Vehicle license or registration - Illinois

License plate display

Illinois issues two registration plates to be displayed on the front and on the rear of the vehicle, except:

1. The registration plate issued for a truck-tractor or an apportioned truck must be attached to the front of the vehicle.
2. Trailer or semitrailer plates and IRP apportioned plates issued to a bus are attached on to the rear of the vehicle.

International Registration Plan

Illinois is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.

The IRP provides for all carriers from participating jurisdictions, operating as a fleet to prorate fees. The IRP defines a fleet as one or more vehicles with three or more axles or having gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds, operating in one or more member jurisdictions, or a vehicle weighing 26,000 pounds or less which is operating intrastate in two or more jurisdictions.

Illinois issues a multi-year IRP registration plate, with a cab card listing the expiration date issued annually.

The IRP expiration date is March 31. Full trailers registered under the IRP must be registered the same as semitrailers (under gross weight concept).

First-time applicants must verify their established place of business in Illinois by providing proof of address. Current copies of three documents must be provided, including the applicant’s Illinois driver’s license. One of the documents must be a telephone bill in the registrant’s name. Other documents can be rental contracts, real estate tax bills, or other utility bills.

Proof of ownership is required before issuance of the license plate. Documents acceptable for power units are: copy of title issued in registrants name, or within six months from the date of purchase, a true bill of sale or assigned title. Illinois title is not required for power units.

Temporary Permit: A carrier may operate the vehicle using the Illinois 45-day temporary permit. The permit is not to be used on vehicles that need their registrations renewed. Once a 45-day permit has been issued for a vehicle, registration fees are owed for that vehicle effective from the issuance date of the permit. Permits are issued by the Secretary of State for a fee.

Hunter's Permit: An unladen weight permit is issued to an owner/operator who terminates a lease and has to surrender his/her apportioned license plate and cab card(s) to the carrier. The permit enables a vehicle or combination of vehicles to use the highways for the purpose of locating a new job. The unladen weight permit is valid for vehicles operating at unladen weight only and is non-transferable. Permits are issued by the Commercial & Farm Truck Division.

Special hauling vehicles

A Special Hauling Vehicle (SHV) Permit allows qualifying vehicles to be exempted from the federal bridge formula while operating on Illinois highways.

Certain vehicles (such as concrete mixers, trucks hauling concrete or asphalt in the plastic state and some vehicle combinations) with specific axles configurations may qualify as a SHV and obtain a Special Hauling Vehicle Permit for a fee. SHVs may be purchased at the Commercial and Farm Truck Division office in Springfield and Level 3 Secretary of State facilities.

IRP registrants who have previously purchased a SHV Permit may renew the Permit on the IRP application; fees will be billed to the applicant on the IRP invoice. The SHV sticker number will be printed on the IRP cab card.

Agency: Secretary of State, Commercial and Farm Truck Division; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).

Fees

The fee for truck-tractor and semitrailer combinations is based on combined gross weight: the empty weight of the truck-tractor plus the empty weight of the semitrailer and maximum load to be transported. The fee for trucks and full trailers is based upon combined gross weight for apportionable vehicles. The fee for trucks and full trailer for Illinois fiscal registration is based upon each separate unit.

Reduction of fees applies to vehicles newly acquired by the owner or become subject to Illinois registration for the first time. All renewable vehicles are subject to 12 months registration fees regardless of when they are renewed.

Vehicles 55,000 pounds or more are required to show proof of payment of the Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.

Mileage Tax in lieu of registration fee: To reduce the cost of operating vehicles in Illinois, Mileage Tax Registration is an option for carriers who operate in Illinois exclusively. The combined gross weight of the vehicle determines the fee. Miles allowed depend upon the weight of the vehicle with a per-mile charge for excess miles. Surety bonds are required as a guarantee of payment of excess mileage fees. In addition, a daily record of mileage must be maintained for each vehicle and an annual report filed by the tenth day of July.

TA Trailer plates expire in April. All others expire in June annually. One plate is issued to each trailer. Flat weight trailers are issued plates with a two letter stacked suffix designating the vehicle’s specific weight classification.

Permanent trailer registration:

• Trailers registered in Illinois display a permanent non-transferable plate.
• An Illinois fee is assessed at original issuance.
• New cab cards will only be issued with new units.
• Illinois Title Required (Title fee, proper surrender documents and appropriate application required).