How Much Does It Cost to Transfer a Car Title in Illinois?

When buying or selling a used car in Illinois, as in other states, you’ll need to have the vehicle title transferred from seller to buyer to make the deal official.

Unlike most other states, Illinois's vehicle title transfer process is a little unusual compared to other states. For starters, rather than having a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) department handles all motor vehicle and driver licensing services in Illinois.

Newcomers are sometimes surprised at how expensive the SOS's service fees are compared to typical DMV title transfer rates in surrounding states. Fortunately, we're here to make sure you don't get caught off guard. PrivateAuto can help you estimate your title fees and outline all the steps to transfer your car title in Illinois.

It costs $155 to transfer the title on a vehicle in Illinois. This fee does not include vehicle taxes or registration fees, which you will have to pay as well (except in tax exemption cases). A duplicate title or a corrected title will cost you $50, while transferring the title of a vehicle with a junking certificate is free.

In order to transfer a vehicle title in Illinois, you will need the following documentation:


Depending on your circumstances, you may need some additional paperwork for your car title transfer (such as an Emission Testing Certificate).

For instance, if you're listed as the co-owner of a vehicle and the other owner passes away, you'll need to provide a copy of their death certificate, in addition to the above paperwork and fees.

The title must also be signed by the prior owner if you are the new owner of the vehicle.

Here are the steps you need to take when completing the title transfer of your vehicle in Illinois:

The first step to transferring a title in any state is getting the completed title from the transferor. Written on the original title should be the VIN, mileage, your information, the transferor's information, and the signatures of both parties.

If for whatever reason, the seller doesn't have a paper title, they'll need to apply for a duplicate before the sale can move forward.

To streamline your Illinois title transfer, ask yourself the following questions as you examine the new title:

Although not mandatory, most people choose to create a bill of sale for selling a used car. This document serves as a record of the transaction and may even offer legal protection and serve as proof of ownership in some circumstances. Drawing up a bill of sale doesn't take long, and there are many free templates online.

Fortunately, when you buy or sell a used car through PrivateAuto, the bill of sale gets automated. Both parties will e-sign it on their phones via our mobile app when they meet to finalize the transaction.

All states require sellers to document vehicle mileage when selling a car, thanks to the Federal Truth in Millage Act. Most states accept the completed title or bill of sale as proof of mileage. Illinois, however, requires an entirely separate document.

The seller must give the buyer a written mileage statement—sometimes called a seller’s report—to the buyer before the transaction takes place. Illinois law states this document must include:

The Secretary of State office requires drivers to fill out an Application for a Vehicle Transaction form for just about every motor vehicle service they provide. In the section labeled "Type of transaction," you'll bubble in whichever service you need ("title and registration," "plate transfer," "title-only," and so on).

By having 1 form instead of 5, the SOS streamlines these processes, allowing drivers to tackle all their paperwork at one time. Put simply, it’s an easier way to deal with an Illinois car title transfer. The cost associated with this form depends on the service(s) requested.

In Illinois, as in most states, a buyer pays sales tax when buying a used car from a private seller. With any private car sale in the state, buyers must submit Tax Form RUT-50 and pay the 6.25% Illinois State sales tax to the county tax collector. This rate doesn't include any additional Illinois taxes, county taxes, or title transfer fees.

The total amount of tax collected depends on the car's model year, and the price paid. Cars worth more than $15,000 fall into a different tax bracket than those less than $15,000. Keep in mind that the tax rate is based on the "reasonable worth" of the vehicle.

Simply put, even if you buy a car for way less than it's worth, you'll still be charged a tax rate based on the vehicle’s market value. Tax Form RUT-50 is used to estimate the tax owed on the vehicle based on the price paid or fair market value, as determined by a licensed dealer.

You can pick up the tax transaction form at any SOS facility. Return the completed form and payment within 30 days of the sale. You can submit this form either in person at your local office or by mail to the SOS Vehicle Services Department in Springfield, IL.

Owners of vehicles acquired from other states are required to complete a RUT-25 Vehicle Use Tax Transaction Return unless they fall into one of the exception categories.

Transferring a car in Illinois is costly. The total price for basic vehicle transfer is just over $300, even more, if your transaction requires additional paperwork. The cost for the vehicle title in Illinois alone is $150—then the SOS will tack on another $151 for the registration and tag.

