How to get dealer plates in Illinois
What Illinois dealer plates cost, the types you can get, how to apply, and the rules on using them. Verified as of July 2026.
IL dealer plates at a glance:
- Issued by
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Cost per plate
- $45 master set + $13 per duplicate set
- Requirement
- Active Illinois dealer license
- Use them for
- Demos, inventory moves, dealership business
- Term
- Annual (calendar-year cycle with the license)
Informational only — confirm current fees and rules with the Illinois Secretary of State (Dealer Licensing) before you apply.
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What Illinois dealer plates are
Illinois dealer plates come from the Secretary of State under a master-and-duplicates system: your first set of Master Dealer plates costs $45, and duplicate sets are $13 each (625 ILCS 5/3-602). The catch is the cap — how many duplicate sets you're entitled to depends on how many vehicles you sold in the previous calendar year.
As an example straight from the SOS: a dealer who sold 50 vehicles last year gets one $45 master set plus a maximum of seven $13 duplicate sets. Higher volume unlocks more sets, so your plate count grows with your documented sales.
Types of IL dealer plates
The first set issued with your dealer license — $45. Used on dealership-owned vehicles for demonstration, transport, and dealership business.
Additional sets at $13 each, capped by your prior-year sales volume (e.g., 50 sales allows up to seven duplicate sets). Ordered on SOS form RT DS-43.
A separate SOS plate type for moving vehicles that aren't held for retail demonstration — useful for wholesalers and transporters.
How to get dealer plates in Illinois
- 1
Get your Illinois dealer license first
Dealer plates require an active Secretary of State dealer license — the established place of business, the $50,000 bond, and the licensing process come first.
- 2
Order your master set
Your first Master Dealer plate set is $45, requested through dealer licensing when your license issues or renews.
- 3
Add duplicate sets up to your cap
Order duplicate sets at $13 each with form RT DS-43. The SOS caps the number based on your prior calendar year's sales — roughly one set per handful of sales, e.g., seven duplicates at 50 sales.
- 4
Renew on the calendar-year cycle
Illinois dealer licenses and plates run on a calendar-year basis. Renew together and re-establish your duplicate-set entitlement from the prior year's sales.
Rules on using IL dealer plates
- Plates go on dealership-owned vehicles for dealership business — demos, transport, auction runs
- Duplicate-set count is capped by prior-year sales volume; keep sales records clean
- A sold vehicle needs the buyer's own registration — dealer plates don't go home with customers
- Keep plates matched to their registration cards; the SOS can audit usage
- Misuse (personal use, lending plates) risks the plates and the dealer license behind them
Common questions
How much are dealer plates in Illinois?+
The first Master Dealer set is $45 and each duplicate set is $13, per 625 ILCS 5/3-602. The real constraint isn't price — it's the cap on duplicate sets, which is based on how many vehicles you sold the previous calendar year.
How many dealer plates can I get in Illinois?+
It scales with your prior-year sales. The Secretary of State's own example: 50 vehicles sold entitles you to one master set plus up to seven duplicate sets. More volume, more sets — order them on form RT DS-43.
Who issues Illinois dealer plates?+
The Illinois Secretary of State, which also issues the dealer license itself. Plates are requested through dealer licensing rather than a separate plate agency.
Can my customer drive home on my Illinois dealer plate?+
No — dealer plates are for dealership-owned vehicles on dealership business. A sold vehicle needs the buyer's own registration, which you handle in the title and registration work at closing.
What's the difference between dealer plates and in-transit plates?+
Dealer plates cover retail dealership business — demos and inventory movement. In-transit plates are a separate Illinois plate type for moving vehicles that aren't being demonstrated for retail sale, which wholesalers and transporters rely on.
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