It happens to the best of us—you show up to the DMV and are turned away because you don’t have the right documents. Fortunately, renewing your Illinois license plate doesn’t have to be a headache. Knowing what to bring ahead of time is the key to a hassle-free experience.
In this guide, we’ll help Illinois residents understand exactly what they need to renew their license plates at their local currency exchange or Secretary of State’s office.
What Documents Do I Need for Sticker Renewal?
There are 3 items you need to renew your license plate sticker in Illinois—current registration card or renewal notice, driver’s license, and a form of payment.
- Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice
The state of Illinois typically mails a renewal notice before your license plate expires. This notice contains important information like your registration ID and PIN, which you’ll need for the renewal process.
If you haven’t received a notice or misplaced it, don’t worry. You can still renew your license plate using your current (soon-to-expire) registration card. - Current Registration Card
If you don’t have your renewal notice, you’ll need to bring your current registration card, which contains your registration ID and pin number. If you can’t find your registration card, bring along your license plate number, vehicle information, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This information may be used instead. - Driver’s License
In order to renew your plates in Illinois, you’ll need to bring your state-issued driver’s license. Your driver’s license verifies you are the vehicle owner or the authorized person to renew the sticker. - Form of Payment
In order to receive a new sticker, you’ll need to bring a verified form of payment. You can pay using cash, a check, any major credit card (i.e. American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa), or even a traveler’s check. If you decide to pay with a credit card, there will be an extra bank processing fee added to your total.
How Much Is It to Renew Illinois License Plates?
The cost to renew your Illinois license plate sticker will depend on the type of vehicle you own. Most standard passenger cars cost $151 to renew. Special types of vehicles may cost more or less.
Vendors will charge a small service fee for renewal service, typically around $10.
Additionally, if you renew past the expiration date, you may have additional late charges to pay in addition to the vehicle renewal fee.
How to Renew a License Plate Sticker in Illinois
You can renew your license plate sticker in-person, by mail, or online at the Illinois Secretary of State website.
If you choose to renew your license plate sticker in-person, you can do so at the Secretary of State’s Office or at your local currency exchange.
Convenient, No-Wait License Plate Renewal
At West Suburban Currency Exchanges, we work hard to make renewing your license plate easy, so you don’t have to spend a full day at the DMV.
WSCE sells renewal stickers over the counter to make getting your Illinois license plate renewal
fast and easy. As long as it is the current year for your renewal sticker, there is no limit on how early you can renew your license plate in Illinois.
Visit one of our locations today to renew your plates.
