What is an Illinois License Plate?
The Illinois Secretary of State issues license plates and manages vehicle registration according to the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5). Residents perform registration, titling, and plate transactions at Secretary of State facilities statewide or through the online renewal portal.
The current standard license plate features the “Land of Lincoln” slogan and Abraham Lincoln’s silhouette on a white background. Replacement plates cost $29 per set.
Types of License Plates in Illinois
- Standard passenger plates are issued upon registration. The annual registration fee of $151 covers the plate; a duplicate or replacement set costs $29.
- Dozens of specialty designs support causes, universities, and organizations. Initial issuance fees range from $25 to $40 depending on the plate, with annual renewal fees set for each program. 625 ILCS 5/3-675 is an example at the $40 level.
- Personalized plates cost $47 at initial issuance and $7 for renewal, ordered through the Secretary of State’s Pick-A-Plate portal.
- A disabled veteran plate fully waives the registration fee for the first vehicle under 625 ILCS 5/3-609. Purple Heart recipients also pay no registration or renewal fee on one vehicle under 625 ILCS 5/3-623. Former POW plates have the same fee waiver for the first vehicle.
The full catalog is available on the Secretary of State’s license plate page.
What Vehicles Require License Plates in Illinois?
Every motor vehicle, trailer, and semitrailer operated on Illinois highways must be registered under 625 ILCS 5/3-402. New residents must register within 30 days of establishing residency if the vehicle is currently registered in another state.
- Passenger vehicles and second division vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less have two plates and pay $148 annually under 625 ILCS 5/3-806. The total of $151 noted in renewal notices includes $1 for the State Police Vehicle Fund and $2 for the Park and Conservation Fund.
- One rear plate for motorcycles, at $38 annually plus the same $3 in fees.
- Camping trailers have one rear plate. Fees range from $18 at 3,000 pounds or less to $50 over 10,000 pounds. Semitrailers receive a one-time permanent plate for $15 under 625 ILCS 5/3-815.
- Second division trucks weighing 8,001 to 10,000 pounds pay $218 annually; the schedule rises through weight classes to $2,890 at 80,000 pounds.
- Electric vehicles pay the standard registration fee of $148 plus a $100 annual fee deposited into the Road Fund under 625 ILCS 5/12-805.
License Plate Rules in Illinois
- Two plates are required on passenger vehicles, one front and one rear. Motorcycles, autocycles, trailers, and semitrailers have one rear plate; truck tractors mount one plate on the front. 625 ILCS 5/3-413(a) governs placement rules.
- Plates must be fastened horizontally, at least 5 inches from the ground, and kept free from any materials that obstruct visibility. License plate covers of any kind are prohibited under § 3-413(g), classified as a traffic violation. Modifying the rear plate mounting to conceal registration is a Class A misdemeanor under § 3-413(j), punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Is Driving Around with No License Plate in Illinois Illegal?
Operating a vehicle without proper proof of registration violates 625 ILCS 5/3-701. Liability falls on both the driver and the owner who knowingly permits the operation.
Displaying plates not issued for that vehicle or transferring registration to an unauthorized person falls under a separate statute. Any violation of 625 ILCS 5/3-703 is a Class C misdemeanor.
What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in Illinois?
Penalties under Chapter 3, Article VII of the Illinois Vehicle Code start at traffic violation fines but quickly escalate into misdemeanor territory when the offense involves fraud or concealment.
- Failure to display violation: operating without valid registration plates or stickers violates 625 ILCS 5/3-701 and is prosecuted as a petty offense or traffic violation, depending on the municipality.
- Drivers who have renewed registration but not yet received a new sticker may carry a printed receipt as proof of registration for 30 days under § 3-701(b).
- Displaying a plate belonging to another vehicle, duplicating plates, or using fraudulent registration is a Class C misdemeanor under 625 ILCS 5/3-703, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine up to $1,500.
- Intentionally concealing a plate by relocating its mounting or using an electronic device triggers a Class A misdemeanor under § 3-413(j), with penalties up to 364 days in jail and a $2,500 fine.
- Operating on a canceled, suspended, or revoked registration is separately charged as a Class A misdemeanor under 625 ILCS 5/3-702.