The short answer
| Item | Illinois answer |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $165 |
| Private-sale tax | Use tax on Form RUT-50, from the 2026 chart. Under $15,000 it depends on the car's model year ($100 to $465). From $15,000 it's a flat amount by price bracket ($850 to $10,100), not a percentage. |
| Plates | Move your own plates to the car: $25. New passenger registration: $151. |
| Deadlines | Two different ones: 20 days to apply for the title, 30 days to file the RUT-50 tax return. |
| Late title fee | None for a private buyer. Filing the tax late brings Department of Revenue penalties and interest. |
| Typical total | $20,000 private-party car, own plates moved: $1,290. |
Worked example: $20,000 private-party car
- Use tax, Table B ($20,000 to $24,999.99): $1,100
- Title: $165
- Your own plates moved to the car: $25
Total: $1,100 + $165 + $25 = $1,290. Buyers in Chicago or Cook County also pay the local amounts shown further down.
Title fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title on transfer | $165 |
| Title and new passenger registration together | $316 ($165 + $151) |
| Title and moving your own plates | $190 ($165 + $25) |
| Duplicate title | $50 |
| Corrected title | $50 |
| Expedited title service | +$30 |
The $165 is set by 625 ILCS 5/3-821, and the Secretary of State's FAQ agrees. Some pages still quote $150. That's out of date.
Private-sale tax: the 2026 RUT-50 chart
On a private sale you pay vehicle use tax on Form RUT-50. The amount comes from the Department of Revenue's 2026 chart (RUT-5). It's based on the purchase price, or on fair market value when there's no stated price, as with gifts and even trades. A trade-in doesn't lower it.
| Table A: price under $15,000 | Tax |
|---|---|
| Model year 2025 or newer | $465 |
| 2024 | $365 |
| 2023 | $290 |
| 2022 | $240 |
| 2021 | $190 |
| 2020 | $165 |
| 2019 | $155 |
| 2018 | $140 |
| 2017 | $125 |
| 2016 | $115 |
| 2015 or older | $100 |
| Table B: price $15,000 or more | Tax (flat) |
|---|---|
| $15,000 to $19,999.99 | $850 |
| $20,000 to $24,999.99 | $1,100 |
| $25,000 to $29,999.99 | $1,350 |
| $30,000 to $49,999.99 | $1,600 |
| $50,000 to $99,999.99 | $2,600 |
| $100,000 to $999,999.99 | $5,100 |
| $1,000,000 or more | $10,100 |
Table B amounts are flat, not a percentage of the price. Older charts that top out at $390 (Table A) or $1,500 (Table B) were replaced by the 2026 chart. Motorcycles and ATVs pay a flat $25.
Chicago and Cook County only: local amounts are added on the same form. Chicago charges $80, $65 or $50 depending on the vehicle's age, and Cook County $225, $175 or $90. They don't apply anywhere else in Illinois.
Two deadlines: 20 days and 30 days
Illinois has two separate deadlines, and many pages blur them into one:
- Title application: 20 days after the car and the signed-over title are delivered to you (625 ILCS 5/3-112(b)).
- RUT-50 tax return: 30 days after the purchase, gift or transfer.
What happens if you're late
There's no Secretary of State late title fee for a private buyer: none appears in the 3-821 fee schedule. The "delinquent transfer fee" in 3-113(d) applies to dealers only. What a late buyer does face is Department of Revenue penalties on the use tax (Publication 103):
| Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|
| Late filing | The lesser of $250 or 2% of the tax. If the return is still unfiled 30 days after a notice of nonfiling, the greater of $250 or 2%, capped at $5,000. |
| Late payment | 2% of the tax if 1 to 30 days late, 10% if 31 days or more |
| Interest | Added on top |
Plates and registration
Illinois plates stay with the owner, not the car. Moving your own registration and plates to the car you bought costs $25. A new passenger registration is $151. An electric vehicle pays $251 a year ($151 + $100, 625 ILCS 5/3-805). Some pages print a $148 registration fee: that's the base before surcharges, and the amount you're charged is $151. Our Illinois calculator works out registration, title and tax together.
Gifts and family transfers
Illinois's family rule is narrow. The tax is a flat $15 only when the car comes from your:
- spouse (including a civil union partner),
- parent,
- brother or sister,
- child (including an adopted child).
This is RUT-50 Exception 2c (625 ILCS 5/3-1001). Step-relatives, in-laws, grandparents and grandchildren don't qualify: they pay the full Table A or B tax on fair market value. An inherited car owes $0 for a surviving spouse and $15 for any other beneficiary of the estate.
Forms and where to go
- VSD 190: Application for Vehicle Transaction(s).
- RUT-50: Private Party Vehicle Use Tax Transaction.
Both are filed with the Secretary of State, which handles titles and registration in Illinois (there's no "DMV"). Titles don't need to be notarized. The new title arrives by mail in about 3 to 4 weeks.
Other states
Title transfer guides for other states: Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Washington. If your registration has run out, see expired registration in Illinois.
What this guide doesn't cover
Dealer sales, cars bought out of state, Chicago and Cook County details beyond the amounts above, and specialty plates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Illinois title transfer cost?
The title is $165. On a private sale, add the RUT-50 use tax from the 2026 chart and $25 to move your plates, or $151 for a new registration. A $20,000 car with plates moved comes to $1,290.
How long do I have to transfer a title in Illinois?
20 days after delivery to apply for the title, and 30 days to file the RUT-50 tax return. They're separate deadlines.
What if I gift the car to a family member in Illinois?
The tax is a flat $15 if the car comes from your spouse or civil union partner, parent, brother, sister or child (including adopted). Step-relatives, in-laws, grandparents and grandchildren pay the full chart tax on fair market value. The $165 title fee still applies.
Why is the Illinois title fee so high?
It's set by law: 625 ILCS 5/3-821 sets the certificate of title fee at $165. That's among the highest title fees in the US.
Is the Illinois private-sale tax a percentage of the price?
No. Under $15,000 it depends on the model year; from $15,000 it's a flat amount by price bracket on the 2026 RUT-5 chart.
See title transfer fees for all 50 states
Calculate your Illinois fees
Example for a $30,000 car. Enter your own price to update it.
- Registration (1 yr)$151.00
- Certificate of title$165.00
- Sales tax6.25% of price minus trade-in$1,875.00
Total excludes items marked "not available".
What you'll pay later
Renewal at today's rates: $151.00/yr
Year 1 $2,191.00 · Years 2–5 $151.00/yr · 5-year total $2,795.00
Estimate only, at today's rates for the same car.
Rates and sources for every fee are on the Illinois car registration fee calculator page.
- Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/3-821 (certificate of title $165, duplicate $50, corrected $50, expedited +$30) – ilga.gov
- Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/3-112 (title application within 20 days after delivery) – ilga.gov
- Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/3-805 (electric vehicle registration) – ilga.gov
- Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/3-1001 (vehicle use tax; family transfers) – ilga.gov
- Illinois Secretary of State – Vehicle FAQ ($165 title; $151 registration; $316 title and registration)
- Illinois Department of Revenue – Private Party Vehicle Use Tax Chart for 2026 (RUT-5)
- Illinois Department of Revenue – RUT-50 instructions (30-day filing; family exception 2c)
- Illinois Department of Revenue – RUT-6 Private Party Vehicle Tax Reference Guide
- Illinois Department of Revenue – Publication 103, Penalties and Interest for Illinois Taxes
General information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and tax rules change; confirm with the agency listed before you pay.
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