Over 8,000 lbs | $101 |
Commercial Trailers
Commercial trailer fees vary based on weight and usage, with specific fee schedules available through the Illinois Secretary of State commercial vehicle division.
Senior Citizen Discounts
Illinois offers limited discounts for senior citizens:
- Chicago city sticker discounts available for qualifying seniors
- Reduced late fees for senior-discounted city stickers ($30 vs. $60)
- No statewide senior discounts for standard registration fees
Vehicle registration services are provided through Illinois Secretary of State facilities statewide and authorized third-party vendors. Online services are available through the Illinois Secretary of State website, including license plate renewal and various vehicle services.
Emissions testing information is available through Illinois Air Team for vehicles in required testing areas. Chicago city sticker information and purchases are available through the Chicago City Clerk's office and their online portal.
Current fee schedules and detailed registration requirements are maintained by the Illinois Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department, with specific commercial vehicle information available through their commercial and farm truck division.
