Title Transfers in Illinois

How to Transfer an Illinois Vehicle Title:
  1. Obtain the title from the seller and have them sign it over to you.
  2. Visit your local SOS office with the title, bill of sale (if applicable), and completed application form.
  3. Pay the required fees and taxes.

Continue reading this page for further details.

New Illinois Resident Transfer

You have 30 days to transfer your out-of-state title and register your vehicle with the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) when you move to Illinois.

To apply for an IL title and registration, you'll need:

  • The Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (Form VSD 190).
  • Documents that verify:
    • All owners' names and signatures.
    • Your address in Illinois.
    • The vehicle's odometer reading.
    • A description of the vehicle.
    • The names and addresses of lienholders (if applicable).
      • NOTE: Contact the IL SOS at (888) 261-7864 for acceptable documents.
  • The vehicle title.
    • IF you have a lien held by an out-of-state lien holder, you must submit a copy of the loan agreement AND a copy of:
      • The title.
      • The certificate of origin.
      • The current registration.
        OR
      • The bill of sale.
  • A tax form (available from IL SOS offices) IF the vehicle has been registered for less than 3 months:
  • Payment for fees:
    • $50 title fee.
    • Registration fee (varies by vehicle type).
    • Taxes, if applicable, made by separate payment payable to “Illinois Department of Revenue".

If you are leasing your car, you must also submit:

  • The lease purchase agreement.
  • Your current out-of-state registration.
  • Certificate of origin.
  • Bill of sale.

Submit your documents and fees:

  • In person at an IL SOS office.
  • By mail to:
    • Secretary of State
    • Vehicle Services Department
    • 501 S. 2nd St, RM 014
    • Springfield, IL 62756

Buying or Selling an IL Vehicle

The specific tasks of transferring a title in Illinois that you are responsible for differ based on whether you are purchasing a vehicle through a dealer, buying from a private party, or selling your car.

Note that if you are purchasing a vehicle from out of state and bringing it to Illinois, you have 45 days to title and register it.

Buying a Car in Illinois

Dealer Purchases

When you buy a vehicle from a dealership, they'll submit your auto title transfer and registration paperwork to the IL SOS for you.

Private Party Sales

When you buy an Illinois vehicle in a private sale, you'll handle the DMV title transfer yourself.

Get the car title from the seller, making sure it has:

  • The vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • The “Assignment of Title" section filled out, including:
    • The odometer reading.
    • The date of the purchase.
    • Your correct name.
    • The seller's signature.

Next, apply for a car title transfer AND vehicle registration by submitting the following to the SOS:

Submit your documents and payments:

  • In person at an IL SOS office.
  • By mail to:
    • Secretary of State
    • Vehicle Services Department
    • 501 S. 2nd St, RM 014
    • Springfield, IL 62756

Selling an IL Vehicle

If you sell your vehicle privately, you must:

  • Give the buyer the vehicle title with the “Assignment of Title" section completed, including:
    • The odometer reading.
    • The date of the sale.
    • The buyer's name.
    • Your signature.
  • Remove the license plates before handing the car over to the buyer.
    • You may be able to transfer the plates to your next vehicle.
  • Complete a Seller's Report of Sale (Form VSD 703), which releases you from responsibility for the vehicle.
    • Mail it to the address on the form.

NOTE: If you do not have your vehicle title, you must apply for duplicate title in order to transfer ownership to a buyer.

Gifting, Donating, or Inheriting a Vehicle

You must complete a vehicle title transfer when you gift, donate, or inherit a vehicle.

Gifted Vehicle Title Transfer

When you give or receive a vehicle as a gift, you must complete a car title transfer in order to transfer ownership of the vehicle.

In most cases, the car title transfer will be similar to a title transfer for a private sale.

Contact the IL SOS at (888) 261-7864 for specific information about title transfers for gifted vehicles.

Donating a Motor Vehicle

Many Illinois charities accept vehicles as donations. If you donate your vehicle, you'll need to transfer the IL car title to the organization.

Get more information from the IL SOS at (888) 261-7864.

To learn more about donating a vehicle, see our Car Donation page.

Inherited Car Title Transfers

When the owner of a vehicle dies, the vehicle title transfer process will differ based on how many owners are listed on the title.

Owned Only by the Deceased

If a vehicle is titled ONLY to the deceased person, the estate will transfer the car title to the new owner.

If the estate is probated, the new owner will need:

  • A certified copy of letters of administration or testamentary that names the estate's legal representative.
  • The vehicle title assigned to the new owner by the estate representative.

The new owner will then follow the private sale car title transfer process.

If the estate is NOT probated AND its value is no more than $100,000, the new owner will need:

  • A certified copy of the will, if one exists.
  • A copy or abstract of the death certificate.
  • A Small Estate Affidavit with the year, make, model, and VIN of the vehicle.
  • The vehicle title, which does NOT need to be assigned.

