Moving from Indiana to Illinois
At roughly 232 miles, moving from Indiana to Illinois is a short interstate move — close enough that many people rent a truck and drive it themselves in a day. Here's the full checklist so nothing slips through.
Generate My ChecklistIN vs IL at a Glance
Income Tax
Sales Tax
Time Zone
You'll be changing time zones
Distance
Moving Cost
Professional move, 2–3 BR home. Summer +20–30%.
What This Move Means for You
Modest cost-of-living shift
Overall costs in Illinois are about 8% higher than in Indiana — enough to notice on housing, but not a dramatic change.
Higher income tax
Illinois's top income tax rate (~4.95%) is higher than Indiana's (~2.95%). The difference shows up in every paycheck.
Higher property taxes
Illinois's effective property tax rate (1.88%) is higher than Indiana's (0.76%). If you plan to buy, weigh the extra annual cost into your budget.
Before You Leave Indiana
You do not have to hand the plates back
Indiana does not ask you to surrender a plate you no longer use. The BMV says to remove the plates from a vehicle you sold, along with any expired plates. It says returning them to the BMV is not necessary. To throw a plate away, bend or cut it so it is permanently unreadable and unusable. Keeping a plate does not keep the registration valid. An unexpired sticker does not let you drive the car past your new state's deadline.
Source: Indiana BMV FAQ, license plate no longer in useClaim back part of the vehicle excise tax
You pay excise tax a year in advance when you register. If you leave mid-year, you have already paid for months you will not use. Once the vehicle is registered in your new state, apply for a credit or refund. Use the Application for Vehicle Excise Tax Credit / Refund (State Form 55296), authorized by IC 6-6-5-7.7. Attach a copy of the new state's certificate of registration or registration receipt. Also attach the Indiana certificate of registration if you still have it. File one form per vehicle. Vehicle Excise Tax, Recreational Vehicle Excise Tax, and the county and municipal vehicle excise taxes all qualify. The refund must be at least $4.00 to be paid, and $3.00 is deducted as a processing fee. For an out-of-state registration, the check is mailed once the application is processed, with no 90-day wait.
Source: Indiana BMV, Vehicle Registration Fees & TaxesFile Form IT-40PNR for the year you leave
If you received income while living here, file Form IT-40PNR for the year you leave, not the resident IT-40. IT-40PNR is the part-year and full-year nonresident return. You also need it in any later year with income from an Indiana source, such as rent on a house you kept or income from a business here. The annual deadline is April 15. When that falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.
Source: Indiana DOR, Individual Income Tax OverviewYour county income tax rate is locked in on January 1
Every county levies its own income tax on top of the 2.95 percent state rate. Where you lived on January 1 sets the county rate for your whole taxable year. Moving away in February does not move you to a cheaper county or out of county tax. Employers are told to keep withholding at the January 1 county rate. The rule also catches commuters. If you live outside the state on January 1 but your principal place of work or business is in an Indiana county, you owe that county's rate. Rates range from 0.5 percent in Porter County to 3.0 percent in Randolph County.
Source: Indiana DOR, Departmental Notice #1Tell the county auditor the homestead no longer qualifies, within 60 days
The homestead deduction does not come off the roll by itself, and reporting is your duty. File a Notice of Change of Use of Property (Form HC10/CU, State Form 54890) with the county auditor. IC 6-1.1-12-37(g) requires this within 60 days after the property stops qualifying. The form asks for the parcel number, whether all or only part of the property is now ineligible, and a description of the change. A change in use or title can disqualify the property or require a new filing. So this applies when you rent the house out, not only when you sell it.
Source: Indiana DLGF, Notice of Change of Use of Property (State Form 54890)Keeping the license and the voter registration can keep you a resident
The Department of Revenue treats you as a full-year resident if you keep your legal residence here from January 1 through December 31. Physical absence alone does not end that. For someone who spends the winter elsewhere, it names these factors: keeping a legal residence here and intending to return for part of the year, keeping the Indiana driver's license, and keeping Indiana voting rights. A temporary stay elsewhere leaves you a resident for the whole time you are away. If the move is permanent, close those ties on purpose. Each one is evidence that you still live here.
Source: Indiana DOR, Individual Income Tax OverviewAfter You Arrive in Illinois
Get an Illinois driver's license within 90 days
You can drive on a valid license from another state for 90 days after you move here. Apply in person at a DMV. Express facilities do not process out-of-state transfers. Surrender your out-of-state license. Expect a vision screening and a written exam. You may also have to take a drive exam. Read the Rules of the Road before you go.
