Illinois Vanity License Plates
Illinois vanity license plates, also known as personalized plates, allow vehicle owners to create a custom combination of letters and numbers that replaces the randomly assigned plate number issued by the state. Instead of receiving a standard sequence, drivers can choose a unique identifier that reflects their name, profession, interests, business, or personal message.
Vanity plates in Illinois are issued by the Illinois Secretary of State and follow the same base design as standard plates unless combined with a specialty plate format. The primary difference is that the registration number is selected by the applicant, subject to availability and approval.
Character Limits and Formatting Rules
Before applying for Illinois vanity plates, it’s important to understand the character limits and formatting requirements established by the Illinois Secretary of State. These rules determine what combinations are legally permitted.
Character Limits
The number of characters allowed depends on your vehicle type. Standard passenger vehicle vanity plates can have up to seven characters, while motorcycle vanity plates are limited to six characters due to the smaller plate size. Characters can include letters A through Z, numbers zero through nine, and spaces (which count as characters).
Formatting Options
Illinois offers flexibility in how you arrange your personalized combination. You can use all letters, all numbers, or mix letters and numbers in any arrangement. Spaces can be included and count toward your total character limit. Illinois vanity plates are not case-sensitive and will appear in all capital letters. The state does not allow special characters, punctuation marks, or symbols beyond standard letters, numbers, and spaces.
Illinois Vanity Plate Content Restrictions and Approval Guidelines
While Illinois allows creative personalization, vanity plates must meet strict public display standards. Every application is reviewed by the Illinois Secretary of State to ensure the requested combination complies with state regulations.
Prohibited content categories include:
- Profane, obscene, or vulgar combinations
- Derogatory, discriminatory, or insulting messages
- Sexually explicit or suggestive references
- References to illegal drugs, drug use, or excessive alcohol consumption
- Combinations suggesting violence, criminal behavior, or illegal activities
- Impersonation of law enforcement, emergency services, or government agencies
- Misleading or confusing combinations that mimic official designations
Reviewers evaluate each combination against content guidelines, considering multiple interpretations, alternate meanings, and slang uses. If an application is rejected, the application fee is usually retained, so choose your combination carefully.
How Do You Check Illinois Vanity Plate Availability?
Before submitting an application for Illinois vanity plates, you must confirm that your desired combination is available. Even if a plate idea meets formatting and content rules, it cannot be issued if it is already assigned to another vehicle.
The Illinois Secretary of State provides an official online vanity plate availability tool on their website. This free service allows you to search your desired combination instantly before submitting an application and payment. If your preferred combination isn't available, consider modifying spelling, adding numbers, using abbreviations, including spaces, or trying synonyms.
How Do You Apply For Illinois Vanity Plates?
Applying for Illinois vanity plates involves selecting an available personalized combination, choosing your preferred plate design, submitting an application to the Illinois Secretary of State, and paying the required fees.
Step 1: Choose Your Combination
Decide on a meaningful, memorable message and brainstorm multiple options in case your first choice is unavailable.
Step 2: Select Your Plate Design
Choose between the standard Illinois "Land of Lincoln" design or numerous specialty plate designs that support organizations, universities, causes, or military branches.
Step 3: Complete the Application
Apply online through the secure Secretary of State portal for the fastest processing, in person at a Driver Services facility, or by mail using request forms.
Step 4: Pay Application and Registration Fees
Vanity plates require payment of an initial application fee ($47), an annual vanity plate fee ($47/year), standard registration fees ($101-$151/year), and specialty plate fees if applicable ($40-$48/year).
Step 5: Wait for Processing and Manufacturing
The state reviews your application for content guidelines and availability. Manufacturing and delivery typically take four to twelve weeks.
Step 6: Receive and Install Your Vanity Plates
Inspect your plates upon arrival, mount them securely in the required locations (front and rear for passenger vehicles), apply current registration stickers to the upper right corner of the rear plate, and keep your registration card inside your vehicle.
Maintaining Your Vanity Plates
Vanity plates must be renewed annually along with your standard vehicle registration, which includes the recurring $47 annual vanity plate fee. You can transfer your vanity plates to a new vehicle using the standard plate transfer process for a nominal fee. If you relinquish your vanity plates, your combination becomes available for others to claim. Maintain continuous registration to ensure your personalized combination remains exclusively yours.