Illinois · Paperwork

Illinois bill of sale — requirements and free generator

Illinois never asks for a notary and has no statewide bill-of-sale mandate — but its private-sale tax system is unlike any other state on this list. Instead of a percentage of the price, Illinois charges a flat Private Party Vehicle Use Tax under 625 ILCS 5/3-1001, reported on Form RUT-50 within 30 days of the purchase: for prices under $15,000 the tax comes from a model-year table ($100 for 2015-or-older up to $465 for the newest cars on the 2026 chart), and at $15,000 or more it jumps to price brackets starting at $850. The title side is conventional — the seller completes the assignment on the certificate of title (625 ILCS 5/3-112) and the buyer files it with Application VSD 190 and the $165 title fee at the Secretary of State. A bill of sale is still worth signing: it is the standard proof of the price you report on the RUT-50, and the seller can file a Seller’s Report of Sale (VSD 703) to cut off liability.

Not legal advice — general information for Illinois. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Illinois: bill of salerecommended · notarization: not required

No statewide bill-of-sale mandate: the assigned title plus tax Form RUT-50 (due within 30 days) handle the transfer, and a bill of sale is the standard proof of the price reported on the RUT-50.

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MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

State of Illinois

1. The Parties. This Bill of Sale is made effective as of ______________________ (the “Sale Date”) by and between ______________________, with a mailing address of ________________________________________ (the “Seller”), and ______________________, with a mailing address of ________________________________________(the “Buyer”).

2. The Property.The Seller agrees to sell, transfer, and deliver to the Buyer the following described property (the “Property”):

  • Year: ________
  • Make: ______________________
  • Model: ______________________
  • Color: ____________
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): ______________________
  • Odometer Reading: ____________ miles

3. Consideration. The Buyer agrees to pay the Seller the total sum of $____________ USD, receipt of which is acknowledged by the Seller as full payment for the Property.

4. Ownership. The Seller certifies that the Seller is the legal owner of the Property, that the Property is sold free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims, and that the Seller has full right and authority to sell and transfer it.

5. Odometer Disclosure Statement

Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32705) requires that you state the mileage upon transfer of ownership. Failure to complete an odometer statement, or providing a false statement, may result in fines and/or imprisonment. I, ______________________, certify to the best of my knowledge that the odometer reading of ____________ miles:

  • reflects the ACTUAL mileage of the vehicle;
  • exceeds the odometer’s mechanical limits;
  • is NOT the actual mileage — WARNING: ODOMETER DISCREPANCY.

6. Condition. The Buyer accepts the Property in its present condition, “AS-IS, WHERE-IS”, with all faults. The Seller makes no warranties, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, except the warranty of ownership stated above.

Seller’s Signature

Printed Name: ______________________

Date: ____________________

Buyer’s Signature

Printed Name: ______________________

Date: ____________________

Generated with the free Brixaz bill of sale generator (brixaz.com/tools/bill-of-sale). General information, not legal advice. For vehicles, the certificate of title transfers ownership — this document is supporting proof of the sale.

Illinois requirements for a private sale

  • Seller assigns the title to the buyer with price, date, and odometer disclosure where the title provides it (625 ILCS 5/3-112; federal rule for model year 2011 and newer).
  • Buyer: file Form RUT-50 (Private Party Vehicle Use Tax Transaction) within 30 days of the purchase — it is submitted through the Secretary of State with the title application (Illinois DOR).
  • The 2026 tax chart (Form RUT-5): under $15,000, tax is set by model year — e.g. $100 for 2015 or older, $190 for 2021, $465 for 2025+; at $15,000 or more, tax is $850 to $10,100 by price bracket.
  • Transfers between spouses, parents, children, or siblings — and gifts to estate beneficiaries — pay a flat $15 instead (RUT-50 exceptions).
  • Buyer: submit the assigned title, Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (VSD 190), proof of Illinois insurance, the $165 title fee, and registration payment to the Secretary of State.
  • Seller: keep your plates — Illinois plates stay with the owner — and consider filing a Seller’s Report of Sale (VSD 703) so tickets after the sale point at the buyer.
  • Cook County and City of Chicago home-rule surcharges can add to the RUT-50 amount — check the RUT-6 reference guide for your address.

Notarization: not required

Illinois requires no notarization anywhere in a private vehicle sale — not on the bill of sale, not on the title assignment, not on the RUT-50. Signatures and accurate numbers are what the Secretary of State checks.

Official form

No official Illinois bill of sale form exists. The state paper trail is the assigned title + VSD 190 + tax Form RUT-50; the optional Seller’s Report of Sale (VSD 703) protects the seller. Use the generator above for the bill of sale itself, and keep it with your RUT-50 copy as proof of the reported price.

Worked example: selling a car in Illinois

Say you sell a 2018 Honda Civic in Chicago for $9,500 on July 25, 2026. You assign the title with the odometer reading, both parties sign the bill of sale, and you mail the VSD 703 Seller’s Report of Sale to Springfield. Because $9,500 is under $15,000, the buyer’s RUT-50 tax comes from Table A by model year: a 2018 vehicle owes a flat $140 — whether the Civic sold for $6,000 or $14,500 — plus any Cook County/Chicago home-rule surcharge from the RUT-6 guide. The buyer files the RUT-50 within 30 days along with VSD 190, the $165 title fee, and proof of insurance. Now flip the numbers: a $16,200 sale would land in Table B’s first bracket and owe $850 — crossing the $15,000 line multiplies the tax roughly sixfold, which is why the reported price gets scrutiny and why your signed bill of sale matters.

Illinois bill of sale FAQ

Is a bill of sale required to transfer a car title in Illinois?

The Secretary of State does not demand one when the assigned title is complete — the title, VSD 190, and RUT-50 do the legal work. But the RUT-50 asks for the purchase price, and a signed bill of sale is the standard evidence if the Department of Revenue questions the number. Treat it as required in practice, optional in name.

How much is the RUT-50 tax on a private car sale in Illinois?

It is a flat amount, not a percentage. Under $15,000, the 2026 chart taxes by model year: $100 (2015 or older), $115 (2016), $125 (2017), $140 (2018), $155 (2019), $165 (2020), $190 (2021), $240 (2022), $290 (2023), $365 (2024), $465 (2025 or newer). At $15,000+, it goes by price: $850, $1,100, $1,350, $1,600, $2,600, $5,100, up to $10,100 for $1M+. Cook County and Chicago can add local amounts — see Form RUT-6.

What is the Seller’s Report of Sale (VSD 703) and should I file it?

It is the Illinois Secretary of State form that records you sold the vehicle — the Illinois cousin of other states’ notice-of-sale filings. It is not mandatory, but filing it (or the notice-of-sale stub attached to newer Illinois titles) documents the sale date so tollway violations and tickets after the handoff point at the buyer. Mail it, keep a copy, done.

Do license plates stay with the car in Illinois?

No — plates belong to the seller. Take them off before the buyer drives away; you can transfer the registration to your next vehicle for a small fee. Selling a car with your plates still on it is the classic way Illinois sellers end up with someone else’s I-PASS tollway violations.

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