Evanston Residents Can Now Pay 2027 Wheel Tax Online, By Mail Or In Person

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston residents can now pay their 2027 City of Evanston wheel tax and residential parking permits through the city’s online portal.

The city said all owners of vehicles registered to an Evanston address through the Illinois Secretary of State are required to pay an annual wheel tax.

The 2027 wheel tax covers the period of Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027. The deadline to pay the 2027 wheel tax is Sept. 30, according to the city. Residents are encouraged to pay online through the city’s free portal.

According to the city, residents who previously elected auto-renewal through the online portal will have their payments processed automatically on Sept. 23. Those residents will receive an email notification and can confirm their payment information and status through the online portal.

Residents also can pay by mail. The city said residents may print a wheel tax and residential permit application at cityofevanston.org/wheeltax and mail the completed application, along with a copy of their vehicle registration, to the Customer Service Center at Morton City Hall, 909 Davis St. Checks must be made payable to The City of Evanston, and the city said cash should not be mailed. Completed applications also may be placed in the curbside drop box at 909 Davis St.

In-person payments are available at the Customer Service Center at Morton City Hall, 909 Davis St. The city also said the 2027 wheel tax can be paid at five community centers: Robert Crown Community Center, Prieto Community Center, Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, Evanston Ecology Center and Levy Senior Center. Residents should bring vehicle registration showing an Evanston address and/or a renewal letter.

Guest passes remain available for purchase at the Collector's Office. The city said preprinted renewal notices have already begun mailing.

The wheel tax for a regular passenger vehicle costs $90, according to the city. Compliance is checked by License Plate Recognition technology, which stores the license plates of all vehicles registered to an Evanston address. The city no longer issues physical vehicle wheel tax stickers, and failure to pay may result in parking tickets.

The city also updated how residents receive senior and military or veteran discounts for the annual wheel tax. According to the city, eligible residents must apply for and purchase a specific Senior Wheel Tax Permit or Military/Veteran Wheel Tax Permit to receive a reduced rate. The city said standard renewals will be charged the regular rate, discounts are not applied automatically and the program is not eligible for autopay. Seniors can renew at Morton City Hall, by mail, online or at participating community centers.