White Extends Deadline For IL Drivers To Renew Licenses Until December

ILLINOIS — Illinois residents whose driver's license is expiring will now have several more months to renew them than originally thought.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced on Friday that drivers now have until Dec. 1 to renew their licenses. White had previously extended the deadline for renewals until July 31, but White again pushed the deadline back.

As a result, expired driver’s licenses, ID cards, and learner’s permits will remain valid until December 1, so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits, White’s office announced.

Illinois Driver License Services had been limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some offices had closed during the pandemic, which limited access for drivers needing to conduct business such as renewing their license. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced on Friday that several counties around the state are again at the high COVID-19 community level as cases of COVID have again jumped in recent weeks.

White’s office expanded online renewals for expired driver’s licenses and ID cards and continues to mail letters to eligible customers, White’s office said. The letter provides driver’s license and ID card holders with a unique PIN needed to renew online instead of visiting a facility and waiting in line. Customers may call (217) 785-1424 to confirm their eligibility for online renewal or to obtain their PIN.

They may also theSecretary of State website. to look up their eligibility status.

Customers who must visit a facility include first-time driver’s license or ID card applicants, first-time REAL ID applicants, and drivers ages 75 and older who are required by state law to visit a facility when renewing their license, White said.

White continues to encourage people to conduct other business online at ilsos.gov. In addition to driver’s license and ID card renewals for those who qualify, online services include obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, ordering a driver's record, and purchasing license plate stickers.

White said his office is also extending the expiration dates of Restricted Driving Permits (RDPs) to December 1 for those that expired on or after December 1, 2021, through December 1. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has also extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023.