Illinoisans will spend less time at the DMV under new law

A bill signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner will allow for multi-year car registration.

Illinoisans hoping to spend less time in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles are in luck.

On Aug. 20, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill into law that will allow Illinoisans to make less frequent trips to the DMV. House Bill 4259, sponsored by state Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, allows motorists to purchase multi-year license plate stickers.

Before this new law, motorists in Illinois were required to register their vehicle and trailer annually. Thanks to HB 4259, motorists may now register their vehicle for two years, instead of just one. Trailers are also included in this law, with the option extended to five-year registrations for trailers. Large commercial vehicles, however, are not included.

The registration fees do not change under the new law, which goes into effect in 2021. A person purchasing a multi-year renewal will still pay the same amount for each year that he or she would pay if she re-registered annually. The standard license renewal sticker fee is currently $101, and $108 for personalized plates.

In order to register for a multi-year renewal, an applicant must apply online or mail in a two-year or five-year registration application form to the Secretary of State’s office.

Not only is this new law convenient for motorists, but it also saves taxpayer dollars. Administration costs, such as postage, could be reduced due to sending out fewer required registration mailings. In 2015, the secretary of state’s office reported spending upwards of $450,000 a month on postage costs for registration renewal notices alone.

This new law makes state government more efficient and friendlier for taxpayers. Lawmakers should continue looking for ways to reduce costs while providing better services for Illinoisans.