Have you been caught with an expired registration? Illinois law requires all vehicles registered in Illinois to have a valid Illinois registration sticker placed on their rear license plate.
Registration stickers are generally valid for one year from purchase, so the expiration date will vary from person to person.
It used to be the case that the Illinois Secretary of State would mail registered vehicle owners to remind them that their registration was set to expire. However, this is no longer the case. Vehicle owners will still receive an email reminder if they are signed up, but it is up to each individual to check if their registration sticker is valid before operating their vehicle on a public roadway.
As a result, it can be easy to forget or not realize that your registration has expired until it’s too late and you’re pulled over for driving with expired tags.
Driving with expired tags in Illinois is a non-moving — or administrative — violation. This means that on its own, it’s punishable by a fine and will not go on your record.
In these cases, the best thing to do is pay the $90 fine and renew your registration as quickly as possible — if you wait more than 30 days before renewing your registration, you’ll incur a $20 late registration fee.
You should also take proof of your valid registration with you to court.
If you’ve already renewed your registration and were waiting on your new tags when you were pulled over, you’re not completely off the hook. That’s because you can display a Temporary Registration Permit (TRP) issued by the Secretary of State until you receive your new plates. Temporary permits are valid for 90 days and can be reissued if you do not receive your updated tags within this time.
An expired registration ticket can become more complex if you are also charged with an offense.
For example, if you have an expired registration but you’re also operating a vehicle with a canceled, suspended, or revoked registration and you’re charged with the latter offense, it’s a Class A misdemeanor. This carries more than just a fine, with penalties including up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500. While jail time is rare for these offenses, a conviction on this charge will result in a criminal record and impact your driving record.
The first step you should take is to review your ticket. This will outline the specific violation, the fine, and any important dates to remember.
The next step you should take is to renew your license registration. Having proof of valid registration may not automatically result in the ticket being dismissed, but it will likely lead to a much better outcome than showing up to court without it.
You can renew an expired registration online, by mail, or in person. You will need your Registration ID and PIN.
Renewing your license registration won’t make the ticket disappear, and you’ll still need to deal with it.
You will typically need to go to court for an expired registration ticket, which is indicated by “Court Appearance Required” on your paperwork. It’s important to go to court at the time and date shown, as failure to appear can result in more serious consequences.
If you renewed your registration before your court date, you should take proof with you.
For a standalone expired registration ticket, you likely won’t need an attorney. Because it’s an administrative violation, the ticket won’t affect your record. The exception is if you’re charged with a moving violation, such as driving with a suspended license or driving without insurance, which can have bigger repercussions. Pleading guilty to these additional charges could result in hefty fines, a license suspension, and a criminal record.
If you’re unsure what to do, our Chicago traffic ticket attorneys can explain your options and next steps. We’ll tell you upfront if we can help and think you’d benefit from hiring an attorney. If you face a more serious moving violation or criminal charge in conjunction with your expired registration ticket, we can build a defense — your custom GamePlan — to secure the best possible outcome.
We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation so you can understand your ticket and what to do next. We charge a flat fee — not by the hour — so you’ll never pay more than the price we quote.
Our approach is different from other firms. We exclusively represent Illinois drivers — it’s all we do. That means when you hire Driver Defense Team, you get:
We’ve helped thousands of clients in Chicagoland resolve their traffic tickets. While we can’t guarantee specific results, we can guarantee we’ll use everything we’ve learned from handling these cases to get you the best possible outcome.
The easiest way to check whether your vehicle registration has expired — or is about to — is to check the sticker on your rear plates. Alternatively, you can enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the Illinois Secretary of State’s website.
You can renew your expired license online, in person, or by mail.
To renew online, go to the Illinois Secretary of State website, enter your Registration ID and PIN, and follow the instructions on the screen.
You will typically receive your renewal sticker in five to ten business days.
To renew an expired registration in person, visit a Secretary of State facility, currency exchange, or participating bank.
To renew by mail, you will need your Registration ID and PIN to access a renewal application. You can then print and mail the application by following the instructions provided.
The cost of renewing your registration depends on the type of license plate you have:
Don’t forget that if you renew your registration more than 30 days after it has expired, you’ll also have to pay a $20 late fee.
If you need a Temporary Registered Permit so you can legally drive while you wait for your updated registration, you can get one at a Secretary of State facility or currency exchange.
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