 | This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. (May 2019) |
| Current series | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Land of Lincoln |
| Size | 12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Serial format | AB 12345 |
| Introduced | January 1, 2017 |
| Designer | Illinois Secretary of State staff |
| Availability | |
| Issued by | Illinois Secretary of State |
| Manufactured by | Macon Resources, Inc., Decatur, Illinois |
| History | |
| First issued | July 1, 1911 (pre-state plates from July 1, 1907 through June 30, 1911) |
The U.S. state of Illinois first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1911, when the state began to issue plates. As of 2023[update], plates are issued by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Front and rear plates are required on most vehicle types, with the exception of motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and trailers. Plates were issued annually until 1979; multi-year plates have been issued ever since. Plates belong to vehicle owners, so they can be transferred from one vehicle to another.