Real Illinois deals, worked out
Each example runs through the same calculator above, line by line, so you can check every number yourself.
1Chicago: new car with a trade-in
A Chicago resident agrees to $35,000 for a new car, trades in $10,000 and pays a $358 doc fee. The dealer charges Cook County's 7.5% vehicle rate plus the 1.25% Chicago Home Rule Use Tax, 8.75% in all, on $25,358. Using the 10.25% general Chicago rate would overstate the tax by about $380.
| Vehicle price | $35,000.00 |
| Dealer doc fee | $358.00 |
| Sales tax (8.75%) on $25,358.00 | $2,218.82 |
| Certificate of title | $165.00 |
| Registration and plates | $151.00 |
| Out-the-door | $37,892.82 |
| Due after the $10,000 trade-in | $27,892.82 |
2Cook County suburb: used car from a dealer
A buyer in Evanston pays $22,000 for a used car with a $358 doc fee and no trade-in. Outside Chicago, the Cook County vehicle rate of 7.5% applies.
| Vehicle price | $22,000.00 |
| Dealer doc fee | $358.00 |
| Sales tax (7.5%) on $22,358.00 | $1,676.85 |
| Certificate of title | $165.00 |
| Registration and plates | $151.00 |
| Out-the-door | $24,350.85 |
3Private sale: $22,000 used SUV
A buyer pays a private seller $22,000. Instead of a percentage, the 2026 RUT-5 chart sets the tax at a flat $1,100 for prices from $20,000 to $24,999. That's $825 less than 8.75% of the same price at a Chicago dealer. Cook County and Chicago residents also owe their local private-party use taxes, reported on the same RUT-50 form.
| Price paid | $22,000.00 |
| Private party vehicle use tax (RUT-50) on $22,000.00 | $1,100.00 |
| Certificate of title | $165.00 |
| Registration and plates | $151.00 |
| Out-the-door | $23,416.00 |
4Private sale: $9,000 car from 2018
Under $15,000, the chart uses the car's age. A 2018 model is eight years old in 2026, so the state tax is $140, whatever the price. Buying from a parent, spouse, sibling or child would drop it to $15.
| Price paid | $9,000.00 |
| Private party vehicle use tax (RUT-50) on $9,000.00 | $140.00 |
| Certificate of title | $165.00 |
| Registration and plates | $151.00 |
| Out-the-door | $9,456.00 |
Buying from a dealer
Dealer sales are taxed at the 6.25% state rate plus local taxes that apply to titled vehicles. Home-rule municipal and county sales taxes don't apply to items that must be titled or registered with the state, which is why the rate on a car is lower than the rate on your grocery receipt. In Cook County the vehicle rate is 7.5% from August 1, 2026. Dealers in the six-county Chicago area must also collect the 1.25% Chicago Home Rule Use Tax when the buyer's title address is in Chicago.
The selling price includes the dealer's documentary fee and any rebate the dealer is reimbursed for, such as a manufacturer rebate; a dealer's own unreimbursed rebate isn't taxed. Your trade-in comes off the price in full before tax. From 2020 through 2021, Illinois capped the trade-in credit at $10,000, but the cap was removed for sales on or after January 1, 2022.
Check the tax on your dealer's quote
Enter the numbers from your buyer's order and your local vehicle rate (2.5% for Chicago, 1.25% elsewhere in Cook County). The checker explains a mismatch, such as a trade-in that wasn't subtracted.
The quote leaves the doc fee out of the taxable price. In Illinois the doc fee is taxed, so expect $26.16 more tax than this quote shows.
Private sales: the 2026 RUT-50 chart
Private sales aren't charged a percentage. You file Form RUT-50 within 30 days and pay a flat tax from the RUT-5 chart. A trade-in deduction isn't allowed. At $15,000 and up, the price sets the tax:
| Purchase price | Tax due (2026) |
|---|---|
| $15,000 – $19,999.99 | $850 |
| $20,000 – $24,999.99 | $1,100 |
| $25,000 – $29,999.99 | $1,350 |
| $30,000 – $49,999.99 | $1,600 |
| $50,000 – $99,999.99 | $2,600 |
| $100,000 – $999,999.99 | $5,100 |
| $1,000,000 or more | $10,100 |
Private sales under $15,000
Under $15,000, the car's model year sets the tax. Buying from a spouse, parent, brother, sister or child, including adopted children, drops it to $15; step-relatives, in-laws and grandparents don't qualify.
| Model year | Tax due (2026) |
|---|---|
| 2025 or newer | $465 |
| 2024 | $365 |
| 2023 | $290 |
| 2022 | $240 |
| 2021 | $190 |
| 2020 | $165 |
| 2019 | $155 |
| 2018 | $140 |
| 2017 | $125 |
| 2016 | $115 |
| 2015 or older | $100 |
Dealer or private seller: which costs less in tax?
