Free Illinois Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale
Illinois vehicle transfers are subject to the federal Truth in Mileage Act (TIMA), 49 U.S.C. § 32705, requiring odometer disclosure on all non-exempt transfers. Exempt vehicles: model year 2010 and older (2011-and-newer models stay covered to their 20th model year) plus anything with a GVWR beyond 16,000 lbs. Illinois captures the odometer disclosure on the Certificate of Title, where the seller signs and prints their name and the buyer signs. The buyer also files Form RUT-50 (Private Party Vehicle Use Tax Transaction), which is required for private-party sales; IDOR asks for the odometer reading when RUT-50 is filed online, so use the same mileage on both.
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Odometer disclosure is a federal requirement under 49 CFR §580, not just a best practice — and falsifying mileage is a federal crime. Our guide explains exactly what each field requires, which model years are exempt, and what to do if the odometer has rolled over. Read: Odometer Disclosure Statement: What It Is & What to Write →
Illinois Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Agency
Illinois SOS
Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Department
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
See state rules
Title Required
Yes
Inspection
Not required
Illinois Odometer Disclosure Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Check the model year first — only 2011-and-newer vehicles (GVWR 16,000 lbs or under) owe the disclosure; 2010 and older are exempt.
- Read and record the exact odometer mileage on the date of the sale.
- On the title's odometer section, leave both boxes blank if the reading is the actual mileage, or check 'in excess of its mechanical limits' or 'not the actual mileage'.
- Seller completes, signs, and dates the odometer disclosure section on the Illinois Certificate of Title.
- Buyer countersigns the acknowledgment section on the title.
- Complete Illinois Form RUT-50 (Private Party Vehicle Use Tax Transaction) — use the same odometer reading as on the title.
- Apply for title at an Illinois Secretary of State facility within 20 days after the vehicle and the signed title are delivered; the private party vehicle use tax is paid with RUT-50 (due within 30 days of purchase).
- Both parties retain copies of the title and RUT-50.
Common Pitfalls
- Selling 'as-is' does not waive odometer disclosure obligations under federal TIMA or Illinois law.
- Entering different mileage figures on the title and on RUT-50 — use the same reading on both.
- Missing the deadlines: the title application is due within 20 days after delivery of the vehicle and signed title, and RUT-50 within 30 days of purchase.
- Forgetting that Illinois requires Form RUT-50 in addition to the title — the title alone is not sufficient for private-party transfers.
- Leaving the odometer reading blank on the title; each seller must write the reading, the date of transfer, and their printed name and signature, plus the buyer's printed name and address.
- Accepting a title with altered or erased mileage. The Secretary of State's odometer fraud brochure says alterations or eraser marks void the title, and the car's current mileage should be higher than the reading shown on it.
Illinois Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale — FAQs
What forms are needed for odometer disclosure on an Illinois private-party car sale?
The disclosure itself goes on the Certificate of Title: the seller completes the odometer section and the buyer signs. The buyer also files Form RUT-50 for the use tax, using the same mileage, and gives the Secretary of State a copy with the title application.
My 2001 truck — is odometer disclosure required in Illinois in 2026?
No. A 2001 model-year vehicle is exempt because it falls on the 2010-and-older side of the federal line — model year, not age, is what the rule reads. However, you should still complete RUT-50 for the use-tax transaction.
What if my odometer shows fewer miles than the title history reflects?
Select 'Not actual mileage' and note the discrepancy in the bill of sale. Certifying a suspicious low reading as 'Actual mileage' without explanation is a red flag for fraud.
What are the penalties for odometer fraud in Illinois?
Federal law provides civil penalties and, for knowing violations, fines and/or up to 3 years imprisonment. Illinois may additionally charge odometer fraud under state fraud statutes. Civil recovery is triple damages, minimum $10,000, plus attorney's fees.
What is Illinois form VSD 333?
VSD 333 is the Secretary of State's "Odometer Disclosure Statement for Title Transfers." The seller prints their name and writes the reading in whole miles, with no tenths. A box gets checked only when the miles have gone past what the odometer can display, or when the reading does not match the true miles. The form also asks for the year, make, body type, model and VIN, then the seller's signature, printed name, address and date. The buyer signs, prints their name and address, and dates it. There is no notary block on the form. The edition we read is VSD 333.4, dated February 2016.
What does the seller fill in on an Illinois title's odometer section?
Illinois titles issued since January 1990 carry an odometer certification. Under 625 ILCS 5/3-112.1, the seller writes the reading and checks a box if it is past the mechanical limits or not actual. They also write the date of transfer, print and sign their name, and enter the buyer's printed name and address. The buyer then signs to show they saw the seller's statement.
Which vehicles does Illinois law exempt from odometer disclosure?
625 ILCS 5/3-112.1 exempts vehicles over 16,000 pounds GVWR, vehicles that are not self-propelled, vehicles built without an odometer, and vehicles sold by the maker straight to a U.S. agency. On age, it exempts model year 2010 or older until January 1, 2031, and vehicles 20 or more years old after that. The Illinois section does not apply to motorcycles, mopeds, or antique vehicles. The federal exemption list in 49 CFR 580.17 does not include motorcycles, though, so record the mileage on a 2011 or newer bike.
Is rolling back an odometer a crime in Illinois?
Yes. Under 720 ILCS 5/17-11, it is odometer fraud to disconnect, reset, or alter an odometer to hide the real miles with intent to defraud. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or later offense is a Class 4 felony. Secretary of State Police can investigate a criminal complaint. A buyer can also sue for three times their actual damages or $1,500, whichever is more, plus court costs and attorney fees.