Source: Illinois Secretary of State, Drivers FAQTitle and register the car within 30 days
Apply for an Illinois title and registration within 30 days of moving here. Complete Form VSD-190 and bring the out-of-state title. If a lender holds the title, bring a copy of the title or out-of-state registration and a copy of the loan agreement. The title fee is $165, and passenger plates are $151. A car titled and registered in another state at least three months before you moved is exempt from Illinois tax. You still file Form RUT-25 or RUT-50 to show the exemption.
Source: Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Titles and License Plates for New Illinois Residents (VSD 271)Emissions tests apply in the Chicago and Metro-East areas
Illinois tests vehicle emissions in the Chicago and Metro-East St. Louis areas. Most gasoline vehicles from model year 1996 or newer are tested once they are four years old. After that, even model years test in even years and odd model years in odd years. A vehicle newly registered in a test area may need a test. Your plate renewal notice says whether you must test before you renew. Diesel and all-electric vehicles do not test.
Source: Illinois Air Team (Illinois EPA), FAQsCarry at least 25/50/20 liability insurance
The minimum liability coverage is $25,000 for injury or death of one person and $50,000 for more than one person. The minimum for damage to property is $20,000. The state checks insurance electronically. If it cannot confirm coverage, it checks again after 30 days. If that check also fails, it mails you a suspension letter. You then have 30 days to prove coverage through your insurance agent. If you cannot, it suspends the registration. To reinstate it, buy insurance and pay a $100 fee. The minimum fine for driving uninsured is $500.
Source: Illinois Secretary of State, Mandatory InsuranceClaim the General Homestead Exemption if you buy a home
The General Homestead Exemption applies to a home you own and live in as your main residence. It lowers the equalized assessed value of the home. The maximum is $10,000 in Cook County and $8,000 in the counties next to Cook. In all other counties it is $6,000. Ask your county assessment office how to apply.
Source: Illinois Department of Revenue, Property Tax ReliefRegister to vote before the deadlines
You must live in your precinct for at least 30 days before Election Day. Regular registration closes 27 days before the election. Online registration stays open until 16 days before. After regular registration closes, use grace period registration in person at a designated site. Bring two forms of ID, and one must show your current address.
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, Registering to Vote in IllinoisYour Moving Timeline
8 Weeks Before
At about 232 miles (~4 hours), this is short enough to DIY with a rental truck or a single-day mover run. Get 2–3 quotes and compare them against renting.
4 Weeks Before
Notify your utility providers, update your address with USPS, and begin packing non-essential items.
1 Week Before
Confirm with your movers, finish packing, clean your home, and prepare a moving day essentials bag.
Moving Day
Supervise loading, do a final walkthrough of your old home, and hand over the keys.
After the Move
Update your driver's license at the Illinois DMV, register to vote in IL, and set up your new utilities.
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Climate Comparison
Indiana
Humid continental with cold winters and warm, humid summers.
Illinois
Humid continental with cold winters and hot, humid summers.
Utilities & Cost of Living
Indiana
Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is it from Indiana to Illinois?
The driving distance from Indiana to Illinois is approximately 232 miles — about 4 hours of driving at highway speeds.
How much does it cost to move from Indiana to Illinois?
A professional interstate move from Indiana to Illinois typically costs between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on the size of your home and time of year.
- Summer moves (May–September) tend to cost 20–30% more.
What is the cost of living difference between Indiana and Illinois?
Indiana has a cost of living index of 88.3 versus 95.1 for Illinois (US average = 100).
- Overall, Illinois is about 8% higher than Indiana.
How do property taxes compare between Indiana and Illinois?
Indiana's effective property tax rate is about 0.76%, versus 1.88% in Illinois.
- On a typical home that difference raises your annual holding costs, so factor it in if you plan to buy.
How soon do I need to update my driver's license after moving to Illinois?
After establishing residency in Illinois, you have 90 days to update your driver's license at a Illinois DMV office.
- Vehicle registration is a separate transaction with its own deadline, which in most states differs from the license deadline — confirm both with the Illinois DMV before you go.
What is the climate like in Illinois?
Illinois has humid continental with cold winters and hot, humid summers.
- The annual average temperature is 52°F, with about 39 inches of precipitation per year.
- Average monthly electricity bills run around $110.