Section 1010.450  Special Plates

 

a)         The term "Special Plates" means those Illinois registration plates issued to dealers, manufacturers, transporters, and repossessors.

 

b)         Vehicles eligible for display of special plates, are exempt from registration in Illinois.  Special plates are subject to limitations as to use as follows:

 

c)         Manufacturers Plates

 

1)         Special plates issued to a manufacturer may be displayed:

 

A)        Upon any vehicle manufactured by the manufacturer, for any legal purpose such as testing, demonstrating or delivering such to bona fide consignees; and

 

B)        Upon any vehicle manufactured by a competitor, for testing purposes.

 

2)         Special plates issued to a manufacturer may not be displayed:

 

A)        Upon any vehicle rented to another person.

 

B)        Upon any vehicle of the second division carrying cargo or merchandise unless in actual demonstrations for purposes of sale.

 

C)        Upon any work or service vehicle.

 

D)        In any for-hire movement.

 

E)        On any vehicle used permanently as a personal vehicle and not as a demonstrator.

 

d)         Transporter or In-transit Plates

 

1)         Special plates issued to a transporter may be displayed:

 

A)        Only on vehicles in-transit and in process of delivery, operated singly or in lawful drive-away combinations.

 

B)        Only on vehicles in-transit that the transporter is legally authorized to transport in his regulated drive-away business.

 

C)        On vehicles in-transit in lawful drive-away combinations, as in saddlemount, towbar and full-mount, or combinations thereof.

 

D)        On a vehicle in-transit laden with its own parts or with parts of another vehicle, in-transit and in combination therewith.

 

E)        Only on vehicles in-transit and in the process of delivery in the State of Illinois or on vehicles being transported to or from the State of Illinois.

 

2)         Special plates issued to a transporter may not be displayed:

 

A)        Upon any vehicle rented to another person.

 

B)        Upon any vehicle of the second division hauling or carrying cargo or merchandise, or other vehicles (except in lawful drive-away combinations of in-transit vehicles).

 

C)        Upon any work or service vehicles.

 

D)        On any vehicle used as a personal vehicle.

 

E)        On any vehicle in-transit and in the process of delivery solely in a state other than the State of Illinois. If displayed on a vehicle outside of the State of Illinois, the vehicle must be in-transit to or from the State of Illinois.

 

3)         Issuance of special plates to a transporter may be limited to an amount as determined at the discretion of the Secretary of State and based upon:

 

A)        Factors including intended use, prior-use, the number of vehicles transported in the previous calendar year, revenue, number of employees, and compliance with applicable laws and rules regarding transporters and the use of in-transit plates.

 

B)        A determination by the Secretary that the transporter is not lawfully entitled to the plates or has made or knowingly permitted any illegal use of such plates or has committed fraud in the registration of the vehicles or failed to give notice of transfers when and as required by law.

 

4)         A driver transporting a vehicle bearing in-transit plates on behalf of a transporter shall carry a copy of a work order, contract, bill of sale, or other similar document listing the beginning and ending destination, as well as the dates of travel, and be able to present such document to a law enforcement officer upon request.

 

e)         Dealer Plates

 

1)         Special plates issued to a dealer may be displayed upon any vehicle held for sale or resale, and

 

A)        Upon any such vehicle, including the towing of a like plated vehicle, for any legal purpose including pick-up at the point of manufacturing or assembly, demonstrating, testing or delivery to the buyer; provided, however, that any such vehicle and like plated towed vehicle so transported may not carry any cargo or merchandise including other vehicles owned by the dealer and held for sale or resale.

 

B)        On any such vehicle loaned, but not rented, as a "loaner" to a customer for temporary use the days that the customer's car is being serviced or repaired.

 

C)        On one truck up to 8,000 pounds owned by the dealer and used to haul the dealer's parts incidental to the operation of business.

 

2)         Special plates issued to a dealer may not be displayed:

 

A)        Upon any vehicle rented to another person.

 

B)        Upon any vehicle of the second division carrying cargo or merchandise except as provided below on a one-trip demonstration basis.

 

C)        Upon any work or service vehicle.

 

D)        In any for-hire movement.

