How To Sell A Car In Illinois: A Guide (2026)

Required Paperwork for Selling a Car in Illinois

The first step in how to sell a car in Illinois is to gather the required paperwork, including the vehicle’s title and registration. If you can’t find one or both documents, you’ll need to file form VSD190. You can do this online.

How to Create a Bill of Sale in Illinois

Illinois is one of the few states that doesn’t require a bill of sale. However, it’s a good idea to have one to protect you from liability. Whether you use a template or create an Illinois bill of sale yourself, make sure it includes the following:

• Name, address and contact information for you and the buyer
• Driver’s license numbers for you and the buyer
• The vehicle’s make, model, year, color and VIN
• The odometer readout at the time of sale
• The date of the transaction
• The sale price
• Your signature and the buyer’s

You should create one copy of the bill of sale for you and one for the buyer.

How to Sign Over the Title in Illinois

Once you’ve collected payment and created the bill of sale, you’ll need to sign over the title. Here’s how to do it:

• Locate the “Assignment of Title” section at the bottom of the car’s title.
• Write down the odometer reading, the date and the name of the buyer.
• Sign your name as it appears on the title.
• Print your name to the right of your signature.
• Ask the buyer to sign and print their name below yours.

Once you sign the title over, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to retitle the vehicle within 20 days.

Can you register a car without a title? Strictly speaking, you can’t. However, Illinois does give the buyer a few options for registering a vehicle if you lost the title before selling it.

First, you can apply for a duplicate title and send it to the buyer after signing it over. This is usually the most efficient option if you previously registered and titled the vehicle in Illinois.

Second, the buyer can apply for a bonded title. A bonded title is secured by posting a bond with the state in case the vehicle ends up misappropriated or stolen. For example, a bonded title can protect the buyer if the seller was involved in a divorce and wrongfully sold their spouse’s vehicle.

Illinois Vehicle Sales Tax and Reporting Requirements

The buyer will also need to file Form RUT-50 (Private Party Vehicle Use Tax Transaction Return) with the Illinois Secretary of State within 30 days of the sale.

License Plate Removal and Reporting the Sale

Before the buyer drives the car away, you need to remove the license plates. If you leave the plates on, you could be liable for any injuries or property damage caused by the new owner.

As the seller, you must submit a Seller’s Report of Sale to the Illinois Vehicle Services Department. This report protects you from criminal and civil liability for activity that occurs after the sale.

For example, suppose that the buyer violated Illinois traffic laws and caused an accident. If the vehicle is still in your name, you might face a car accident lawsuit filed by accident victims. While a personal injury lawyer could defend you by proving that you sold the vehicle, you might incur legal fees and waste time in doing so.

You might face even more difficulties if the traffic violation involved a serious offense, such as DUI, hit and run or reckless driving. A criminal defense attorney can present evidence that you were not driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. However, the prosecutors might not automatically dismiss the charges based on this information.

You may also need to show that you were not an accomplice by entrusting your vehicle to the buyer. Securing the Seller’s Report of Sale can safeguard you against these issues.

Final Steps After Selling Your Car in Illinois

It’s easy to overlook the last step in how to sell a car in Illinois. But don’t forget to cancel your insurance policy and any other services, like satellite radio, connected to the vehicle.

Need Help Selling Your Car?

If you’ve never sold a vehicle before, jumping through the legal hoops to do so can be daunting. ConsumerShield provides tools and education for anyone needing legal help. Explore our available resources today!