Illinois Vanity Plate Rules & Restrictions
Everything you need to know about what's allowed (and what's not) on Illinoispersonalized license plates.
Illinois Plate Requirements at a Glance
Maximum Characters
7
Minimum Characters
1
Allowed Characters
Letters, numbers, and spaces
Illinois Specific Rules
- Vanity: 1-7 letters OR 1-3 numbers
- Personalized: letters then numbers
- $94 initial for vanity, $47 for personalized
- Different rules for each type
What Will Get Your Application Rejected
Illinois SOS reviews all vanity plate applications. Here's what will definitely get rejected:
Offensive Content
- Profanity or vulgar language
- Racial, ethnic, or religious slurs
- Sexual references or innuendo
Misleading Content
- Impersonating government plates (POLICE, FBI)
- Emergency vehicle references (911, FIRE)
- Fake disability or veteran status
Drug References
- Drug names or slang
- References to drug use
- Alcohol-related terms
Gang or Violence
- Gang affiliations
- Threatening language
- Weapon references
Tips to Get Your Plate Approved
Keep it simple and clear
Plates that are easy to read are more likely to be approved.
Avoid creative spellings of banned words
Reviewers know all the tricks. "A55" isn't fooling anyone.
Have backup options ready
Your first choice might be taken. Prepare 2-3 alternatives.
Check availability first
Use our checker to verify your plate is available before applying.
What If My Application Is Rejected?
If Illinois SOS rejects your application, you typically can:
- 1.Submit a different plate combination at no additional fee
- 2.Request a refund of your application fee
- 3.In some cases, appeal the decision with an explanation
Contact Illinois SOS directly for their specific appeal process.
Ready to Check Your Plate?
Make sure your dream plate is available in Illinois before applying.
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