 

E)        On any vehicle used permanently as a personal vehicle and not as a demonstrator, such prohibited uses being defined as follows:

 

i)          On any vehicle used by any person enrolled at and attending an educational institution during the school term or year and to and from school.

 

ii)         On any vehicle used on vacation trips to areas outside the geographic scope of normal business operations for a period in excess of 25 days.

 

iii)        On any vehicle used by any person who is a member of the armed forces and stationed at any military base or encampment or installation.

 

iv)        On any vehicle used continuously for 25 or more days as a personal vehicle by any person not an agent, servant or employee of the dealer owning such special plate.

 

3)         Dealer Plates and One-Trip Use

 

A)        Notwithstanding the above limitations, dealer plates may be used on a one-trip demonstration basis by a prospective bona fide buyer carrying cargo or merchandise, providing that the form of document specified herein is carried in the cab of the vehicle.  Any demonstration movement shall be limited to a period of three days.

 

B)        Each dealer who wishes to grant to a prospective bona fide buyer the use of a dealer plate on a one-trip demonstration for three days shall prepare a document identical to this form in duplicate, and

 

i)          Retain one copy in the offices of the dealer.

 

ii)         Issue one copy to the user for display on the vehicle.

 

FORM REQUIRED

 

Date

1.         Name of Dealer:

 

2.         Address of Dealer:

 

3.         Dealer Plate or plates being used:

 

4.         Name of prospective buyer:

 

5.         Date use is to begin and end:

 

C)        Each dealer shall file an annual report listing the name of each prospective buyer permitted to make a demonstration trip with a vehicle identifying the plate number utilized and the dates that the demonstration trip began and ended.  The Secretary of State may prescribe the form of such report.

 

D)        The Secretary of State may grant, in the Secretary's discretion, a permit for a one-trip demonstration in excess of three days upon submission of an application and showing of good cause. In determining whether good cause is shown, the Secretary of State shall consider the type of vehicle subject to the demonstration, the length of the extension requested, the dealer's past experience, the purpose of the move, and the reason why the dealer feels that more than three days are needed to demonstrate the particular vehicle.

 

E)        The Secretary of State shall issue a temporary dealer permit while a dealership is awaiting the arrival of their permanent dealer license plates pursuant to Section 3-602 of the Illinois Vehicle Title and Registration Law of the IVC and for the transportation of vehicles between the dealer's established place of business and the exhibition/tradeshow location. Dealers requesting a temporary dealer permit for transportation of vehicles to an exhibition/tradeshow location shall apply in writing to the Department stating the number of vehicles to be transported, dates of transportation, the name of location of the exhibition/tradeshow, and the dealer's name and address.  The temporary dealer permit shall be a single permit displayed on the lower left side of the back windshield and contain an issue and expiration date. The temporary permit is invalid upon receipt of the permanent dealer license plates or on the expiration date, whichever is sooner. In no event shall the temporary permit be valid for more than 60 days.

 

f)         Repossessor Not-For-Hire

Special plates issued to a repossessor who is not-for-hire may be used only on a vehicle in which the repossessor has a security interest and is repossessing, and may not be used in for-hire operations.

 

g)         Repossessor For-Hire

Special plates issued to a repossessor who is for-hire may only be used on a vehicle the repossessor is repossessing as the agent for the person with the security interest being foreclosed, when the repossessor is acting within the regulatory certificate of authority issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission or the Illinois Commerce Commission.

 

h)         Reciprocity – Special Plates

 

1)         Reciprocity is granted to non-residents to the same extent and degree as is granted to Illinois residents and pursuant to Illinois Agreements, Arrangements or Declaration made pursuant to Section 3-403 of the IVC, and to that extent, special plates from mutually reciprocal jurisdictions are recognized in Illinois, for movements in interstate commerce only.

 

2)         Where there is no reciprocal exemption from Illinois requirements, one-trip in-transit permits may be issued to "transporters" in lieu of Illinois in-transit plates, pursuant to Sections 3-403(b) and 3-811 of the IVC

 

3)         Reciprocity is also granted to non-residents with drive-away permits issued by other states with a law similar to Sections 3-601(f) and 3-811 of the IVC

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 1590, effective January 22, 2025)