Free Illinois Vehicle Bill of Sale
Illinois vehicle sales run through the Illinois Secretary of State (Vehicle Services Department), not a DMV. The buyer must apply for title and registration using Form VSD 190 within 20 days after the vehicle and the assigned title are delivered, and pay the unique RUT-50 flat private-party use tax — a dollar amount set by model year when the price is under $15,000, or by price at $15,000 or more, not a percentage of price. A written bill of sale is not on the Secretary of State's title checklist but is essential evidence of the transfer date, price, and as-is condition. If the vehicle will be registered in the emissions-test area (Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties and parts of Kane, Kendall, McHenry, Will, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties), confirm the Air Team test status before money changes hands.
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Illinois Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Illinois is the unicorn: private-party vehicle sales are NOT taxed at a percentage. Instead, RUT-50 (Private Party Vehicle Use Tax) charges a flat dollar amount based on the vehicle's model year (age) — $100 for vehicles 11 or more years old, climbing through a tiered table to $465 for the newest vehicles, with a separate higher table for vehicles with a purchase price of $15,000 or more ($850 up to $10,100). This means two vehicles of the same model year that each sell for under $15,000 owe the same tax, even if one sold for far more. Pay RUT-50 to the Illinois SOS at title transfer.
Exemption: RUT-50 family rate of $15 applies when the transfer is between spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Check the RUT-50 instructions for how gifts and inheritances are treated, and identify the relationship on the form.
Inspection Requirements
Illinois has NO statewide safety inspection. However, vehicles registered in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties and parts of Kane, Kendall, McHenry, Will, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties must pass a biennial Illinois Air Team emissions test (vehicles model year 1996 and newer, gas-powered, generally 4+ years old). Failing emissions blocks registration renewal. Buyers in those counties should confirm the seller's last test pass before purchase.
Illinois Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Seller signs the Illinois title in the assignment section, prints the buyer's name, and enters the exact odometer reading and date
- Buyer completes Form VSD 190 (Application for Vehicle Transaction(s))
- Complete Form RUT-50 — check the family box for the $15 rate if eligible (spouse, parent, child, sibling)
- Bill of sale lists VIN, year/make/model, sale price, date, and "sold as-is" language signed by both parties
- Buyer brings title, VSD 190, RUT-50, payment, and proof of insurance to a SOS facility within 20 days
- In the emissions-test area (Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties and parts of Kane, Kendall, McHenry, Will, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties), verify the vehicle has a current Air Team emissions pass before registering
- Seller removes plates (Illinois plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle) and reports the sale to SOS
Common Pitfalls
- Assuming Illinois charges a percentage sales tax — RUT-50 is a flat dollar table based on model year, so an old high-value vehicle can owe far less than buyers from other states expect
- Missing the 20-day title transfer deadline — late filing triggers penalties added on top of RUT-50
- Leaving the plates on the car at sale — Illinois plates belong to the seller and must be removed and either transferred to a replacement vehicle or surrendered
- Forgetting RUT-50 entirely and only filing VSD 190 — SOS will reject the title application
- Buying a Cook/collar-county vehicle without confirming emissions — a failed Air Team test blocks registration renewal until repairs are made
- Claiming the $15 family rate for an in-law, niece, nephew, or cousin — RUT-50 limits family to spouse, parent, child, and sibling
Pro Tip
For Illinois vehicle sales, file VSD 190 plus RUT-50 with the Secretary of State within 20 days, expect a flat age-based tax (not a percentage), and confirm Air Team emissions if the buyer is in the emissions-test area.