2022 wheel tax payment period now open

All vehicles registered through the Illinois Secretary of State to an Evanston address are required to pay an annual wheel tax. The 2022 wheel tax covers the period Oct. 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2022. The deadline to pay the 2022 wheel tax is Thursday, Sept. 30. 

How to pay the 2022 wheel tax

Preprinted renewal notices will be mailed to residents this week with an online renewal ID (link code) and instructions. Residents who do not receive a letter by Aug. 15 should contact 847-448-4311, or dial 311 in Evanston. Community members who have paid their wheel tax online in previous years do not need to wait for their letter to renew. 

Save time, pay online! Residents are strongly encouraged to pay for their wheel tax, residential parking permits and residential parking passes online using the City’s convenient, free portal at cityofevanston.org/wheeltax.

Residents who previously elected auto renewal using the City’s online portal will have their payments automatically processed on Sept. 23 and will receive an email this week notifying them. Residents can confirm their payment information and status using the online portal.

Pay by mail. Residents can also visit cityofevanston.org/wheeltax to print a wheel tax/residential permit application and mail their completed application along with a copy of their vehicle registration to 2100 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201. Checks must be payable to “The City of Evanston”; do not mail cash. Completed applications can also be placed in the drop box located in the parking lot of the Morton Civic Center.

In-person payment. The Morton Civic Center remains closed to the public and will not process 2022 wheel tax or residential parking permit payments. Residents can complete payment in person at the following locations only:

• Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wheel tax only: Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Wheel tax only: Peoples Currency Exchange, 1605 Maple Ave., Evanston, or Jarvis Currency Exchange, 7358 N Greenview Ave., Chicago. PLS Currency Exchange (1830 Dempster St.) is not authorized to sell Evanston wheel tax at this time.

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

Additional information

Wheel tax cost: The cost for the wheel tax for a regular passenger vehicle is $85. A penalty may be added to all applications received or postmarked after Sept. 30. Compliance is checked by License Plate Recognition technology, which stores the license plates of all vehicles registered to an Evanston address, as the City no longer issues physical vehicle wheel tax stickers. Failure to pay the wheel tax may subject drivers to parking tickets. 

Senior benefit card: Evanston seniors who are current Benefit Card holders qualify for a wheel tax discount. Seniors who do not yet have a Benefit Card but qualify based on age and income can apply by contacting aging@cityofevanston.org, or calling 847-448-4311.

Outstanding parking citations: All outstanding parking citations must be paid before obtaining a residential parking permit. For citation payments, or to look up citations for a vehicle, please visit evanston.rmcpay.com.

To find out about wheel tax rates for other vehicle types, senior discounts and disabled veteran and active-duty personnel programs, visit cityofevanston.org/wheeltax or call/text 847-448-4311.