All owners of vehicles registered to an Evanston address through the Illinois Secretary of State are required to pay an annual wheel tax. The 2025 wheel tax covers the period of October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. The deadline to pay the 2025 wheel tax is Monday, September 30, 2024.
How to Pay the 2025 Wheel Tax
Save time, pay online! Residents are strongly encouraged to pay 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 September 23, 2024, and will receive an email 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. Residents can also pay for their 2025 wheel tax or residential parking permit in person at the Morton Civic Center.
The 2025 wheel tax can also be paid at any of the City's five community centers: Robert Crown Community Center, South End Community Center, Chandler-Newberger Community Center, Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, and Levy Senior Center. Residents should bring their vehicle registration showing an Evanston address and/or renewal letter.
Please note: the mailing of preprinted renewal notices will be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. This will not have any impact on the ability to renew online, by mail, or in person before September 30, 2024. For questions, call 847-448-4311, or dial 311 in Evanston. Residents who have previously completed online payments for their wheel tax are not required to wait for their letter to proceed with the renewal process.
Additional Information
Wheel tax cost: The cost of the wheel tax for a regular passenger vehicle is $90. Compliance is checked by License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology, which stores the license plates of all vehicles registered to an Evanston address. The City no longer issues physical vehicle wheel tax stickers. Failure to pay the wheel tax may subject drivers to parking tickets. For all other rates, visit cityofevanston.org/wheeltax.
Access Evanston Program: Senior discounts are available to qualifying residents through the Access Evanston Program. The application is available in person at City community centers and online.
Evanston residents 80 and older are eligible for a 50 percent discount on one Wheel Tax payment per household. To receive this discount, residents must provide proof of their age at the time of purchase. This discount will only be available for the 2025 wheel tax season.
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 learn about wheel tax rates for other vehicle types, senior discounts, and disabled veteran and active-duty personnel programs, please visit cityofevanston.org/wheeltax or call/text 847-448-4311.
