(a) Except as provided herein for new residents, every owner of any vehicle which shall be operated upon the public highways of this State shall, within 24 hours after becoming the owner or at such time as such vehicle becomes subject to registration under the provisions of this Act, file in an office of the Secretary of State, an application for registration properly completed and executed. New residents need not secure registration until 30 days after establishing residency in this State, provided the vehicle is properly registered in another jurisdiction. By the expiration of such 30-day statutory grace period, a new resident shall comply with the provisions of this Act and apply for Illinois vehicle registration. All applications for registration shall be accompanied by all documentation required under the provisions of this Act. The appropriate registration fees and taxes provided for in this Article of this Chapter shall be paid to the Secretary of State with the application for registration of vehicles subject to registration under this Act.
     (b) Any resident of this State, who has been serving as a member or as a civilian employee of the United States Armed Services, or as a civilian employee of the United States Department of Defense, outside of the State of Illinois, need not secure registration until 45 days after returning to this State, provided the vehicle displays temporary military registration.
     (c) When an application is submitted by mail, the applicant may not submit cash or postage stamps for payment of fees or taxes due. The Secretary in his discretion, may decline to accept a personal or company check or electronic payment in payment of fees or taxes. An application submitted to a dealer, or a remittance made to the Secretary of State shall be deemed in compliance with this Section.