Do I Need to Renew My Car’s Registration?
Posted on February 25th, 2021 by Scott Hershman
Drivers in Illinois are required to renew their car’s registration once a year. For decades, Illinois residents received renewal notifications in the mail a month or two before their registration expired. However, Illinois’ Secretary of State ended this program in 2016 as a way to lower the state’s ballooning budget. As a result, the state collected more than five millions of dollars in late fees during the first half of 2016.
What is the Late Fee for Vehicle Registration in Illinois?
If you forget to renew your Illinois plate sticker before it expires, you risk having to pay a $20 late fee. Although $20 might not be cause for much concern, that’s not the only penalty that you can incur for expired tags. Because it’s illegal to drive with expired plates, you’ll risk being pulled over every time you hit the road. You can even receive a ticket for expired plates while parked.
If you are pulled over, the officer will likely issue a ticket several times more expensive than the late fee. In some instances, you can have a judge waive the fee if you show up to your court date with proof that you’ve renewed your registration. But between a trip to the DMV and the courthouse, you’ll likely lose a day or more of your time. And depending on your work schedule, you might lose a day or more of pay, too.
To avoid these hassles, stop by your West Suburban Currency Exchange when your tags are getting close to expiration. We’re fully equipped to provide you with a new sticker and have you out the door in a matter of minutes. Even if your plates are already expired, we can renew them so that you can get around town without worrying about getting hit with a fine.
Don’t wait until you get a ticket to renew your plates. Stop by your local WSCE location today for a new sticker, vehicle title transfer in Illinois, or any of our other numerous services.