For larger estates, an Attorney's Affidavit (in place of the Small Estate Affidavit) may be required, which must be written on the attorney's letterhead and include:

  • Name and last addressed of the deceased.
  • Date of death.
  • Vehicle's:
    • Make.
    • Year.
    • VIN.
  • Name of the person to whom the car is being transferred, and the relationship to the deceased.

The new owner will submit the above documents PLUS the required forms and fees for a private sale title transfer.

Jointly Owned Vehicle

If you are the joint owner of a vehicle, ownership will pass to you after the death of the other person.

In this case, you can:

  • Title the vehicle in your own name.
  • Transfer the title to someone else.

To title the vehicle in your name, you'll submit:

  • The death certificate (copy or abstract).
  • The original vehicle title, if available.
    • For a missing title, you must include an affidavit that states the title is lost and why it's being transferred.
  • The Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (Form VSD 190).
    • An ADDITIONAL application is required to correct the vehicle registration IF you plan to drive the vehicle.
  • Payment for your title fees.

To transfer the title to someone else, you'll give the buyer or new owner:

  • The death certificate (a copy or an abstract).
  • The IL vehicle title, properly assigned to the new owner.

The new owner will then complete the title transfer process for a private sale.

Fees for Illinois Title Transfers

The Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) charges the following fees for auto title transfers and related transactions:

  • Car title transfer:
    • From seller to buyer: $50.
    • From deceased owner to joint owner (WITH original title): $15.
    • From deceased owner to another person: $50.
    • Expedited title fee (available at select SOS offices): Additional $30.
  • Auto title changes (corrected title):
    • Name changes due to marriage, divorce, or death: $15 WITH documentation.
    • Other name changes: $50.
  • Lien addition or removal: $50.
  • Duplicate title: $50.

Changes to IL Car Titles

The IL SOS requires you to correct your vehicle title when you:

  • Change, add, or remove a name.
  • Update the address on your title.
  • Add or remove a lien.

Change, Add, or Remove a Name

To change, add, or remove a name on your car title, you must apply for a corrected title.

NOTE: See Inherited Car Title Transfers for title changes and transfers after an owner's death.

To order a corrected title, you'll need:

  • The Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (Form VSD 190).
  • The vehicle title:
    • In the case of divorce, the person whose name will be removed must sign the title to release their ownership.
    • If you do not have the title, you must FIRST apply for a duplicate title UNLESS the name change is due to marriage, divorce, or death.
  • Documentation of the name change, such as:
    • A marriage certificate.
    • A divorce decree.
    • Court order.
  • The title fee:
    • $15 ONLY IF the name change, addition, or removal is due to marriage, death, or divorce.
      OR
    • $50 for other name changes.

Submit your documents:

  • In person at an IL Secretary of State office.
  • By mail to:
    • Office of the Secretary of State
    • Vehicle Services Department
    • 501 S. 2nd St, RM 055
    • Springfield, IL 62756

Learn how to change your name on your driver's license and car registration on our Name Change page.

Change the Address on Your IL Title

You may be able to order a corrected title if you move to a new address in Illinois.

Contact the IL SOS at (888) 261-7864 for more information about changing the address on your Illinois vehicle title.

Visit our Address Change page to learn about changing the address on your driver's license and car registration.

Lien Changes on Your Auto Title

You can apply for a corrected title to add or remove a lien from your car title.

Lien changes can be submitted:

  • In person at an IL SOS office.
  • By mail to:
    • Office of the Secretary of State
    • Vehicle Services Department
    • 501 S. 2nd St, RM 055
    • Springfield, IL 62756

Add a Lien

To add a lien, you need:

  • The Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (Form VSD 190).
    • Be sure to include the lienholder's complete name and address.
  • The vehicle title, if you have it.
  • The $50 fee for a corrected title.

Removing a Lien

For the lien removal, you need:

  • The Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (Form VSD 190).
  • The vehicle title.
  • A lien release document:
    • A clearance letter or contract from the lienholder that states your lien is paid in full.
      OR
    • A court order to remove the lienholder's name, with:
      • The judge's name OR the court clerk's FIELD stamp.
      • The vehicle's year, make, model, and VIN.
  • The $50 fee for a corrected title.

Duplicate Illinois Car Titles

If your vehicle title is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can order a duplicate title from the IL SOS.

For a duplicate title, you'll need:

Submit the application:

  • In person at an IL SOS office.
  • By mail to:
    • Office of the Secretary of State
    • Vehicle Services Department
    • 501 S. 2nd St, Rm 424
    • Springfield, IL 62756

Forms

RUT-50
Vehicle Use Tax
Use this form to determine AND submit taxes on a vehicle you received as a gift or through a private vehicle transfer. Pick this form up at your local Illinois SOS office. Not available online.
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