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Wheel Tax
All vehicles registered through the Illinois Secretary of State to an Evanston address are required to purchase an annual Wheel tax.
There is no physical City sticker required for the Wheel tax; instead, enforcement is carried out using License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology. Failure to pay the Wheel tax may lead to parking tickets.
The 2026 Wheel Tax and permit purchasing timeline concluded on July 31, 2026.
The 2027 Wheel Tax and permit season goes live on August 11, 2026. Letters will be mailed out for all vehicles registered to an Evanston address a few days prior to the go-live date.
Residents are encouraged to complete their payments early using the City’s convenient and free online portal or by mail.
Purchase or Renew Online:
You can purchase or renew your Wheel tax and Parking permit by visiting our Wheel tax renewal express checkout portal.
(Wheel Tax Renewal Express Checkout Portal - How-to Video)Autopay:
If you are enrolled in autopay, your renewal is expected to be processed automatically on September 23, 2026. Please verify your payment information in your online account profile. For any changes, log in to your account and update as necessary.
Purchase By Mail or In Person:
- Please remember to download the application form before completing it.
If you need to make any changes to the form, please mail the completed application along with a copy of the vehicle registration to the address provided below. Alternatively, you can submit applications in person by placing them in the blue drop box located in front of our building. Please make checks payable to "The City of Evanston" and send them to the following address: (Please do not mail cash)
Lorraine H. Morton City Hall
City of Evanston
ATTN: City Collector's Office
909 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Wheel Tax Payment Center Locations:
- Robert Crown Community Center
1801 Main St., Evanston, IL 60202
Open Monday through Sunday between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. - Dr. Jorge and Luz Maria Prieto Community Center
430 Asbury Ave., Evanston, IL 60202
Open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. - Levy Senior Center
300 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60202
Open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. - Fleetwood-Jourdain Center
1655 Foster St., Evanston, IL 60201
Open Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., Saturday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., and closed on Sunday. - Ecology Center
2024 McCormick Blvd., Evanston, IL 60201
Open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Closed on Saturday and Sunday. - Please note that residents should bring their vehicle registration showing the Evanston address and/or a renewal letter when completing payment in person.
Sticker Fees
| Sticker Fees - Description | Plate Type | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger Car/School Buses | PASSENGER | $90.00 |
| Motorcycles | MCY | $65.00 |
| Recreational Vehicles (RV) | RV | $100.00 |
| Trailers | TA | $45.00 |
| Gross Weight Plate (lbs) | ||
| 8,000 or less | B | $120.00 |
| 8,001 - 12,000 | D | $155.00 |
| 12,001 - 16,000 | F | $180.00 |
| 16,001 - 24,000 | H | $210.00 |
| 24,001 - 28,000 | J | $215.00 |
| 28,001 - 32,000 | K | $220.00 |
| 32,001 - 41,000 | N | $240.00 |
| 41,001 - 45,000 | P | $255.00 |
| 45,001 - 50,000 | R | $270.00 |
| 50,001 - 59,000 | S | $285.00 |
| 59,001 - 64,000 | T | $295.00 |
| 64,001 - 73,280 | V | $310.00 |
| 73,281 - 77,000 | X | $325.00 |
| 77,000 - 80,000 | Z | $335.00 |
| Antique AV | AV | $35.00 |
| Exemptions | ||
| Disabled Veterans - Limit one per household | No fee | |
| Active Military - Limit one per household | No fee | |
| Retired Military - Limit one per household | No fee | |
| Diplomats - Limit one per household | No fee | |
Transferring a Wheel Tax:
If you replace your vehicle at any time during the year, you can transfer your annual Wheel tax. You will need to provide a copy of the new vehicle registration and documentation showing that you no longer own the previous vehicle.
New Vehicle Purchase:
Owners have 30 days to register their vehicle and purchase a Wheel tax without penalty.
Change of Address:
- Update your vehicle registration with the Illinois Secretary of State and the City of Evanston to ensure you receive renewal notices and other correspondence at the correct address.
- To notify the City of a vehicle registration address change, please call/text (847) 448-4311 or submit a 3-1-1 service request.
- NOTE: Proof of address change must be provided.
