Illinois car sales tax calculator
The Illinois sales tax (retailers’ occupation tax and use tax) in Illinois is the state’s 6.25% plus a local rate that depends on the place, of the taxable amount.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 2, 2026 · Page changed Oct 11, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Harris County, Illinois. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $609.81a month | $41,588.51+$607.70 more than Deal C | |
| $550.52a month | $44,637.26+$3,656.45 more than Deal C | |
| $599.68a month | $40,980.81Lowest |
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Your numbers stay in this browser.
$609.81 a month · 60 payments
All-in $41,588.51
$550.52 a month · 72 payments
All-in $44,637.26
$599.68 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,980.81Lowest
Out-the-door $36,618.70
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $37,381.47
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $37,222.34
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Gas · change
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Plate
Assumes a new plate. Moving one from a car you own costs $126 less
Gas · change
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Plate
Assumes a new plate. Moving one from a car you own costs $126 less
Gas · change
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Plate
Assumes a new plate. Moving one from a car you own costs $126 less
$377.63: the most Illinois law allows (“The maximum amount that may be charged by a seller for a documentary fee”).
Illinois calls it a documentary fee.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
The notice Illinois requires with this fee
DOCUMENTARY FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO BUYERS FOR HANDLING DOCUMENTS AND PERFORMING SERVICES RELATED TO CLOSING OF A SALE. THE BASE DOCUMENTARY FEE BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2020, WAS $300. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE CHARGED FOR A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS THE BASE DOCUMENTARY FEE OF $300, WHICH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL RATE ADJUSTMENT EQUAL TO THE PERCENTAGE OF CHANGE IN THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
$377.63: the most Illinois law allows (“The maximum amount that may be charged by a seller for a documentary fee”).
Illinois calls it a documentary fee.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
The notice Illinois requires with this fee
DOCUMENTARY FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO BUYERS FOR HANDLING DOCUMENTS AND PERFORMING SERVICES RELATED TO CLOSING OF A SALE. THE BASE DOCUMENTARY FEE BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2020, WAS $300. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE CHARGED FOR A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS THE BASE DOCUMENTARY FEE OF $300, WHICH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL RATE ADJUSTMENT EQUAL TO THE PERCENTAGE OF CHANGE IN THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
$377.63: the most Illinois law allows (“The maximum amount that may be charged by a seller for a documentary fee”).
Illinois calls it a documentary fee.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
The notice Illinois requires with this fee
DOCUMENTARY FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO BUYERS FOR HANDLING DOCUMENTS AND PERFORMING SERVICES RELATED TO CLOSING OF A SALE. THE BASE DOCUMENTARY FEE BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2020, WAS $300. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE CHARGED FOR A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS THE BASE DOCUMENTARY FEE OF $300, WHICH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL RATE ADJUSTMENT EQUAL TO THE PERCENTAGE OF CHANGE IN THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 8, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 8, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 · figures pulled Oct 8, 2026
- City and county sales taxes do not apply to a titled vehicle in Illinois; only the transit, Chicago and Cook County use taxes above do.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in credit: the $10,000 cap applied only from 2020 to 2021.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No separate lien fee: the lien goes on the title application.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No county or local fee is collected with the state title and registration.
chicityclerk.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No extra registration fee for a hybrid car: only a car that uses no motor fuel pays $100 more.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- City and county sales taxes do not apply to a titled vehicle in Illinois; only the transit, Chicago and Cook County use taxes above do.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in credit: the $10,000 cap applied only from 2020 to 2021.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No separate lien fee: the lien goes on the title application.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No county or local fee is collected with the state title and registration.
chicityclerk.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No extra registration fee for a hybrid car: only a car that uses no motor fuel pays $100 more.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- City and county sales taxes do not apply to a titled vehicle in Illinois; only the transit, Chicago and Cook County use taxes above do.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in credit: the $10,000 cap applied only from 2020 to 2021.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No separate lien fee: the lien goes on the title application.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No county or local fee is collected with the state title and registration.
chicityclerk.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No extra registration fee for a hybrid car: only a car that uses no motor fuel pays $100 more.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,918.70 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,081.30 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,986.47 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,013.53 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,972.34 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,027.66 goes toward the price.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
60 payments, last $609.72
72 payments, last $550.34
60 payments, last $599.69
cash down plus every payment
+$607.70 more all-in than Deal C
cash down plus every payment
+$3,656.45 more all-in than Deal C
cash down plus every payment
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
2 charges this total leaves out
2 charges this total leaves out
2 charges this total leaves out
What’s different in Illinois
Illinois calls it the Illinois sales tax (retailers’ occupation tax and use tax).
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Illinois’s law sets a maximum for the documentary fee of $377.63 (its words: “The maximum amount that may be charged by a seller for a documentary fee”).
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
A car titled in the City of Chicago is taxed at a combined 9.75%: the state’s 6.25%, plus 1.25% for the transit authority, 1.25% for the Chicago home rule use tax and 1.00% for Cook County.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Worked examples
Each line below is worked by the same engine as the calculator, on the day this page was built (Nov 11, 2026).
