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To transfer a car title in Illinois, the seller signs the Assignment of Title area on the certificate of title, and the buyer applies to the Illinois Secretary of State with an application, the title fee, the use tax form and the signed title. The Secretary of State says the title is mailed, not handed over at the counter.
Quick answer
| Topic | What the Secretary of State says |
|---|---|
| Seller | Must have the title and sign the Assignment of Title area to the buyer |
| Odometer | The title must show the signed and printed names of all sellers and buyers and certify the mileage as actual, in excess of the odometer’s mechanical limits, or not actual |
| Buyer needs | Title application, $165 title fee, applicable tax form, and the signed title or manufacturer’s certificate of origin |
| Tax form | RUT-50 for a purchase from an individual |
| Notarization | An Illinois title does not need to be notarized |
| Buyer’s deadline | Promptly and within 20 days after the vehicle and the assigned title are delivered (Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/3-112(b)) |
| Processing | 2 to 6 weeks, depending on volume. Expedited service is available |
Steps for the seller
- Make sure you have the certificate of title. The Secretary of State says the seller must have it.
- Sign the Assignment of Title area to the buyer. Federal and state law requires the title to show the signed and printed names of all sellers and buyers, and to certify the odometer reading as the actual mileage, in excess of the odometer’s mechanical limitations, or not the actual mileage.
- If two names are on the back of the title, the Secretary of State says both parties have to sign title and registration applications.
Steps for the buyer
- Get the signed title (or a manufacturer’s certificate of origin signed to you by the seller).
- Fill out the Application for Vehicle Transactions. It is the same application used for most title and registration transactions. You can complete and print it in the Electronic Registration and Title system, pick it up at a DMV, or call 800-252-8980 (toll-free within Illinois).
- Complete the tax form. Tax must be paid on all vehicle sales between individuals, and the Secretary of State says this includes a vehicle given to you by a relative. Use form RUT-50. The tax is based on the vehicle’s model year if the selling price is under $15,000, or on the selling price if it is $15,000 or more.
- Pay. The title fee goes to the Secretary of State, and the tax goes on a separate check, draft or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The Secretary of State says not to send the tax payment to the Department of Revenue itself.
- Submit the application and documents by mail or at a DMV. The mailing address is Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Department, 501 S. 2nd St., Room 014, Springfield, IL 62756. Applications are returned if the information or fee is not sufficient.
- Wait for the title. It can take 2 to 6 weeks. Illinois law requires the title to be mailed to the first lienholder on the title or, if none, to the owner, so you cannot pick it up in Springfield.
Checking your application before you submit
The Secretary of State suggests double-checking these points:
0 of 7 ready
Fees named on the Secretary of State pages
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title | $165 |
| Standard registration and plates (for a total title and registration of $316) | $151 |
| Duplicate title | $50 |
| Corrected registration ID card | $3 |
The $316 total for a standard vehicle is the Secretary of State’s own figure for title plus registration and plates. It does not include use tax. Remittance agents may charge a handling fee, and card payments at facilities carry a bank processing fee.
Vehicle bought from an Illinois dealer
The dealer submits the sales tax return (form ST-556), the tax check to the Department of Revenue, the application, the surrender document and the title and registration fees to the Secretary of State on your behalf.
Out-of-state purchases
If a recently purchased vehicle has not been titled or registered in Illinois, the application must come with either form RUT-25 (bought from an out-of-state dealer) or RUT-50 (bought from an individual), and any tax owed to the Department of Revenue.
Common mistakes
- Sending the tax payment to the wrong agency. It goes to the Department of Revenue, on a separate check, though the paperwork goes to the Secretary of State.
- Leaving off a second owner’s signature.
- Submitting a VIN on the application that does not match the title.
- Expecting to pick the title up in person.
- Treating a gift from a relative as tax-free. The Secretary of State says RUT-50 is required.
Frequently asked questions
Does an Illinois title have to be notarized?
No, according to the Secretary of State’s FAQ.
How long do I have to transfer the title?
The Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/3-112(b)) says the buyer must apply for the new title promptly and within 20 days after the vehicle and the assigned title are delivered. The Secretary of State pages we read do not repeat the deadline, so the statute is the source for it.
How much is the tax?
The Secretary of State points to form RUT-50 or the Department of Revenue at 800-732-8866. The figure depends on model year or price, as described above.
This guide is general information compiled from the Illinois Secretary of State pages listed under Sources. Fees and forms change, and this site is not part of any government agency. Confirm current requirements with the Illinois Secretary of State and Department of Revenue before you file.
Sources
- Illinois Secretary of State: How to Apply for Title and Registration, checked Sep 26, 2026
- Illinois Secretary of State: Title and Registration FAQ, checked Sep 26, 2026
- Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/3-112: Transfer of ownership, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Illinois Secretary of State: Vehicle Services FAQ, checked Sep 26, 2026