I am trying to find out if I lost my IL senior discount In renewing registration or license plates. I’m 80 yrs old and have 2 cars registered and I’m paying full fees on both cars in the amount of $151.00 ea. Am I qualified for any discount because before I was only paying half fee on I car

A) Yes, you should be eligible for an Illinois senior citizen license plate discount on one of your vehicles. Here’s how it works:

Eligibility:

• You must be at least 65 years old and a resident of Illinois.
• You must be approved for the Illinois Department of Aging’s Benefit Access Program (BAP).

Discount:

• The BAP program allows eligible seniors to receive a $10 discount on their annual license plate renewal fee for one vehicle.
• This discount applies to:
  • Standard passenger car plates
  • B-truck plates
  • Persons with disabilities plates
  • Recreational vehicle plates (up to 8,000 pounds)
  • Most military license plates

Possible Reasons for Paying Full Price:

• Not enrolled in BAP:
  • You may not be enrolled in the BAP program. You can apply online at https://ilaging.illinois.gov/benefitsaccess.html.
• Discount not reflected:
  • If you are enrolled in BAP, the discount might not be automatically applied during registration renewal. You’ll need to present your BAP approval letter to the Secretary of State’s office when renewing your plates.
• Only applies to one vehicle:
  • Remember, the discount applies to only one vehicle registered to you.

What to Do Now:

1. Check your BAP enrollment:
   • You can call the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 to see if you’re enrolled in BAP.
2. Apply for BAP if not enrolled:
   • If you’re not enrolled, apply online at https://ilaging.illinois.gov/benefitsaccess.html.
3. Request refund if eligible:
   • If you paid full price and are now approved for BAP, you may be eligible for a refund. Contact the Secretary of State’s office at 800-252-8980 for more information.

Additional Resources:

• Illinois Department on Aging BAP Information: https://ilaging.illinois.gov/benefitsaccess.html
• Illinois Secretary of State BAP Information: https://ilaging.illinois.gov/benefitsaccess/license-plate-discount.html

I hope this clarifies your situation and helps you get the senior citizen discount you deserve!