All vehicles registered through the Illinois Secretary of State to an Evanston address are required to pay an annual wheel tax. There is no physical City sticker; wheel tax is enforced through license plate recognition (LPR) technology. Failure to pay the wheel tax may subject drivers to parking tickets. The 2025 wheel tax covers the period of October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.

 Important Information

•  2025 Wheel Tax is now on sale. The deadline to pay the 2025 Wheel tax is Monday, September 30, 2024.

• No late fees for the 2025 Wheel Tax purchased after September 30, 2024.

•  Residents are strongly encouraged to complete payment early using the City’s convenient, free online portal, or by mail. Courtesy reminder letters for renewal will be sent in early August via USPS for all vehicles registered to an Evanston address.

 What to do Now

Pay online (recommended):

       If you have not previously paid for your wheel tax online:

• You will receive a letter in the mail with a "Link Code" to purchase your permit online in early August. If you have not received this letter by August 19th, please call or text 847-448-4311 to receive your link code.

• Once you have your link code, log in or sign up for an account here: Online purchase link. You will need an email address to create an account.

• Select the "Link a Permit" tab. Enter link code and select "Link Permit". On the next screen, select "Add to Cart". Select "Check Out" to complete purchase.

• New Wheel Tax or Residential Permit application can be added by selecting the "Apply for a New Permit" tab and complete the appropriate application(s).

Pay by mail

Blank application form

Residents can also apply by mail. Please mail in a completed application(s) along with payment(s) and required document(s) to the City of Evanston, 2100 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201. Do not send cash. Please make all checks payable to the City of Evanston. Please include "wheel tax" or "residential permit" in the memo line. Applications can also be placed in the blue drop box in the parking lot at the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.

Pay in person

Residents can pay the wheel tax and purchase residential parking permits and passes at:

• Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The following centers are for the Wheel Tax purchases only:

• Robert Crown Center, 1801 Main Street, Evanston, IL 60202. Hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• South End Community Center, 430 Asbury Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

• Chandler Center, 1028 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

• Fleetwood Center, 1655 Foster Street, Evanston, IL 60201. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

• Levy Center, 300 Dodge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Residents should bring their vehicle registration showing Evanston address and/or renewal letter when completing payment in person.

For additional information, please contact the City Collector's Office at 847-448-4311.

Residential parking permits

All outstanding parking citations must be paid before obtaining a residential parking permit. Failure to do so may result in the delay of processing your application.

In order to receive a parking permit and visitor parking passes, your vehicle must be registered to an eligible address within that district. The address and zone information has been preloaded into the system based on the City's About My Place website. To identify your residential parking district, visit www.cityofevanston.org/aboutmyplace or call/text 847-448-4311. 

Check Your Payment Status

There are five easy ways to check to see if your wheel tax payment has been received:

1. Call us
   Dial 3-1-1, or 847-448-4311 outside of Evanston

2. Text us
   Text directly to 847-448-4311
   More info

3. Chat with us
   Chat Online Live

4. Make a request
   Submit a 3-1-1 service request

Wheel Tax Fee Guide

Transferring a Wheel Tax

If you replace a car at any time during the year, a transfer of your annual wheel tax can be done.  A copy of the new vehicle registration and documentation showing that you no longer own the previous vehicle (trade, sale, donate) must be presented in person at the City Collector's Office, Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, room 1300, Evanston, IL 60201, or submit a 3-1-1 service request.  The registered owners information must be identical on both vehicles to be eligible for a transfer. 

Bought a new car?

Owners have 30 days to register their vehicle and purchase wheel tax without penalty. 

Moving from Evanston?

Be sure to update your vehicle registration with the State of Illinois and the City of Evanston. This will ensure that you receive renewal notices and other correspondence at the appropriate 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. Proof of address change must be provided. 

Fines

The ticket associated with not paying your wheel tax is $60 with late fees and collection fees added if not paid within the 10 day timeframe.

Access Evanston Program

Senior discounts are available to qualifying residents through the Access Evanston Program.  Application is available at City of Evanston community centers and online at Access Evanston Program.

City of Evanston residents 80 and older are eligible for a 50% discount on one Wheel Tax per household. To receive this discount residents must prove age at the time of purchase.  This discount will only be available for the 2025 wheel tax season. 

Disabled Veteran and Active-Duty Military Personnel

In 2013, Evanston’s City Council amended the City Code so any disabled veteran or an active-duty service member of the U.S. Armed Forces who makes application for a wheel tax license for a motor vehicle that he/she owns shall not be required to pay the usual fee for one such wheel tax license.