State stops sending notices for vehicle renewal tags

Originally published February 25, 2016

What you don’t know, could cost you.

Recent reports have attempted to state that Jesse White’s Secretary of State Office will no longer send postcards reminding residents that license tags need to be renewed. In many group gatherings recently, an informal poll revealed that most people admit to not knowing a change occurred.

Now, it is up to each individual to track expiration dates, and renew a tag before the deadline. If the deadline is missed, fees, late charges, and even costly tickets can occur.Visiting www.CyberDriveIllinois.com and registering your vehicle boasts the easiest way to receive a reminder by email.

A PIN number on your renewal notice is used for online registration. If you don’t have your registration card containing your PIN, you may call the Public Inquiry Division at (800) 252-8980 and Secretary of State personnel can provide a PIN number.

According to state officials, the reason for non-renewal notices is because of a budget impasse for the State of Illinois. The savings in not sending out the notices is $450,000 per month.

David Drucker, a press secretary, states: “We at the Secretary of State’s office are sorry for any inconvenience . . . we are no longer sending the notices, but we still are able to mail the stickers back to you following these guidelines. Copy your previous registration card (which should always be in your vehicle) and send with a check to: Office of the Secretary of State, VEHICLE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, Howlett Building, 501 S. 2nd Street, #312, Springfield, IL 62756. Please allow enough time – two to three weeks – in order to remain in compliance.”

•To renew your license plates in person – simply walk in to any Secretary of State renewal location with the license plate number memorized or written down, and they can process your renewal on-site.

•You may renew at any time during the year.

•Online registration is available; however, allow enough time for the sticker to be mailed back to you.

Additionally, it was announced Feb. 9 that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates the required vehicle Emission Test program, will no longer mail emission test reminders. This is slightly more difficult to track, in that there is no sticker on your vehicle or visual reminder that the test is due.

According to EPA personnel, the frequency of tests is scheduled for every other year; based on the year of your vehicle – even number or odd – a 2010 vehicle will be tested in even years. Phoning the local offices of the EPA Emission Testing at (847) 758-3400 or visiting www.ilsos.gov/regstatus can provide information on when your vehicle emission test is due.

There is an effort underway to coordinate your vehicle license plate renewal and your emission test date. A subsequent page after registering with CyberDriveIllinois will inform if the vehicle is due for the testing. Visit www.epa.illinois.gov for information concerning the mandatory testing.

After March 1, if your vehicle has not had the required emission test, you may still renew your plates without a penalty. However, this is a temporary suspension due to current circumstances and is subject to change.

Kim Biggs, IEPA public information coordinator, provided the following information:

•If you are due for an emission test, you may pull into any testing station, without the form and have the required test performed – they can look it up by your VIN number.

•Our goal is to inform the public about this change, so that as many people are aware and can get their testing done in appropriate time.

These are just two examples of how not keeping track can cost you money.

Drivers’ licenses, passports, and other renewable items are on your own timeline – so check them regularly and renew before the expiration date – or it may cost you!