Selling a car in Illinois: the paperwork
| Illinois seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notarized title signature | Not required |
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Report the sale | Notice of Sale (Seller's Report of Sale), form VSD 703 |
| Duplicate title | Application for Vehicle Transaction(s), VSD 190; $50 |
| Bill of sale | Recommended |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Illinois
We buy cars in Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Rockford and Springfield, and in every other town in Illinois a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
Chicago-area winters are rough on undercarriages, and we buy rusted-out cars as they sit.
How it works in Illinois
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Illinois, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in Illinois
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Illinois too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Illinois car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Illinois?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Illinois title, apply to the Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services with Application for Vehicle Transaction(s), VSD 190. The fee is $50.
Can I junk a car without a title in Illinois?
Sometimes. Scrap processors need a title, salvage or junking certificate, or similar ownership proof, plus two IDs (625 ILCS 5/5-401.3). A lien-free owner of record can get a junking certificate without surrendering the title (5/3-117.1). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Illinois title, apply to the Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services with Application for Vehicle Transaction(s), VSD 190. The fee is $50.
Does the title need to be notarized in Illinois?
No. Illinois doesn't require the seller's signature on the title to be notarized. Sign the seller section exactly as your name appears on the front of the title, and add the odometer reading and sale date where the title asks for them.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Illinois?
In Illinois, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle. They can only be moved to another vehicle the seller owns.
How do I tell the Illinois DMV that I sold my car?
File the Notice of Sale (Seller's Report of Sale), form VSD 703, with the state after the sale. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Illinois?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Illinois a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Illinois SOS: Transferring Plates
- Illinois SOS: Buying or Selling a Used Vehicle (DOP 141)
- Illinois SOS: Seller's Report of Sale (VSD 703)
- Illinois SOS: Vehicle Services FAQ
- Illinois SOS: Duplicate Titles
- 625 ILCS 5/5-401.3, scrap processor records and proof of ownership (Illinois General Assembly file repository)
- 625 ILCS 5/3-117.1, when junking certificates must be obtained (Illinois General Assembly file repository)
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.