What is a License Plate Replacement in Illinois?
Replacement involves reissuing one or both license plates, or a registration sticker, outside the annual renewal cycle. The Illinois Secretary of State processes the replacement when plates are lost, stolen, damaged, or illegible (625 ILCS 5/3-417). Separate from renewal, replacement has its own fixed fee.
- Owners who lose one license plate can retain the existing plate number. The Secretary of State manufactures a matching replacement and sends it. Losing both plates means a new number is assigned unless the owner requests to keep the old number (SOS License Plate Replacement Page).
- Most vehicles have two license plates, front and rear. Motorcycles, autocars, trailers, and semitrailers receive one rear license plate (625 ILCS 5/3-413(a)). Truck tractors have one front license plate.
- Replacing one license plate costs $6; a pair costs $9. Replacing a sticker costs $20 separately or $29 when bundled with both plates.
When Do You Need to Replace Your Illinois License Plate?
Owners must apply “immediately” when a license plate is lost, damaged, or illegible, according to 625 ILCS 5/3-417(a). The theft of plates triggers a separate obligation: the owner must immediately notify the Secretary of State and then apply for a duplicate.
- Trigger conditions: loss, theft, physical damage, fading, or illegibility, or transfer from another state where the previous plate must be surrendered.
- The law does not require a police report for stolen plates. The owner’s obligation is to notify the Secretary of State’s office and apply for a replacement. A police report is desirable but not a legislative prerequisite.
- Peeling, chipping, or rusting plates are eligible for free replacement through the SOS Potentially Defective Plate Portal. The law does not set a specific number of days to complete the damage replacement.
- New residents must register within 30 days of establishing residency in Illinois (625 ILCS 5/3-801(a)).
How to Get a Replacement License Plate in Illinois
The Secretary of State offers three channels: online, by mail, and in person. Replacing stolen plates and requests for one plate require an in-person visit.
- Before starting, prepare your registration ID and PIN (printed on your registration card). If a plate was stolen, bring a written theft notification as per the notification rule described in the trigger conditions section above.
- In person: Visit any Secretary of State facility. Complete a vehicle transaction application (VSD 190), surrender any damaged plates, pay the fee, and receive a temporary receipt. New plates will arrive by mail.
- By mail: Send the completed VSD 190 form with a check or money order to the Secretary of State. The mailing address is printed on the form. SOS does not publish a specific processing time for mail-in replacement requests.
- Online: The SOS Plate/Sticker Replacement Portal accepts orders for a full set of plates plus a sticker replacement. Log in using your registration ID and PIN. Orders for one plate and stolen plate cases are excluded from the online channel.
Can You Replace an Illinois License Plate Online?
Yes, with limitations. The SOS Plate/Sticker Replacement Portal processes online replacements for a full set of plates and a sticker. Requests for one plate and stolen plate replacements must be handled in person at a Secretary of State facility.
The portal requires a registration ID and PIN. Payment is accepted by credit or debit card. New plates are mailed; SOS does not publish an estimated delivery time on the portal page.
Defective plates (peeling, chipping, rusting) follow a separate free replacement path through the SOS Potentially Defective Plate Portal, also online.
An in-person alternative is available at any of the state Secretary of State facilities, from the flagship center in Chicago to smaller regional offices. The SOS public inquiry line (800-252-8980) can provide your registration ID and PIN if you no longer have your registration card.
Use the online portal for routine full set replacements; visit a facility for one plate cases or stolen plates.
How Much is License Plate Replacement in Illinois?
The Secretary of State sets replacement fees statewide with no additional county-level surcharges. The base figure is low, but bundling a sticker with two plates triples the cost of plates alone.
- One license plate, $6. A pair of plates costs $9 (SOS fee schedule).
- Replacement registration sticker: $20, whether ordered alone or with plates.
- Combined fees: one plate plus sticker costs $26; both plates plus sticker total $29.
- Defective plates (peeling, chipping, rusting) are replaced free of charge through the SOS defective plate program. Free replacement covers only the plate manufacturing cost, not the sticker.
- No additional county or locality surcharges apply to replacement transactions in Illinois. SOS fee schedule amounts are the full sum.