Access Evanston Program Information (Eligible Senior Discount):
- Only one discount will be applied per household.
- The senior rate for the Wheel tax cannot be purchased online. It is only available for purchase in person or by mail.
- For more information about the Access Evanston Program, visit Access Evanston Program. You can also call 311 at (847) 448-4311 or email aging@cityofevanston.org.
NOTE: To qualify for the senior discount, you must complete your Access Evanston Program application before paying for the Wheel Tax.
Residential Parking Permit Information:
To obtain a parking permit and visitor parking passes, you must provide proof of residency at an eligible address within the parking district. Acceptable forms of proof include a driver's license or government ID, a lease or settlement agreement, a current utility bill (dated within the last 30 days), or a vehicle registration. To determine which residential parking district you belong to, please visit the following website: 311 About My Place.
On Street Non-Residential Parking Permit:
Residents who reside within an eligible parking district but have a vehicle that is not registered to an Evanston address may qualify for an on-street non-residential parking permit.
To purchase On-Street Non-Residential Parking Permits, residents must provide the following:
- The current State Vehicle Registration is required to identify where the vehicle is legally registered.
- Proof of current residence in the parking district; any of the following will suffice: Current signed lease (by both tenants and Landlord) or current utility bill (Gas, Electric, Cable, and Water only) that is less than 30 days old.
On-Street Residential and Non-Residential Permit Fees:
- An on-street residential permit costs $50.00.
- An on-street non-residential permit costs $140.00.
Payment Methods:
Purchase Online:
You can purchase your parking permit by visiting our Parking Permit Express Checkout Portal.
(Wheel Tax Renewal & Parking Permit Express Checkout Portal - How-to Video)
Purchase By Mail or In Person:
Application Document Link: (Wheel Tax, Residential Permit, and Parking Pass Application)
If you need to make any changes to the form, please mail the completed application, along with a copy of the vehicle registration, to the address below. Alternatively, you can submit applications in person by placing them in the blue drop box located in front of our building. Please make checks payable to "The City of Evanston" and send them to the following address: (Please do not mail cash)
Lorraine H. Morton City Hall
City of Evanston
ATTN: City Collector's Office
909 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
One-Day Parking Passes:
One-day parking passes are available for vehicles belonging to friends and guests. Only residents who reside within a residential parking district, not visitors, can purchase one-day parking passes. Please note that proof of residence within the district is required each time parking passes are purchased.
Visitor passes can be purchased in person at the City Collector's office located at Lorraine H. Morton City Hall, 909 Davis Street, City Collector's Office, Evanston, IL 60201, or online.
- Guest passes remain available for purchase exclusively at the Collectors Office (909 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201).
- Guest passes cannot be purchased at Community Centers.
- Due to updates in the Access Evanston Program, residents must follow a new process to receive discounts.
- If you are eligible for a Senior or Military/Veteran Wheel Tax discount, you must take specific action to receive the reduced rate:
- New Application - You must apply for and purchase a specific "Senior Wheel Tax Permit" or "Military/Veteran Wheel Tax Permit" to receive your discount.
- Standard Renewals - If you renew your existing standard permit, you will be charged the standard rate.
- No Automatic Discounts - Renewing a previous permit will not automatically apply discounts for this or future years.
- No Autopay - This program is not eligible for autopay for this cycle.
- Seniors can renew their Wheel tax at City Hall or any participating community center. However, the Collector’s Office will only sell the Wheel tax to seniors who are already enrolled in the Access Evanston Program; those not yet enrolled must visit a community center to apply and pay.
Wheel Tax Payment Center Locations:
- Robert Crown Community Center
1801 Main St., Evanston, IL 60202
Open Monday through Sunday between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. - Dr. Jorge and Luz Maria Prieto Community Center
430 Asbury Ave., Evanston, IL 60202
Open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. - Levy Senior Center
300 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60202
Open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. - Fleetwood-Jourdain Center
1655 Foster St., Evanston, IL 60201
Open Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., Saturday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., and closed on Sunday. - Ecology Center
2024 McCormick Blvd., Evanston, IL 60201
Open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Closed on Saturday and Sunday. - Please note that residents should bring their vehicle registration showing the Evanston address and/or a renewal letter when completing payment in person.