Chicago, Illinois
Use this bill of sale when selling a motorcycle in Chicago, Illinois. It documents the transfer and helps you complete DMV title paperwork.
A Chicago, Illinois motorcycle bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership between a private buyer and seller in Chicago. As of 2026, Illinois requires both parties to sign the bill of sale, and the buyer must present it at the IL DMV to complete title transfer.
Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.
DMV / Title Office
IL Secretary of State – Chicago West Office
Address
5401 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
Phone
(312) 793-1010
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Title Transfer Fee
$150.00
Sales Tax Rate
10.25%
Base Registration Fee
$151.00
Illinois state rate 6.25% + Cook County 1.75% + Chicago city 1.25% + RTA 1.0%
Illinois does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title is the primary transfer document.
The most common motorcycle makes in private-party sales are Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki. Average private-party motorcycle prices range from $2,000–$20,000. Motorcycles average 2.4 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Electrical, Brakes.
Before completing a motorcycle bill of sale in Illinois, verify these safety items:
Motorcycle insurance averages $700–$1,500/year for full coverage. Sport bikes cost significantly more to insure than cruisers. Motorcycles depreciate 35–50% in the first 3 years. Harley-Davidson and BMW models hold value best. Peak season for private motorcycle sales is late winter to early spring (february–april) as riding season approaches, with an average of 30 days on market.
Motorcycles are classified as "Motorcycle" for registration purposes. No weight-based exemption for motorcycles. All motorcycles under 20 years old require federal odometer disclosure. Federal odometer disclosure is required for motorcycles under 20 years old.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 3,087 bill of sale documents for Illinois transactions, with 83 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
Chicago is in Cook County. Title transfers are handled by the IL Secretary of State – Chicago West Office at 5401 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60630. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Phone: (312) 793-1010.
The combined rate is 10.25%. Illinois state rate 6.25% + Cook County 1.75% + Chicago city 1.25% + RTA 1.0%.
No. Illinois does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title is the primary transfer document.
Title transfer fee: $150.00. Base registration fee: $151.00. Sales tax at 10.25% is collected at the time of title transfer.
Illinois requires the buyer to transfer the title within 30 days of the sale date. Late transfers may incur penalty fees at the DMV. Bring your signed bill of sale and the assigned title to the IL Secretary of State – Chicago West Office.
In most cases, no. Illinois requires a clean title to complete a private vehicle sale. If the title is lost, the seller must apply for a duplicate title before selling. The bill of sale alone does not transfer legal ownership.
You will need: (1) the signed title from the seller, (2) a completed bill of sale, (3) a valid government ID, and (4) payment for the title transfer fee ($150.00) and sales tax (10.25%). Bring all documents to the IL Secretary of State – Chicago West Office.
Yes. A properly signed bill of sale is a legally binding document that protects both the buyer and seller. It records the agreed-upon sale price, date, and vehicle details. Sellers should keep a copy to prove they are no longer liable for the vehicle after the sale date.
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
$60–$85 mobile notary
Mobile notary visit minimums run $60–$85 — higher on weekends, plus per-mile travel fees. State-formatted documents skip the trip.
Source: Thumbtack / NNA