Illinois
How to Renew Car Registration in Illinois
Applying for a car registration renewal in Illinois is an important process that you must complete before your vehicle’s registration expires, as driving without sticker tags is unlawful in the state. If you do not renew your registration credentials on time, you could receive a traffic ticket and you may even need to pay a penalty fee when you finally apply for renewal.
Be aware that if your registration is lost and is not expiring soon, you may need to request a duplicate vehicle registration rather than a renewal.
As your DMV registration renewal period gets close, the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) usually sends you a courtesy notice as a reminder to renew your license plates before they expire. In many cases, you need the information from this reminder notice to renew your vehicle’s registration credentials online, in person, by mail or by phone.
If you do not receive a renewal notice or you lose this reminder card, however, you must still renew your registration before your vehicle’s credentials expire. To apply for tag renewal without an official reminder card, you must apply by mail or in person at a local SOS facility.
To learn more about license plate renewal and explore the process to renew your vehicle’s registration credentials before they expire, review the information below.
Applying for DMV Car Registration Renewal in Illinois
In Illinois, you may renew a registration online, in person at a local SOS facility, by mail or even by phone. If you did not receive a renewal notice from the SOS or if you have lost your reminder card, however, you can typically only apply in person or by mail. To learn more about each of these application methods, download our free guide.
Renewing Online
If you wish to renew your registration online in IL, you must be able to pay the application fee with a personal check or an accepted form of credit. Additionally, you must be able to provide your PIN and Registration ID number.
If you cannot provide this information but wish to retrieve your PIN and Registration ID before you apply online, you must contact the SOS by phone to provide your vehicle’s license plate number and address.
Moreover, you may check your vehicle registration status online if you have any questions about the requirements you must meet to renew your license plates. To do so, you must send an online request directly to the Illinois SOS by providing your name, email, license plate number and Registration ID.
In Person
To perform your car reg check and renewal in person at an SOS office, you must be able to submit your renewal notice and an accepted form of payment to cover the cost of your registration fees. If you cannot provide your renewal notice, however, you may be able to present your vehicle’s current registration card.
By Mail
To perform your car registration check and renewal by mail, you must forward your official renewal notice and payment for the applicable fee to the Illinois SOS. If you cannot submit your SOS registration renewal notice, however, you must provide a letter that includes information about you and your registered vehicle, such as its VIN, make and model year.
By Phone
To apply for an IL vehicle registration renewal by phone, you must use the Department’s Touch-Tone Phone System. Then, you must provide your PIN and Registration ID Number, as well as a credit card number as payment for your annual registration fee.
To learn more about renewing your car registration, download our free registration guide.