A new car with a trade-in and negative equity
A new car at $32,700.00, with a trade-in allowed at $10,000.00 and $13,000.00 still owed, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Illinois’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $32,700.00 |
| Trade-in allowance | $10,000.00 |
| Still owed on the trade-in | $13,000.00 |
| Equity (negative if you owe more than it is worth) | −$3,000.00 |
| Taxable amount tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $23,077.63 |
| Illinois sales tax ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $1,442.35 |
| NITA (Northern Illinois Transit Authority) occupation and use tax tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $288.47 |
| Chicago Home Rule Use Tax tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $288.47 |
| Cook County Use Tax library.municode.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $230.78 |
| Doc fee ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $377.63 |
| Title fee ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $165.00 |
| Registration and license plates ilsos.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $151.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $35,643.70 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $33,643.70 |
| Monthly payment | $648.86 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,288.21 |
| Total paid, interest included | $43,931.91 |
A used car from a dealer
A used car, model year 2022, at $21,500.00, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Illinois’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Taxable amount tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $21,877.63 |
| Illinois sales tax ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $1,367.35 |
| NITA (Northern Illinois Transit Authority) occupation and use tax tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $273.47 |
| Chicago Home Rule Use Tax tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $273.47 |
| Cook County Use Tax library.municode.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $218.78 |
| Doc fee ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $377.63 |
| Title fee ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $165.00 |
| Registration and license plates ilsos.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $151.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $24,326.70 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $19,326.70 |
| Monthly payment | $372.74 |
| Interest over the loan | $3,037.78 |
| Total paid, interest included | $27,364.48 |
The rules in Illinois
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | Illinois sales tax (retailers’ occupation tax and use tax) tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Illinois sales tax | 6.25% of the taxable amount ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| NITA (Northern Illinois Transit Authority) occupation and use tax | a local rate set by the dealer’s place, on the taxable amount tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Chicago Home Rule Use Tax | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the taxable amount tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Cook County Use Tax | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the taxable amount library.municode.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Metro-East Mass Transit District fee | a local rate set by the dealer’s place, on the taxable amount tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, the doc fee, other dealer fees on the order, accessories fitted before delivery, protection packages and loose items sold with the car. Not taxed: service contracts, GAP, prepaid maintenance and government fees. tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Trade-in | A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed. ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate does not lower the amount taxed. ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets a maximum for the documentary fee of $377.63 (its words: “The maximum amount that may be charged by a seller for a documentary fee”). ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Title fee | $165.00 ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Registration and license plates | $151.00 a year ilsos.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Transfer of registration | $25.00 ilsos.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | A flat amount from a state table, by the car’s age if the price or fair market value is under $15,000 and by the price if it is $15,000 or more. No trade-in deduction. tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Bought out of state | The buyer files Form RUT-25 within 30 days and pays the use tax, which includes the transit, Chicago and Cook County parts where they apply, less credit for tax paid to the other state. tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Tax paid to another state | A credit up to the tax properly due and paid there, with proof of payment attached and the tax separately stated. ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| New resident | No use tax if the vehicle was used in another state for more than 3 months before coming to Illinois, but Form RUT-25 must still be filed. Title and registration fees still apply. tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Advertised prices from 2027 | From January 1, 2027, Illinois bars advertising a price that leaves out mandatory fees or surcharges (Public Act 104-0472). Government taxes and fees are excluded, and it changes no tax or fee amount. ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Finance charge ceiling | A motor vehicle retail installment contract may not charge more than the Predatory Loan Prevention Act maximum, a 36% annual percentage rate. ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
What has changed
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
Why is car sales tax in Chicago higher than the state rate?
Four taxes stack on a car titled in the City of Chicago: the state’s 6.25%, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (formerly the RTA) tax of 1.25%, the Chicago Home Rule Use Tax of 1.25%, and Cook County’s use tax of 1%. Together they come to 9.75%. The transit authority’s rate rose by a quarter of a point on August 1, 2026, and the rates are reset on January 1 or July 1.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
library.municode.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Does Illinois cap the trade-in tax credit?
No. A $10,000 limit applied only from January 1, 2020 to the end of 2021, and it no longer applies to sales on or after January 1, 2022. The credit is the trade-in’s full allowance, for a trade-in of like kind to what the dealer sells. The trade-in’s value is figured without regard to what is still owed on it, so negative equity is not part of the credit.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Is the Illinois dealer doc fee capped?
Yes, on a retail installment contract. The maximum began at $300 on January 1, 2020 and is adjusted each year by the change in the Consumer Price Index. The Illinois Automobile Dealers Association reports it as $377.63 for 2026. We have not confirmed that figure on a state website, so treat it as unconfirmed. The contract must carry a notice that a documentary fee is not an official fee and is not required by law. The fee is taxed in Illinois as part of the selling price.
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
illinoisdealers.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
How is a used car from a private seller taxed in Illinois?
Not by a percentage. The buyer files Form RUT-50 within 30 days and pays a flat amount from a state table. If the price or fair market value is under $15,000, the amount depends on the car’s age, from $465 for a car 1 year old or less down to $100 for one 11 or more years old. At $15,000 or more it depends on the price, from $850 for $15,000 to $19,999.99 up to $10,100 at $1,000,000 or more. Where there is no stated price, such as a gift or an even trade, the fair market value is used, and no trade-in deduction is allowed. A car titled in Chicago or Cook County pays additional flat amounts for the city and the county.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
library.municode.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
Which address sets my Illinois car tax, mine or the dealer's?
Different parts follow different addresses. The state’s 6.25% is the same everywhere. The transit authority tax follows the dealer’s location: 1.25% for a Cook County dealer and 1% for a DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry or Will County dealer. A buyer who titles in those counties owes it themselves if the dealer is outside them. The Chicago and Cook County parts follow the address where the buyer titles the car, not the dealer’s. City and county general sales taxes do not apply to cars.
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
tax.illinois.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
ilga.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026