Vehicle Title, License and Registration in Illinois
What is a car title?
Your vehicle’s title serves as proof of ownership and has important information on it, such as the vehicle’s identification number (VIN), its mileage at the time of sale, its make and model, and date of manufacture.
When you buy a vehicle at a dealership, how long does it take to get your title?
Depending on what state you live in, you may not get your title until you’ve paid off your auto loan!
Your state determines who gets your title. When you finance a car, the institution that financed the vehicle gets its name on the title as the lienholder. In most states, which are title-holding, they also hold onto the title until you finish the loan.
After your purchase a vehicle, you typically get the car’s title in the mail within two to six weeks if you’ve provided the dealership all required documents and signatures and if you’re in a non-title-holding state. So, it is important to provide the dealership with everything needed to transfer title.
Need to trade in a car without the title?
If you need to trade in your vehicle but your lender has the title, no worries, because the dealership can handle it. The dealer contacts the lender and will take care of the remaining balance due, or payoff then transfer of ownership themselves. The bank will usually need to send a letter showing the loan has been paid and that the lien is satisfied.
If you’re in a non-title-holding state and you simply can’t find the title or it got damaged, you can request a duplicate title from your local DMV or SOS, or we can help you. It may take a couple of weeks to get the title in the mail, depending on your home state’s regulations.
Other required paperwork
In most cases, once you’ve signed the title and registration application with the appropriate information and/or a payoff request has been completed a transfer of title can be submitted.
Additional documents and signatures may be needed to transfer title if your current vehicle has a co-buyer, is currently titled to a business, was owned by someone who is deceased, etc. Our dealership will guide you with what is needed.
Note: If you sell your car to a dealership, dealers aren’t required to change the title to the dealer’s name in some states – so the vehicle technically remains in your name until it’s sold to a private individual.
If you’re making a cash purchase at a dealership, the dealer will usually send your title paperwork to your local Department of Motor Vehicles, state transportation, or revenue agency. The DMV or agency will send you the official certificate of title once the paperwork has been processed
If you’re making financing or leasing at a dealership, the dealer will usually send your title paperwork to your local Department of Motor Vehicles, or state transportation or revenue agency. The DMV or agency will send the official certificate of title once the paperwork has been processed to the bank/lienholder if your state is title-holding or send it to you if your state is non-holding.
License Plates and Registration
Dealerships are authorized to handle most state transactions, such as tax collection, license plates, and registration. So, you can expect to receive a temporary registration from the dealer along with dealer temporary tags.
What is an out-of-state or in-state temporary registration permit (TRP)?
As a State of Illinois Secretary of State licensed dealer, we can issue a “Non-Resident Drive-Away Permit” or a temporary registration permit. Temporary Registration Permits, or TRPs, are issued to new purchasers of vehicles who have filed a valid registration application but have not yet received new license plates. TRPs are distributed by Secretary of State facilities, licensed vehicle dealers, remittance agents, and currency exchanges. that allows a vehicle to be operated and driven from the place of acquisition to a destination outside of Illinois or while license plates are being processed. TRPs are good for 90 days. They should be removed from the vehicle when new license plates have been received.
How much is an Illinois Title? $165.00
How much are an Illinois License Plates (Registration)? Passenger Car and B-Trucks $151.00 | Electric Vehicles: $100
How much is the Electronic Registration Transfer Fee? $35.00
How much is the Illinois Documentation Fee? $358.03
Patrick Cadillac has properly transferred titles on sold vehicles issuing license plates/registration and has been issuing out-of-state temporary registration permits since 1977.
Taking care of you every day, that’s the Patrick Promise!