Used car buying · Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center · Elgin, IL
What to Do After Buying a Used Car in Illinois
You found the car and signed the paperwork. Here is what to take care of next in Illinois: the documents to keep, insurance, title and registration, a recall check by VIN and the car's first service visit with you as the owner.
20 daysIllinois deadline to submit the title paperwork
$25,000 / $50,000Illinois minimum bodily injury liability
$20,000Illinois minimum property damage liability
17characters in the VIN you use for a recall check
The short answer
Keep your Buyers Guide and sales paperwork, make sure the car is covered by liability insurance before you drive it, and get the title transferred: an Illinois dealer has to send the title with your application to the Secretary of State within 20 days, and in a private sale you have 20 days to do it yourself. Then check the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and schedule the car's next maintenance.
1. Keep your Buyers Guide and paperwork
The FTC says dealers have to display a Buyers Guide in every used car they offer for sale and give it to buyers after the sale. Keep it with your sales contract. The Guide tells you whether the car came with a warranty or was sold "as is," which means the dealer will not pay for any problems or needed repairs.
If you negotiated changes to the warranty coverage, the FTC says the Buyers Guide must show them, and it overrides anything in your sales contract. If the car still has manufacturer warranty coverage, the FTC notes you can verify that coverage using the VIN. A service contract, sometimes called an "extended warranty," is not a warranty, so keep its terms too. Our Buyers Guide window sticker guide explains each part of the form.
From FTC Consumer Advice, Buying a Used Car From a Dealer, read November 2, 2026.
2. Make sure the car is insured
Illinois law says no person shall operate, register or maintain registration of a motor vehicle unless it is covered by a liability insurance policy (625 ILCS 5/7-601). So arrange coverage before you drive the car home and before you register it.
The policy has to meet the minimums in 625 ILCS 5/7-203: at least $25,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more people, and $20,000 for damage to the property of others. Those are minimums; your insurer can explain other coverage. If you financed the car, our guide to gap insurance covers one more coverage question.
From 625 ILCS 5/7-601 and 5/7-203 (ilga.gov), read November 2, 2026. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
3. Get the title and registration transferred
Who handles the title transfer depends on who sold you the car:
| Where you bought it | Who submits the title paperwork | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| From an Illinois dealer | The dealer mails or delivers the title to the Secretary of State with your application for a new title (625 ILCS 5/3-113). | Promptly and within 20 days of the date the vehicle was transferred to you |
| From a private seller | You complete the application for a new title and send it, with the signed-over title, to the Secretary of State (625 ILCS 5/3-112). | Within 20 days after the vehicle and the assigned title are delivered to you |
From 625 ILCS 5/3-112 and 5/3-113 (ilga.gov), read November 2, 2026. Fees, plates and registration are handled by the Illinois Secretary of State; ask your dealer what it files for you. This is general information, not legal advice.
When you buy from a dealer, ask what paperwork it is filing for you and keep copies. If you bought privately, make sure the seller signed the title over to you before you leave.
4. Check the VIN for open recalls
Look on the lower left of the windshield for the 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN); it is also on the registration card and may be on the insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If nothing is open, the result reads "0 unrepaired recalls associated with this VIN."
If a recall shows up, NHTSA says to contact your local dealership to fix the recalled part for free. NHTSA also recommends checking for recalls twice a year. Our guide on how to check a used car for recalls walks through the lookup and what it does not show.
From NHTSA, Check for Recalls, read November 2, 2026.
5. Plan an inspection and the next service
The FTC says a mechanical inspection is a good idea even if the car has been "certified" and inspected by the dealer and is being sold with a warranty or service contract. If you did not have one done before you bought, a service visit soon after is a good time to have the car looked over, and to start your own maintenance records.
Find the owner's manual (or the maker's online version) and its maintenance schedule, and use the mileage and service records you received to see what is due next. Our car maintenance schedule basics guide explains how to read one, and the guides to checking engine oil, tire pressure and when to replace tires cover quick checks you can do at home.
Our service department works on all makes. Request a service appointment online or see our service specials.
Inspection guidance from FTC Consumer Advice, Buying a Used Car From a Dealer, read November 2, 2026.
Your after-purchase checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Paperwork | Keep the Buyers Guide, sales contract and any warranty or service contract terms together | At the sale |
| Insurance | Get liability coverage that meets the Illinois minimums | Before you drive or register the car |
| Title | Confirm the dealer is filing, or file it yourself after a private sale | Within 20 days |
| Recalls | Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls | Right away, then twice a year |
| Service | Check the maintenance schedule and book an inspection or service visit | In the first weeks of ownership |
Summary of the sections above and their sources.
Bought from Elgin Auto Sales?
Ask us any questions about your paperwork, Buyers Guide or warranty, and bring the car back to our service department for maintenance. Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center is at 1200 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. Sales hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; service hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both are closed Sunday. Get directions.
After buying a used car FAQ
How long do I have to transfer a title in Illinois?
In a private sale, Illinois law gives the buyer 20 days after delivery of the vehicle and the assigned title to apply for a new title (625 ILCS 5/3-112). When you buy from a dealer, the dealer must send the title with your application to the Secretary of State within 20 days of the transfer (625 ILCS 5/3-113).
Does the dealer handle the title in Illinois?
Illinois law requires a dealer to mail or deliver the title to the Secretary of State with the buyer's application for a new title within 20 days. Ask your dealer what else it files for you, and keep copies.
Do I need insurance before I drive a used car home in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois law says no person shall operate, register or maintain registration of a motor vehicle unless it is covered by a liability insurance policy that meets the state minimums.
What are the minimum car insurance limits in Illinois?
Under 625 ILCS 5/7-203: $25,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more people, and $20,000 for property damage.
How do I check a used car I just bought for recalls?
Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If a recall shows up, NHTSA says to contact your local dealership to fix the recalled part for free. NHTSA recommends checking twice a year.
Should I get a used car inspected after buying it?
The FTC says a mechanical inspection is a good idea, even on a car that was certified and inspected by the dealer. If you did not have one before buying, schedule one soon after.
Need a service visit for your new-to-you car?
Book a visit with our service department at 1200 E. Chicago St. in Elgin.
Sources
Title deadlines are from 625 ILCS 5/3-112 and 5/3-113, and insurance requirements from 625 ILCS 5/7-601 and 5/7-203 (Illinois General Assembly); recall lookup guidance is from NHTSA; Buyers Guide, warranty and inspection guidance is from the FTC. All were read on November 2, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Our address, hours and services are from our own website, checked the same day. Photo is of our dealership.
- 625 ILCS 5/3-113, Illinois Vehicle Code (transfer to or from a dealer), Illinois General Assembly
- 625 ILCS 5/3-112, Illinois Vehicle Code (transfer), Illinois General Assembly
- 625 ILCS 5/7-601, Illinois Vehicle Code (required liability insurance), Illinois General Assembly
- 625 ILCS 5/7-203, Illinois Vehicle Code (policy minimums), Illinois General Assembly
- NHTSA, Check for Recalls, NHTSA
- FTC Consumer Advice, Buying a Used Car From a Dealer, Federal Trade Commission
- Service department, online scheduling form and service hours, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center
- Home page: address and sales hours, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center