Yes, Illinois law requires you to surrender your license plates to the Secretary of State when you sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of a vehicle, move out of state, or cancel your insurance. Failing to properly surrender plates can leave you legally and financially responsible for subsequent toll violations, parking tickets, or even crimes committed with your plates still attached. The plates are registered to you, not the vehicle, so the liability follows the owner of record until the state officially processes the surrender.
The most critical situations mandating plate surrender are:
- Selling or transferring your vehicle: You must remove the plates at the time of sale. Do not let the buyer drive away with your Illinois plates on the vehicle.
- Moving out of Illinois: It is strongly advised to surrender your plates to formally terminate your vehicle registration in the state. This prevents future renewal notices and potential confusion over tax obligations.
- Canceling your vehicle insurance: You should not cancel your insurance until after you have surrendered the plates and received proof. Driving without insurance is illegal, and keeping plates active without insurance can lead to fines and registration suspension.
The recommended method is to return plates in person at any Secretary of State facility. No appointment is necessary. You will receive an immediate receipt (Form VSD 190) confirming the surrender, which is your legal proof. This process is free.
| Action | Method | Key Benefit |
|---|
| In-Person Return | Take plates to any IL Secretary of State facility. | Immediate receipt (VSD 190) serves as legal proof. |
| Return by Mail | Mail plates to: Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Dept., 501 S. 2nd St., Rm. 013, Springfield, IL 62756. | Convenient but proof of surrender relies on mail tracking. |
| Destroy if Unreturnable | Physically destroy plates (e.g., bend, cut, or render unusable). | Prevents misuse but provides no refund opportunity. |
If you must mail them, use certified mail with a return receipt for tracking. Destroying plates is a last resort—only do this if returning them is impossible. While it prevents misuse, you forfeit any potential registration fee refund.
A significant financial incentive for timely surrender is a possible partial refund of your registration fee. According to Illinois Secretary of State guidelines, if you surrender plates before the registration expiration date, you may be eligible for a prorated refund. This refund is not automatic; you must submit a separate application (Form VSD 157).