Because private sales use flat amounts, the tax gap between buying from a dealer and buying privately changes with the price. This compares the state chart with a Chicago dealer's 8.75%, with no trade-in. Private-party buyers in Cook County and Chicago also owe local use taxes on top of the state amount.
| Price | Chicago dealer (8.75%) | Private sale, state RUT-50 |
|---|---|---|
| $12,000 | $1,050.00 | $140 |
| $18,000 | $1,575.00 | $850 |
| $22,000 | $1,925.00 | $1,100 |
| $28,000 | $2,450.00 | $1,350 |
| $40,000 | $3,500.00 | $1,600 |
| $60,000 | $5,250.00 | $2,600 |
The $12,000 row assumes a 2018 model; under $15,000 the private tax depends on age.
Title, registration and EV fees
The Secretary of State charges $165 for an original title and $151 for standard passenger registration and plates, so a typical new registration is $316 before tax. Electric vehicles pay an extra $100 a year in place of motor fuel tax, for a $251 registration.
Common mistakes in Illinois estimates
These are easy mistakes to make when estimating Illinois car tax, and what each one does to the number.
| Common mistake | What the rule is | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Using Chicago's 10.25% general rate on a car | Home-rule taxes don't apply to titled vehicles; the vehicle rate is about 8.75% | $375 too high on a $25,000 taxable price |
| Applying a percentage to a private sale | Private sales use the flat RUT-5 chart | Can be off by hundreds either way |
| Capping the trade-in credit at $10,000 | The cap ended for sales from January 1, 2022 | $437.50 too high on a $15,000 trade-in |
| Subtracting a trade-in on a private sale | Not allowed on Form RUT-50 | Understates the tax |
| Missing the 30-day RUT-50 deadline | The form and tax are due within 30 days | Penalties and interest |
Illinois taxes and fees at a glance
Officialfrom a state agency sourceEst.varies or not yet confirmed
| Item (chicago: new car with a trade-in) | Status | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax (8.75%) | Official | $2,218.82 |
| Certificate of title | Official | $165.00 |
| Registration and plates | Official | $151.00 |
| Total taxes and fees | $2,534.82 |
Illinois car tax FAQ
What is the car sales tax in Chicago?
About 8.75% at a dealer: Cook County's 7.5% vehicle rate plus the 1.25% Chicago Home Rule Use Tax. The 10.25% general rate doesn't apply to cars because home-rule taxes exclude titled vehicles.
What is the car sales tax in Illinois?
At a dealer, 6.25% plus local taxes that apply to vehicles. Private sales use a flat tax from the RUT-5 chart instead.
Is there still a $10,000 trade-in cap in Illinois?
No. The cap only applied to 2020 and 2021 sales. Since January 1, 2022, the full trade-in value comes off the price.
How much is the tax on a private car sale in Illinois?
It depends on the price, or on the car's age under $15,000. In 2026 a $22,000 car is $1,100 and a $9,000 2018 car is $140.
How much are title and plates in Illinois?
The title is $165 and standard registration is $151, for $316. Electric cars pay $251 for registration.
How long do I have to pay tax on a private sale?
File Form RUT-50 and pay within 30 days of the purchase.
Sources
We build every number from these agency pages. If something has changed, tell us and we'll fix it.
- Illinois DOR – ST-556 instructions (Chicago Home Rule Use Tax, RTA)
- Illinois DOR – Home rule sales taxes (titled property excluded)
- Illinois DOR – RUT-25 instructions (Cook County 7.5% from Aug 1, 2026)
- Illinois DOR – Private Party Vehicle Use Tax Chart for 2026 (RUT-5)
- Illinois DOR – ST-9, reporting sales on Form ST-556 (rebates)
- Illinois DOR – FY 2026-34, NITA rate change effective August 1, 2026
- Illinois DOR – Vehicle Tax FAQs
- Cook County – Non-Retailer Use Tax
- Illinois Secretary of State – Vehicle FAQ
- Illinois Secretary of State – Electric vehicle plates
Rules and fees checked on