What Illinois vanity plates are and how to order one
An Illinois vanity plate is a custom license plate where you choose the letters and numbers instead of receiving a random combination from the Secretary of State. You can request up to seven characters — letters, numbers, or a mix — as long as no one else in Illinois already has that exact combination. The plate costs an extra $87 on top of your regular registration fee, and you renew it every two years along with your vehicle registration.
You order a vanity plate through the Secretary of State's online system, by mail, or in person at a Driver Services facility. The process takes about two weeks once your request is submitted. If your first choice is already taken, you can request up to three alternatives at the same time, and the Secretary of State will assign you the first available one from your list.
Key Takeaways
- Vanity plates cost $87 extra per registration period and are available with up to seven characters in any combination of letters and numbers.
- You can check character availability and order online through the Secretary of State's website, or request one by mail or at a Driver Services facility.
- The Secretary of State processes vanity plate requests in about two weeks and will assign you your first available choice if your top pick is taken.
- Certain character combinations are blocked — you cannot use spaces, punctuation, or offensive language, and some letter-number patterns are reserved.
- Your vanity plate renews on the same schedule as your vehicle registration, and you pay the $87 fee each time you renew.
How to check if your desired plate is available
The Secretary of State's website has a vanity plate availability checker where you type in your desired combination and see when ready whether it is taken. Go to cyberdriveillinois.com, find the vanity plate section under vehicle services, and enter your choice. The system shows you whether that exact combination is available or already assigned to another vehicle.
If your first choice is taken, you can list up to three alternatives on your order form. The Secretary of State will process them in the order you list them and assign you whichever one becomes available first. This is useful if you have a few similar options in mind — for example, if MYCAR1 is taken, you might also request MYCAR2 and MYCAR3.
Ordering your vanity plate online
The fastest method is to order online through the Secretary of State's website. You will need your vehicle's VIN, current license plate number, and the character combination you want. Create or log into your cyberdriveillinois.com account, navigate to the vanity plate section, and enter your vehicle information and plate choice. You can pay the $87 fee by credit or debit card.
After you submit your order, the Secretary of State sends you a confirmation email. Your new plate is mailed to the address on file with your registration, and it typically arrives within two weeks. You can use your old plate until the new one arrives — you are not required to remove it early.
Ordering by mail or at a Driver Services facility
If you prefer not to order online, you can request a vanity plate by mail. read the vanity plate process form from the Secretary of State's website, fill in your vehicle details and your desired plate combination, and mail it with a check or money order for $87 to the address listed on the form. Processing takes about two weeks from the date the Secretary of State receives your process.
You can also walk into any Driver Services facility in Illinois and request a vanity plate in person. Bring your vehicle registration, driver's license, and payment ($87 cash, check, or card). Staff will check availability on the spot and submit your request. This method gives you when ready confirmation but does not speed up the two-week processing time.
Character restrictions and what you cannot use
Illinois blocks certain character combinations on vanity plates. You cannot use spaces, punctuation marks, or symbols. Offensive language and slurs are rejected. Some letter-number patterns are reserved — for example, plates that look too similar to official government plates or that could be mistaken for temporary or dealer plates.
The Secretary of State's system will reject your request if your combination violates these rules, and you will be asked to choose a different one. The availability checker on the website shows you whether a combination is available, but it does not always explain why a plate was rejected if it contains restricted characters — if you get a rejection, try a different combination or contact the Secretary of State's customer service line for clarification.
Renewing and replacing your vanity plate
Your vanity plate renews every two years on the same schedule as your vehicle registration. When you renew your registration, you automatically renew your vanity plate unless you request to go back to a standard plate. You pay the $87 vanity plate fee again at renewal time, along with your regular registration fee.
If your vanity plate is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a replacement through the Secretary of State. Replacement plates cost $17. If you no longer want your vanity plate, you can request a standard plate during your next renewal or by submitting a form to the Secretary of State — you will not be refunded the $87 you paid for the vanity plate, but you will not pay the fee again if you switch back.
What happens if someone else requests your plate
Once your vanity plate is issued, it is registered to your vehicle and cannot be reassigned to someone else while you own the vehicle. If you sell your car, the new owner cannot keep your vanity plate — they will need to request their own or use a standard plate. Your old vanity plate goes back into the available pool once your registration ends or you transfer it to a different vehicle.
If you want to keep your vanity plate when you buy a new vehicle, you can transfer it during your registration process for the new car. Contact the Secretary of State or visit a Driver Services facility to move your vanity plate to your new vehicle's registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use numbers and letters together on my vanity plate?
Yes. You can mix letters and numbers in any order within your seven-character limit. For example, JOHN2024 or 2FAST4U are both valid combinations, as long as they are not already taken and do not contain spaces or punctuation.
What if the vanity plate I want is already taken?
You can list up to three alternative combinations on your order form. The Secretary of State will assign you whichever alternative becomes available first. If none of your choices are available, your order is rejected and you can resubmit with different combinations.
How much does a vanity plate cost in Illinois?
Vanity plates cost $87 per registration period, which is every two years. This is in addition to your regular registration fee. You pay the $87 fee again each time you renew your registration.
Can I transfer my vanity plate to a different vehicle?
Yes. When you buy a new vehicle, you can transfer your vanity plate to the new car's registration. Contact the Secretary of State or visit a Driver Services facility to complete the transfer. You do not pay an additional fee to move the plate to a different vehicle.
How long does it take to receive my vanity plate after I order it?
The Secretary of State processes vanity plate requests in about two weeks. Your new plate is mailed to the address on file with your registration. You can continue using your old plate until the new one arrives.