The Illinois VSD-43 form is a one-page Law Enforcement Certification that the Secretary of State uses to verify a vehicle’s identification number before issuing or correcting a title. You download the current version from the Secretary of State’s website, fill in your name and address at the top, and then take the vehicle to a law enforcement officer who inspects the VIN, completes the rest of the form, and signs it.1Illinois Secretary of State. Law Enforcement Certification VSD-43 You then submit the signed form with your title application to the Vehicle Services Department.
The most common reason the state asks for VSD-43 is a title that was junked or salvaged in error and needs to be restored.1Illinois Secretary of State. Law Enforcement Certification VSD-43 It also comes up for out-of-state vehicles whose existing titles are missing key descriptive data, vehicles with a damaged or unreadable VIN plate, custom-built or multi-part vehicles being titled for the first time, and corrections when a digit was recorded wrong on a prior title. If the Secretary of State requests the form and you don’t provide it, your title application stalls. No title means no registration, no plates, and no legal way to transfer ownership.
What You Fill In vs. What the Officer Fills In
The form is short, but the division of responsibility matters. Filling in the officer’s section yourself can get the form kicked back.
Your part is the top portion only:1Illinois Secretary of State. Law Enforcement Certification VSD-43
- Owner name or names (last, first, middle initial, up to two owners)
- Street address, city, state, and ZIP code
Leave the rest blank. Everything below your information is marked for a law enforcement officer only.
After physically inspecting the vehicle, the officer records the year, make, model, body style, color, and VIN. Motorcycles have a field for engine displacement in CC. If the vehicle went through a second-stage manufacturer, there’s an extra block for that manufacturer’s year, make, model, and VIN.1Illinois Secretary of State. Law Enforcement Certification VSD-43
The officer then answers yes or no to four VIN confirmation questions, explaining any “no”:
- Public VIN (dashboard or door jamb)
- Federal sticker VIN (safety certification label, usually on the driver’s door frame)
- Secondary VIN (a hidden or secondary number stamped by the manufacturer)
- OBD VIN (the number stored in the onboard diagnostic system)
Finally, the officer signs the certification, prints their name, and records their badge number, agency, and the date.
Getting the VIN Inspection
Only a law enforcement officer can complete the inspection section. A mechanic or dealership employee doesn’t qualify. For most situations, that means calling your local police department or sheriff’s office and asking whether they do VIN verifications. Some departments charge a small fee; others do it for free. Call ahead to confirm both the service and the cost.
For rebuilt salvage vehicles, the inspection is handled by the Secretary of State’s Department of Police at designated safety lanes rather than your local department.2Cornell Law Institute. Illinois Admin Code Title 92 Section 1020.80 – Inspection of Rebuilt Vehicles You’ll need an appointment. Bring proof of valid Illinois registration (dealer plates or a 72-hour permit are acceptable), your driver’s license, and be ready to open the hood and trunk so the investigator can reach every identification number location.
The inspection itself can take just a few minutes for a straightforward public-VIN check, or longer if the officer has to locate secondary or hidden numbers.
Submitting the Form
Once the officer has signed VSD-43, it goes in with your title application. You can file in person at any Secretary of State facility that handles vehicle services, or mail the package to:
Secretary of State
Vehicle Services Department
501 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 627563Illinois Secretary of State. Electronic Registration and Title
Fees
VSD-43 has no separate filing fee. You pay the standard titling fee that applies to what you’re doing:4Illinois Secretary of State. Fees
- Original title: $165
- Duplicate or corrected title: $50
- Salvage title: $20
Titling an out-of-state vehicle for the first time in Illinois triggers the $165 fee. Correcting a VIN error on an existing Illinois title triggers the $50 corrected-title fee. Make checks or money orders payable to the Illinois Secretary of State. Cash is not accepted by mail.5Illinois Secretary of State. Title and Registration Checklist
What Goes With It
VSD-43 rarely travels alone. For an out-of-state vehicle, your package should also include:5Illinois Secretary of State. Title and Registration Checklist
- The out-of-state title, which you surrender
- Proof of insurance
- Odometer verification for model year 2011 or newer
- Loan information if there’s a lien on the vehicle
- A tax form with a separate check or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Revenue for any applicable taxes
If you no longer have the out-of-state title, you’ll need to obtain one from the previous state before Illinois will process the application. There is no workaround.
After You Submit
Title applications generally take about three to four weeks to process once the Secretary of State receives them.6Illinois Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions You can check status online using the Secretary of State’s Title and Registration Status Inquiry tool, searching by VIN. When the new or corrected title arrives in the mail, keep a copy of the signed VSD-43 in your own records. If a question comes up later during a sale or an insurance claim, having the original certification on hand saves you from arranging another inspection.
Penalties for False Information
The certification on VSD-43 is a sworn statement, and Illinois treats false statements on title applications as a Class 2 felony under the Vehicle Code. That covers using a false name or address, an altered VIN, or any material false statement on the application.7Justia Law. Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5 – Chapter 4 Separately, federal law makes knowingly removing, tampering with, or altering a VIN punishable by up to five years in prison under 18 U.S.C. ยง 511.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Altering or Removing Motor Vehicle Identification Numbers Both the vehicle owner and the inspecting officer attest to what appears on the form, which is why accuracy on every line matters.