Illinois auto-renewal law: a short guide for sellers
Illinois has rules for subscriptions and memberships that roll over by themselves unless the customer cancels. Here are the notice timing, the trial reminder and the penalty path.
Prepared by Prem Tax and Accounting Corp. Last checked against official sources on October 29, 2026.
The Illinois Automatic Contract Renewal Act (815 ILCS 601) covers subscriptions that renew automatically until the customer cancels. A violation counts under the Consumer Fraud Act. It matters to businesses selling such plans to consumers. We check offers with the Doorbell Renewal Routine. The official text is on the Illinois General Assembly website.
- Sellers to consumers are covered, with no size test.
- Renewal terms sit beside the consent request, with no charge before consent.
- Terms of 12 months or more that renew for a specified term longer than one month call for written notice, sent 30 to 60 days ahead of the deadline.
- Penalties run through the Consumer Fraud Act.
Who it covers
| Group | Covered? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sellers to consumers | Yes | The Act does not define "consumer". |
| Business-to-business contracts | No | The Act does not define the phrase. |
| Banks, credit unions and affiliates | No | Insurance-regulated and certain utility providers too. |
The numbers
| Item | Amount or limit | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Written renewal notice | Sent 30 to 60 days ahead of the cancellation deadline | 2026 |
| Trial reminder | For trials of 15 days or longer, sent 3 days or more before the deadline | 2026 |
| Civil penalty | Up to $50,000. With intent to defraud, up to $50,000 for each violation. When the victim is 65 or older, up to $10,000 more for each violation | 2026 (amended 2022) |
| Private suit | 3 years after the claim accrues | 2026 |
Source: 815 ILCS 601/10
Our checklist
The Doorbell Renewal Routine has five rings.
- Ring one: are the terms in standout type beside the consent request?
- Ring two: did consent come before any charge, with a keepable acknowledgment?
- Ring three: does a trial of 15 days or longer get a reminder at least 3 days ahead?
- Ring four: does a term of 12 months or more get its written notice 30 to 60 days ahead?
- Ring five: can an online sign-up cancel exclusively online?
Mistakes people make
- Burying renewal terms in small print, far from where consent is requested.
- Billing the card on file before the customer has agreed to the terms.
- Sending the notice at 20 or 90 days instead of 30 to 60.
Call an attorney if customers include businesses, a demand letter arrives, or terms are being drafted.
Common questions
Who enforces the Illinois auto-renewal law?
The Act has no fine schedule. A court imposes the Consumer Fraud Act penalty on request from the Attorney General or a State's Attorney. Private plaintiffs can sue too.
Is there a safe harbor for honest mistakes?
Yes. A seller avoids liability if it shows it enforces written procedures, the failure was an error, and it fully refunded or credited everything billed from the renewal date until termination or the next renewal notice, whichever came first.
Must online customers be able to cancel online?
Yes. The seller has to let a customer who joined online cancel exclusively online.
Official sources
- Illinois General Assembly: Automatic Contract Renewal Act, 815 ILCS 601
- Illinois General Assembly: Consumer Fraud Act, 815 ILCS 505
- Illinois General Assembly: Senate Bill 3562 status
- Illinois General Assembly: Senate Bill 3380 status
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