Overview
The tax due alongside the title depends on how you bought: dealer sales owe the Retailers' Occupation Tax percentage, private sales owe the RUT-50 flat-table amount. Both are due to the Illinois Department of Revenue within 30 days of the sale, and IDOR applies its standard statewide late-payment penalty if you miss that window - 2% of the tax if you're 1–30 days late, jumping to 10% past 30 days. Illinois doesn't run a state-specific escalating title penalty on top of that the way some states do; the real cost of delay is the IDOR tax penalty plus not being able to drive the vehicle legally under your name.
01 - Official fees
Illinois title transfer fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original title fee | $165.00 | |
| Title + plate transfer (keeping your old plates) | $190.00 | $165 title + $25 transfer |
| Duplicate or corrected title | $50.00 | |
| Late-payment penalty (tax), 1–30 days | 2% | of the tax due |
| Late-payment penalty (tax), 31+ days | 10% | of the tax due |
| Late registration renewal | $20.00 | if the vehicle isn't registered within 30 days of expiry |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Illinois Secretary of State (vehicle tax is paid to the Illinois Department of Revenue, IDOR) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to transfer a title in Illinois
- 1
Have the seller sign over the title's assignment section; both names must match valid ID.
- 2
Complete Form RUT-50 for a private sale (the dealer files the tax return for a dealer sale).
- 3
Decide whether you're getting new plates or transferring your existing ones to this vehicle.
- 4
Visit a Secretary of State Vehicle Services facility within 20 days of taking delivery.
- 5
Pay the title fee (plus the $25 transfer fee if keeping your plates) and the sales/use tax in one transaction.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Illinois vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Illinois title transfer FAQ
How much does it cost to transfer a title in Illinois?
$165 for the title itself. If you're transferring your existing plates to the newly acquired vehicle instead of getting new ones, add a $25 transfer fee for $190 total. Either way, you also owe the sales/use tax due on the purchase.
How many days do I have to transfer the title?
20 days from the date the vehicle and its signed title are delivered to you. The separate tax return (Form RUT-50 for private sales) is due within 30 days of the sale date - track both deadlines, they don't run on the same clock.
What happens if I pay the RUT-50 tax late?
The Illinois Department of Revenue applies its standard statewide late-payment penalty: 2% of the tax due if you're 1–30 days late, 10% if you're more than 30 days late, plus interest accruing daily from the due date until you pay.
Can I keep my old license plates on a newly purchased vehicle?
Yes - pay the $25 plate-transfer fee instead of getting entirely new plates. You'll still pay the full $165 title fee; the $25 only replaces the cost of new plates, not the title.
Is there a separate escalating penalty for a late title, like some states charge?
Illinois doesn't publish a large escalating title-specific fine for private buyers the way some states do. The practical cost of delay is the IDOR tax late-payment penalty (2%/10%) plus the fact that you can't legally register or renew the vehicle under your name until the title is transferred.
What if the dealer is slow to submit my paperwork?
Illinois separately penalizes dealers: if a dealer submits your title to the Secretary of State 120 or more days after the sale date, the dealer owes a $100 delinquent transfer fee. That penalty is the dealer's cost, not yours, but it's worth asking about if your plates are taking unusually long.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.