Illinois Vehicle Title Transfer Checklist
Illinois title transfers run through the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS), not a DMV — Illinois does not have a DMV. The buyer must apply for the new title within 20 days of the date of sale using Form VSD 190 (Application for Vehicle Transaction(s)) and Form RUT-50 (Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction) to declare and pay the private party vehicle use tax. Illinois charges a high title fee ($165 for a standard passenger vehicle title) and a private-party use tax that depends on the vehicle's age and purchase price (a tax table assigns a fixed dollar amount, not a percentage). Plates stay with the seller in Illinois — the buyer either transfers eligible plates from another vehicle they own or buys new plates at registration.
Quick answer
Illinois title transfers are processed at an Illinois Secretary of State facility within 20 days of transfer. Buyers generally need to file Form RUT-50 (Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction) for the applicable use tax in addition to the title transfer and registration fees. Illinois license plates generally stay with the seller, so the buyer will typically need new plates.
Key facts
- State
- Illinois
- Agency
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Process
- Title Transfer
- Notary required
- No
- Bill of sale
- Conditional
- Odometer disclosure
- Yes
- Filing deadline
- 20 days
- Last verified
- 2026-05-21
- Official source
- Illinois Secretary of State ↗
Key facts from official sources
Form RUT-50 (Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction) is generally required for private party title transfers.
Illinois Department of Revenue — RUT-50 Private Party Vehicle Tax ↗Illinois generally does not require notarization for vehicle title transfers.
Illinois Secretary of State — Title and Registration ↗Buyer must apply for title within 20 days of the transfer date.
Illinois Secretary of State — Title and Registration ↗Quick reference
Notary required?
✗NoBill of sale?
◆ConditionalOdometer disclosure?
✓YesInspection required?
✗No⏱ Important Deadlines
- 20-day deadline: Buyer must apply for title and pay RUT-50 within 20 days of the date of saleOfficial source ↗
- 20-day deadline: Late penalty applies after 20 daysIllinois Department of Revenue assesses late penalties on the use tax after 20 days. Verify current penalty schedule on the RUT-50 instructions.Official source ↗
Seller Checklist
Items the seller typically needs to prepare or provide.
Buyer Checklist
Items the buyer typically needs to prepare or provide.
Required Forms
Fees
Title certificate fee (standard passenger vehicle)
Illinois has one of the higher state title fees. Confirm with the IL SOS for current amount.
Private party vehicle use tax (RUT-50)
Illinois uses a fixed-amount tax table rather than a percentage. Older vehicles ($25–$100) vs newer/higher-value vehicles ($390–$1,500+). Form RUT-50 has the current schedule.
Registration fee (annual)
Confirm current amount with IL SOS. Electric vehicles have a higher fee.
License plate transfer fee
If transferring plates from another vehicle the buyer owns.
Special requirements
Illinois does not require notarization for standard vehicle title transfers. The seller's signature on the back of the title is sufficient.
Illinois does not require a bill of sale by statute, but a bill of sale documenting the price, date, VIN, and both parties' info is strongly recommended and useful as a backup record for the RUT-50 declaration.
Required by federal law and on the back of the Illinois title for vehicles less than 20 model-years old.
Illinois does not require a statewide safety inspection for passenger vehicles. Emissions testing applies in certain counties around Chicago and Metro East (sourceNeeded — verify current emissions counties).
Step-by-step process
- 1Confirm the seller is the titled owner of record on the front of the Illinois title.
- 2Seller signs the back of the title in the seller's section and completes odometer disclosure.
- 3Seller removes Illinois license plates from the vehicle.
- 4Both parties complete a bill of sale documenting price, date, VIN, and signatures.
- 5Buyer completes Form VSD 190 (title application) and Form RUT-50 (use tax).
- 6Buyer obtains Illinois auto insurance in their name.
- 7Buyer mails or takes VSD 190, the signed title, RUT-50 with tax payment, proof of insurance, and title fee to the IL SOS within 20 days.
- 8If transferring plates from another vehicle the buyer owns, pay the plate transfer fee.
- 9IL SOS issues new title and registration; new title arrives by mail in approximately 4–6 weeks.
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✗Missing the 20-day deadline for title application — late penalty on the RUT-50 use tax applies.
- ✗Filing only VSD 190 without RUT-50 — Illinois requires the private party use tax declaration with the title application.
- ✗Using the wrong tax form — RUT-50 is for private-party sales; RUT-25 is for dealer or out-of-state purchases.
- ✗Forgetting that plates stay with the seller in Illinois — driving the vehicle off the seller's plates is illegal.
- ✗Calculating the use tax as a percentage — Illinois uses a fixed-amount tax table based on vehicle age and price, not a percentage.
- ✗Using whiteout or alterations on the title — IL SOS voids altered titles and requires a duplicate first.
Official links
Source verification
This page covers 5 researched claims about Illinois title transfer:
Directly cited from official sources
Inferred — confirm with agency before acting
Researched from Illinois Secretary of State — Vehicle Services. Requirements can change — always verify with the official agency before submitting documents.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Illinois title transfer cost?
Illinois charges $165 for the title certificate (one of the higher state title fees in the country), plus the private party use tax via Form RUT-50 (a fixed-amount tax based on the state's age/price table — typically $25 for older vehicles up to $1,500+ for newer high-value vehicles), plus annual registration ($151 for standard passenger vehicles). Total out-of-pocket for a typical private-party transfer is several hundred dollars.
Is Illinois title transfer the same as 'going to the DMV'?
No — Illinois doesn't have a DMV. Title and registration transactions go through the Illinois Secretary of State (IL SOS), not a department of motor vehicles. SOS facilities and authorized Currency Exchanges (for an added fee) handle these transactions.
Why is the Illinois title fee so high?
Illinois's $165 title fee includes funds dedicated to the state's road and infrastructure funds. The fee was raised significantly in 2019 as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, and it remains higher than most other states' title fees.
What if I gift the car to a family member?
Gift transfers between qualifying family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) generally use a $15 fixed use tax via Form RUT-50 instead of the standard tax table. Document the gift on the bill of sale and check the RUT-50 instructions for the exact line and supporting documentation.
I inherited a car in Illinois — how do I transfer the title?
If the title has a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary listed, the beneficiary can transfer directly with a death certificate and VSD 190. Without TOD or probate, the surviving joint tenant uses Form VSD 333. For estates going through probate, the executor signs the title via a court order.
I moved to Illinois with a car from another state — what do I do?
New Illinois residents have 30 days to title and register the vehicle. Use Form VSD 190 plus Form RUT-25 (since the purchase was out-of-state, not a private party Illinois sale). Bring the out-of-state title, proof of Illinois insurance, photo ID, and payment for the title fee, use tax, and registration fee.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-21 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Based on official Illinois Secretary of State — Vehicle Services sources · Independent resource · Not legal advice