Illinois license plates (United States)

Try a plate

Type any Illinois registration — valid plates render below, on their real designs.

Try the API

Everything on this page — formats, validity, colours, the renders themselves — is one request away.

GET /v1/plates/us-il/match?plate=…

GET /v1/plates/us-il/match?plate=DW%2020989

{ "plate": "DW 20989",
  "valid": true, "exact": true,
  "matches": [{ "id": "us-il-standard-2017",
    "render_url": "…svg?serial=DW%2020989" }] }

the default series issued to private road vehicles

In the sample, 9 for any digit.

2001–2017 issued for: car, van, truck, bus

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

2017 → today issued for: car, van, truck, bus

reduced-size series for motorcycles where format/design differs

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: motorcycle

trailers and semi-trailers where separately serialized

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

1999 → today issued for: trailer

optional-design programs on standard serials (US state programs)

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, motorcycle

trade/garage plates bound to a business, not a vehicle

In the sample, 9 for any digit.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus, motorcycle, trailer

short-validity plates (transit, awaiting registration)

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

2020 → today issued for: car, van, truck, bus, motorcycle, trailer

civil government fleets with distinct series

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus