An Illinois temporary registration permit, or TRP, lets you drive a newly acquired vehicle legally for up to 90 days while you wait for permanent plates. The Secretary of State issues it under 625 ILCS 5/3-407, and you can apply in person at a Secretary of State facility or by mail.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/3-407 – Temporary Permit or Registration Pending Registration
How to Apply
Complete the Application for Vehicle Transaction(s), Form VSD 190. The form asks for the vehicle identification number, make, model, year, and your personal information.2Illinois Secretary of State. Apply for Registration and Title Bring proof of ownership, such as an assigned certificate of title or a bill of sale.
You need a valid Illinois driver’s license or state ID. If Illinois isn’t your primary residence, you can still apply with a valid license from your home state plus one of the following: proof you own or lease a residence in Illinois, proof of enrollment at an Illinois college or university, or proof of active-duty military status.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/3-407 – Temporary Permit or Registration Pending Registration
If you’re applying by mail, include a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State for the permit fee.3Illinois Secretary of State. Basic Fees In person, any Secretary of State facility that handles vehicle transactions can process it while you’re there.
What the Permit Looks Like and How Long It’s Good
The TRP is a polymer plate with a yellow background that mounts in the position of a regular license plate. It’s valid for 90 days from the date of issue, and the expiration date is printed on the permit itself. Once your metal plates arrive, take the TRP down and put the permanent plates on right away.4Illinois Secretary of State. Temporary Registration Permits (TRP)
Buying From a Dealer
When you buy from a licensed Illinois dealership, the dealer usually handles the temporary permit at the point of sale. Dealers and authorized remittance agents can issue the permit directly, so most buyers never step into a Secretary of State facility for this piece.5Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code 92 Section 1010.420 – Temporary Permit Pending Registration In Illinois A dealer-issued permit carries the same 90-day validity, with the expiration date printed on it.6Illinois State Police. Temporary Dealer Permit
Insurance You Need Before You Apply
Illinois law prohibits operating or registering a vehicle without liability insurance, so coverage has to be in place before you apply for a TRP.7Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/7-601 – Required Liability Insurance Policy The statutory minimums under 625 ILCS 5/7-203 are:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person per accident
- $50,000 total for bodily injury or death per accident
- $20,000 for property damage per accident
You’ll see this written as 25/50/20.8Illinois Department of Insurance. Auto Insurance Shopping Guide These are the legal floor, and many drivers choose higher limits.
If You’re From Out of State
If you don’t live in Illinois and you bought a vehicle here to take home, a standard TRP isn’t the right permit. You want a Non-Resident Drive-Away Permit, which allows 10 days to move the vehicle out of Illinois to your home state. It’s available from licensed dealers, remittance agents, or most Secretary of State facilities.9Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. Illinois Administrative Code Title 92 Section 1010.425 – Non-Resident Drive-Away Permits
You’ll complete a vehicle permit application, pay the fee under Section 3-811, and show proof you own the vehicle: a title in your name, a title assigned to you, a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, or a registration card expired less than one year. The application must show an out-of-state address.9Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. Illinois Administrative Code Title 92 Section 1010.425 – Non-Resident Drive-Away Permits Display the permit in the lower left corner of the rear window and do not put any license plates on the vehicle while the drive-away permit is in use. The fee is $10.10Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/3-811 – Drive-Away and Other Permits – Fees
What If My Plates Haven’t Arrived Before the TRP Expires
A Secretary of State facility or remittance agent can issue another temporary permit in specific situations. If registration stickers or plates aren’t immediately available at a facility, or if you applied for registration before your current permit expired but haven’t received the plates, you can get a new permit. In the second case, you’ll need proof you already submitted the registration application.5Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code 92 Section 1010.420 – Temporary Permit Pending Registration In Illinois The Secretary of State can also issue a new permit when you’ve made a proper application for title and registration but the office can’t issue registration at that time. The common thread: the delay is administrative, not because you never applied.
If You Drive on an Expired TRP
Once your temporary permit expires and you don’t have permanent plates, you’re operating an unregistered vehicle. Law enforcement can stop you, cite you, and have the vehicle towed.
Penalties are steeper if your registration was suspended for an insurance lapse. Operating a vehicle with registration suspended for noninsurance carries a mandatory fine of $1,000 to $2,000 on a first offense. A second conviction is a Class B misdemeanor within the same fine range.11Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/3-708 Towing and storage add to the tab if the vehicle is impounded.