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SoS White announces another extension for driver’s licenses and ID cards

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Illinois

* Press release…

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended an additional three months – from Nov. 1, 2020, until Feb. 1, 2021. This new Feb. 1 extension also includes those who have October, November, December and January expiration dates. As a result, expired driver’s licenses and ID cards will remain valid until Feb. 1, 2021, so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities during the pandemic.

“Extending expiration dates until February 1 means people with an expired driver’s license and ID card do not need to visit a Driver Services facility immediately,” said White. “During this pandemic, we continue to think creatively to serve the public as efficiently as possible, while making public health and safety our top priority.”

License plates stickers remain extended until Nov. 1, 2020, as they can easily be renewed online.

White continues to urge the public to consider using online services when possible instead of visiting a facility due to heavy customer volume. Customers who can conduct business online may go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com to take advantage of online services – such as renewing license plate stickers, obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, obtaining a driving record abstract or renewing a standard driver’s license through the Safe Driver renewal program – from the comfort of their own home. People who conduct online transactions will avoid waiting in line at a facility.

White noted that online transactions continue to rise, with an increase of 84 percent in online license plate sticker renewals when compared to the same period in 2019. […]

White recently extended the driver’s license expiration date by one year for qualified drivers age 75 and older. The new expiration date is their birthday in 2021.

For those customers who must visit a facility, face masks are required. In addition, customers are asked to be patient due to heavy volume and to be prepared to wait outside in various types of weather. This is due to social distancing, which limits the number of people inside a facility at one time.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 10:38 am

Comments

They aren’t kidding about the waiting outside. My partner needed to do some title thing so went to the facility at Lombard. Line snaking through the parking lot!

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 10:57 am
===Line snaking through the parking lot===

Try going later in the day. People are lining up before the offices open, which is causing a huge problem.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 10:59 am
So I went to the Deerfield SOS office and arrived 45 minutes before it opened and waited an additional hour and a half just to enter it. This was sometime in August. I was given a temporary driver’s license as they now mail out the new licenses after people qualify for them. As of today I am still waiting to receive it and my temporary one expires on 10/28/20.

Comment by Blue Dogs are Blind, Deaf, and Dumb Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 11:04 am
What Rich said. I went to SOS office in Freeport at 9:30 on a Wednesday morning. I was third in line. They were short on staff but very efficient and organized. I also find the best time at the local grocery is 9 on Saturday morning (unless it is raining)

Comment by very old soil Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 11:20 am
I was at the Elston place in August. The line was unbelievable and intimidating, but my license expired back in February so I was stuck.

I have to admit that, all things considered, they did a great job with everything I experienced that day. They had line marshals helping people answer questions and keeping us six feet apart. Everybody in line wore masks without exception. They set the queue like the lines at Great America, that snake back and forth until you get your turn. Every now and then an SOS employee would call for people who were there for something specific (presumably routine), like renewals with no tests needed (my case). They brought us over to a different building and got us through it there.

Despite my initial dread, it wasn’t that bad. I was in and out in about 90 minutes, which is half of what I would have guessed when I first saw the line. All in all, I was very pleased and impressed with the operation and the employees’ dedication.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 11:46 am
I suggest looking for alternate facility locations before you go. It might be worth your while to drive 15-30 minutes to a facility further from Chicago. The wait may be less there.

Comment by thoughts matter Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 11:46 am
Wife went to the Orland Park Express office yesterday about 10:30 a.m. There were 57 people in front of her. She called me a half hour later and said she was done.

Orland Park is an Express facility, license plate stickers, no Real I.D.

She said the staff was FANTASTIC.

Comment by Rigby Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 12:37 pm
Blue dog

There is a web sit that you can check the status of your license
https://www.ilsos.gov/dlstatus/
Or call 217-782-7044

Comment by Illinoisgirl Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 12:53 pm
Most states allow people to book an appointment for driver’s license renewals. This service would go a long way to help people renew IDs and not waste countless hours standing in line.

Comment by Shane Falco Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:05 pm
Thank you Illinoisgirl. This was very helpful and I just learned that my license was mailed out over a month ago but was likely returned because my name is not on my mail box. Apparently it needs to be in order for the postal carrier to leave the license.

Comment by Blue Dogs are Blind, Deaf, and Dumb Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:10 pm
Bluedog
I’m glad they could help you out! Hopefully you can get your license now.

Comment by Illinoisgirl Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 3:03 pm