Illinois Bicentennial

Automobile owners were required to register their cars for the first time in 1907.  License plates were issued for the first time in 1911.

In 1918  there were 389,700 passenger vehicles registered with the State of Illinois.

1918 was the last year the plates (front) were made with slots.  The slots were designed to allow airflow into the engine to cool the vehicle's radiator.

1918 was also the year Illinois voters approve the first bond issue ($60 million) for the construction of a statewide system of hard roads.

Content for this page came from the Illinois Secretary of State website.