Illinois · Secretary of State

Illinois Vehicle Registration & Title Fees 2026 (Calculator)

Illinois charges a $165 title fee and $151 a year to register a car. Tax depends on who sells it: dealers charge sales tax, while private sales use a flat state chart.

Checked against official sources on September 24, 2026 · Sources

Due at the DMV

$2,191

Then about $151 a year to renew

Sales tax (6.25%)Collected by the dealerSource: Illinois Department of Revenue$1,875
Certificate of titleSource: Illinois Secretary of State$165
Registration (passenger)Source: Illinois Secretary of State$151

Estimate only. Fees from Illinois's official fee schedules; confirm the final amount with the agency before you pay.

Illinois vehicle fees at a glance

Original title	$165
Registration — passenger car or B-truck	$151/yr
Registration — motorcycle	$41/yr
Electric vehicle fee On top of registration — $251 total	$100/yr
Dealer purchase Sales tax on the price minus trade-in	6.25% + local
Private sale under $15,000 Flat amount by model year (2026 chart)	$100–$465
Private sale $15,000 and up $850 up to $20k, $1,600 for $30k–$50k	$850+
Family transfer / motorcycle Private party tax	$15 / $25

How Illinois calculates it

Buying from a dealer: you pay Illinois sales tax — 6.25% state plus any local tax where the dealer is — on the price after your trade-in. The dealer collects it. In Chicago an extra 1.25% home-rule use tax applies.

Buying from a private seller: you pay a flat private party vehicle use tax on Form RUT-50, set by the Department of Revenue's chart. Under $15,000 it depends on the model year (from $465 for a 2025 or newer car down to $100 for 2015 and older). At $15,000 or more it depends on the price: $850, $1,100, $1,350, $1,600 for $30,000–$49,999, and $2,600 for $50,000–$99,999. Trade-ins don't reduce it.

Registration is $151 a year for a car, plus $100 for an electric vehicle. The title is $165.

Moving to Illinois? If you used the vehicle outside Illinois for at least three months before moving, no Illinois use tax is due — you pay the title and registration fees.

What to bring

The title signed over to you
Form RUT-50 (private sales) or the dealer’s paperwork
Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (VSD 190)
Proof of Illinois insurance and ID

Illinois registration questions

How much does it cost to register a car in Illinois?

Registration is $151 a year and a new title is $165. Buying a $30,000 car from a dealer at the 6.25% state rate adds $1,875 of sales tax, for about $2,191 — more where local sales tax applies.

How is tax calculated on a private-party car sale in Illinois?

Illinois uses a fixed chart instead of a percentage. For 2026, cars under $15,000 owe $100–$465 depending on model year; $15,000–$19,999 owes $850; $20,000–$24,999 owes $1,100; $25,000–$29,999 owes $1,350; $30,000–$49,999 owes $1,600.

How much is the Illinois title transfer fee?

The original title fee is $165. A duplicate or corrected title is $50.

What do electric vehicles pay in Illinois?

An extra $100 a year on top of the $151 registration fee, for $251 total.

How much is a motorcycle registration in Illinois?

$41 a year. Private-party motorcycle purchases owe a flat $25 use tax.

Sources

All figures on this page were checked against these sources on September 24, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.