Classic Cars for Sale in Illinois
114 listings
Verified seller locations from Illinois. New listings added daily.
Browse classic cars for sale in Illinois from local owners and dealers. Nationwide consignment listings (where the vehicle isn't actually in the listed location) are excluded.
Buying a classic car in Illinois: what the asking price doesn't include
A private purchase in Illinois is not taxed as a percentage of the price. The buyer files Form RUT-50 within 30 days and pays a flat amount. Under $15,000 it depends on the car's age, and a car 11 model years old or more is $100 in 2026. At $15,000 or more it depends on the price, from $850 to $10,100. It drops to $15 when the seller is your spouse, parent, brother, sister or child, and Chicago and Cook County can add a local amount. Add the $165 title fee and a $151 standard registration. You have 20 days after the car and its signed title are delivered to apply for the title.
Two checks are specific to Illinois. Old cars have no age exemption from titling, and a bill of sale alone is not enough, so get the seller's signed title. If the owner of record lost it, ask them to apply for a duplicate before you pay. Also look at the brand: a vehicle that had a salvage certificate gets a title branded REBUILT, and the sale must come with a signed Disclosure of Rebuilt Vehicle Status form. Emissions testing applies only in the Chicago and Metro-East St. Louis areas, and model year 1967 and older cars are exempt by law.
Classic car dealers in Illinois
We profile 26 classic car dealers in Illinois; these are the 6 with the most cars listed here. See all of them, on a map and by specialty, in classic car dealers in Illinois.
Buying a classic car in Illinois: FAQ
Do I pay sales tax on a classic car bought from a dealer in Illinois? +
A registered Illinois dealer collects the 6.25% state tax plus any local tax and normally files the paperwork for you. A like-kind trade-in reduces the taxable price. If you buy from an out-of-state dealer, you file Form RUT-25 within 30 days, and tax paid to the other state is credited.
What does it cost to title and register a classic car in Illinois? +
The title fee is $165 and a standard passenger registration is $151, plus the use tax. Antique plates have a registration fee capped at $6 per year, and the fee schedule lists $30 for the plate. Expanded-use antique plates add $45 per year to the registration fee.
Does the seller have to notarize the title when I buy a classic in Illinois? +
No. The seller signs the assignment on the title and hands it to you, and the signature does not have to be notarized. A private-party buyer may drive the car for 24 hours with the title to reach a Secretary of State office, which issues a 90-day temporary registration permit.
How much tax do I pay if I buy a classic from a family member in Illinois? +
The private party vehicle use tax is $15 when the seller is your spouse, parent, brother, sister or child, instead of the amount set by the car's age or price. You file Form RUT-50 within 30 days and pay with the title application.