The new titles in IL have a detachable flap on the bottom that you fill out when you sell the car. You are suppose to send that flap into the State. If you do that, those future problems just don't happen.
I tell the people I sell old car to that I'm sending that flap in the next day, and they don't get my old plates. I tell them I want to keep the plates so I can remember that great ride, then I cut them up and scrap them. .
Here in Illinois there is no reason (other than maybe laziness) for a vehicle to leave with it's current plates. Here, the plates stay with the owner. Not the vehicle. But that is not true for every state.
In Illinois, ALWAYS remove and retain the plates.
And a sales agreement signed and dated by both parties is a bare minimum for a sale. Nowadays, further steps should be considered, but a signed and dated sales agreement by both parties with the pertinent vehicle details is an absolute must.