If you need to update your name in the SOS database, that will be an additional $15. Vehicles being transferred from a deceased owner to the sole living owner will have to pay: $15 Application for Correction fee, $50 for a new title, and $3 to update the vehicle registration.

Different states have different rules about what to do with your license plates when you sell a used car. In Illinois, the seller should remove your license plates from the vehicle, rather than pass them to the buyer. The buyer can apply for new license plates, or, if they have plates from a different vehicle they have owned, they can apply for a transfer.

Note that it is illegal in Illinois for the buyer of a used car to drive with the same license plates that the vehicle had during the time the seller owned it.

Transferring your license plate is easy and can be done on the same Application for Vehicle Transaction as your title transfer, simply check the box that says "Title and transfer." The cost to transfer your plates is $25, and this fee will be tacked on to your registration costs, should you wish to do it all at once.

To apply for a new license plate, you'll select the "Title and plates" or "Plates only) box on the Application for Vehicle Transaction form. The cost for a new plate is $29 plus tax.

In some cases, drivers may need to submit an Affidavit of Correction (form VSD 393) before the license plate can be legally transferred. Here are some scenarios where an Affidavit of Correction is necessary:

Illinois requires liability insurance at a minimum. If you don’t have it, you won’t be able to register your car and legally drive it. Of course, you can opt for full coverage insurance if you want it. If you don’t have car insurance, get a quick quote here.

It typically takes about 6 weeks to get your new title by mail. If more than 6 weeks have passed and there's no sign of your pink slip, contact your local SOS office about locating your title or obtaining a duplicate.

You will need to pay taxes on all private party vehicles, except in the following circumstances:


Those who fall into one of these exemption categories will still have to pay a small fee, usually $15-$20, depending on which bracket you fall in. For more information on Illinois vehicle tax rates and exemptions, check out this tax chart from the Illinois Department of Revenue.

If you're still unsure about how much you owe, click here to estimate your tax liability. Things like use tax and registration fees in Illinois can be difficult to understand, but it pays to get them right.

Thinking about selling your car privately? Check out PrivateAuto—the easiest, safest, and only self-service way to sell your car privately. Sell your car in Illinois with a few simple steps.

Gather necessary documentation
You’ll need your vehicle title and other documentation. Have all the paperwork you need to sell your car privately handy, so you’re not scrambling to find it at the moment of completing a sale.

2. Register on PrivateAuto and get verified

To make PrivateAuto a safe place for everyone, we require email, phone, and driver’s license verification, including facial recognition. Get started here.

3. List your car

Easily create your PrivateAuto listing with our step-by-step guide. Bonus: we include a window brochure with a QR code scannable to your listing.

4. Set your terms

It’s your car, so you drive the deal! You can control where, when, and who you meet. Decide whether to accept only ID-verified buyers, or buyers with verified funds. Don’t waste your time with buyers who aren’t verified to your preference.

5. Vet incoming offers

Manage offers in one place with the ability to accept, reject, or counter offers within the app. Listing on multiple sites? Filter all communications through PrivateAuto by sharing your listing link on all platforms. Your personal info is protected: no more giving out your phone number or email address. All communication happens in our app.

6. Choose a buyer

When you find an offer you like, accept it and proceed to the next step with that buyer.

7. Schedule a meeting

The buyer will want to look at your car. No more back and forth texts. You never have to give out your phone number. Rather, use our handy scheduling feature to schedule test driving and coordinate a time and place for meeting. (Oh, and you’ll be able to finalize the transaction instantly at the first meeting, FYI.)

8. E-sign documents

After the buyer is satisfied with your car and the two of you have agreed on a purchase price, you can easily e-sign the Bill of Sale within our app, from your phone. With our shared documents feature, you can easily locate the paperwork needed after the sale.

9. Get paid, instantly

Before PrivateAuto, receiving funds was the most stressful part of the entire selling process, especially for any used car sale over $5,000. There just aren’t a lot of good ways to move large amounts of money quickly and conveniently. Those days are over! Verify and receive funds instantaneously with

10. Transfer title

When you sell your vehicle, fill out the necessary information on the back of the title transfer form and sign the title in order to transfer ownership of the vehicle to the new owner.