To replace a lost car title in Illinois, file Form VSD 190 (Application for Vehicle Transaction(s)) with the Secretary of State and pay a $50 duplicate title fee. Only the registered owner can apply, and standard processing runs about two to three weeks. An expedited option is available for an additional $30 if you need the title sooner.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/3-821
Who Can Request the Duplicate
The Secretary of State issues a duplicate only to the person named on the most recent title. If the vehicle is co-owned, either owner can apply, and both names will appear on the replacement.2Illinois Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re buying a used car and the seller says they lost the title, they need to get the duplicate before the sale. You cannot apply for someone else’s title, and a bill of sale alone will not get you a new one.
What to Gather Before You Apply
Have the following ready before you start Form VSD 190:
- The 17-character vehicle identification number, copied directly from the dashboard or door jamb rather than from memory
- Make, model, year, and body type
- The last license plate number registered to the vehicle2Illinois Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions
- The current odometer reading
- Your Illinois driver’s license or state ID number
- Your full legal name and current address
- A lien release from your lender, if the loan on the vehicle has been paid off
The last plate number trips people up. If you can’t remember it, check an old registration card or an insurance document.
Filling Out and Submitting Form VSD 190
Form VSD 190 is the “Application for Vehicle Transaction(s).” Pick up a paper copy at any Secretary of State facility, or fill it out through the Electronic Registration and Title (ERT) system on the Secretary of State’s website.3Illinois Secretary of State. Electronic Registration and Title ERT lets you enter your information online and print the completed form, but it does not accept electronic submission. Either way, the finished form goes in by mail or in person.
On the form, select “Duplicate Title” as the transaction type. Enter your information and the vehicle details exactly as they appeared on the original title. If the vehicle has a lienholder, include their full name and address.4Illinois Secretary of State. Duplicate and Corrected Titles State on the application that the original was lost, stolen, or mutilated.2Illinois Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions
Mail the completed form to:
Illinois Secretary of State
Vehicle Services Department
501 S. 2nd St., Room 014
Springfield, IL 62756
You can also drop it off in person at any Secretary of State facility.
Fees and Processing Time
The duplicate title fee is $50.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/3-821 Mail-in applications can be paid by check or money order; in-person applications also accept credit cards.5Illinois Secretary of State. Fees
Standard processing takes about two to three weeks, and the replacement is mailed to the address on the application. If a lien is on record, the title goes to the lienholder instead.4Illinois Secretary of State. Duplicate and Corrected Titles
For faster turnaround, Illinois offers expedited service for an additional $30.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/3-821 Expedited requests submitted in person before noon can be ready the same day or the next business day. If the expedited title isn’t processed within the promised timeframe, you can apply for a refund of the $30 expedite fee.6Illinois Secretary of State. Expedited Title Service That’s worth the extra money if you’re mid-sale and the buyer won’t wait.
If There’s a Lien on the Vehicle
When a loan is still outstanding, the lender usually holds the physical title. If it goes missing, contact the lender first: they may need to request the duplicate themselves, or they may want you to apply on their behalf.
If you’ve paid the loan off but the lien was never formally released in the state’s records, you’ll need a lien release letter from the lender before the Secretary of State will issue a clean title in your name. As long as a lien shows on record, any duplicate goes to the lienholder rather than to you.4Illinois Secretary of State. Duplicate and Corrected Titles
If the Registered Owner Has Died
Replacing a title after the owner’s death requires additional documents alongside Form VSD 190. Which documents depend on how the vehicle was titled and whether the estate is going through probate.7Legal Information Institute. Illinois Administrative Code Title 92 Section 1010.150 – Transferring Certificates of Title for Decedents
- Joint tenancy: the surviving owner applies with a certified copy of the death certificate. No probate is needed.
- Sole ownership going through probate: the executor or administrator applies using certified letters testamentary or letters of administration from the court.
- Sole ownership without probate: Illinois allows a small estate affidavit for lower-value estates, submitted with a certified death certificate.
The $50 duplicate title fee applies on top of any transfer fees. A death certificate and a handwritten bill of sale won’t be enough on their own; the Secretary of State needs the formal transfer paperwork.
Mistakes That Slow the Application Down
The most common reason a duplicate application gets rejected is a VIN that doesn’t match the state’s records. One transposed character sends the form back. Copy the VIN directly from the vehicle rather than from old paperwork.
The second common problem is leaving out lienholder information when a lien still shows on record. Even if you’ve paid the loan off, the application stalls until the state has a lien release. Confirm with your lender before submitting if you’re not sure.
A personal check that doesn’t clear voids the application entirely. For mail-in requests, a money order is safer. In person, a credit card avoids the issue.