Illinois vs Indiana: Vehicle Registration Cost Comparison
Comparing what the same vehicles cost to register each year in Illinois versus Indiana, computed from both states' current official fee schedules:
| Scenario | Illinois | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| New $45k gas SUV | $151.00/yr | $567.60/yr |
| 3-yr-old $35k gas car | $151.00/yr | $213.64/yr |
| New $55k EV | $251.00/yr | $809.60/yr |
| 10-yr-old $8k car | $151.00/yr | $48.66/yr |
For most vehicles, Illinois is the cheaper state to register in — though the gap varies a lot by vehicle value and age. Keep in mind annual registration is only part of the picture: sales/excise taxes at purchase, insurance, and local property taxes on vehicles can outweigh the registration difference.
Illinois in short
Illinois charges a flat $151 annual registration for passenger cars — one of the highest flat fees in the nation — and a $165 title fee. Battery EVs pay $251 total (a $100 surcharge); plug-in hybrids are excluded by statute and pay the standard $151.
Indiana in short
Indiana stacks a $21.35 registration fee, a $15 Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee, county wheel/surtaxes, and — the big variable — an annual excise tax set by the vehicle's original MSRP class and age: from $532 for the newest expensive vehicles down to a $12 floor. For 2026, EVs add a $242 supplemental fee and all hybrids $81 (both indexed annually).
All figures computed from official fee schedules — sources: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/vehicles/basicfees.html — last reviewed 2026-07-16.