New Secretary Of State DMV+ Unveiled In Aurora

AURORA, IL — A new Secretary of State facility opened Monday in the former Caron Pirie Scott building in downtown Aurora,

The 10,000-square-foot facility at 970 N. Lake St., known as a "DMV+," offers "services that have never been accessible at traditional Illinois DMV locations."

The DMV+ is a new type of Secretary of State facility that acts as a one-stop-shop for driver and vehicle services as well as some business-related needs. Aurora's is the 19th in Illinois to adopt the model, according to the Office of the Secretary of State.

The specialized services offered — from the business, index, administrative hearing and personnel departments — typically require a visit to a Secretary of State office in downtown Chicago or Springfield.

Employees are cross-trained, and customers can access services at a single station to create a "more intuitive flow."

The new location is double the size of Aurora's former DMV, which was located at 339 E. Indian Trail. It has a total of 31 service stations and 47 Secretary of State employees, including 17 who speak Spanish, officials said.

The facility also has a larger parking lot and as a result will eventually offer motorcycle testing, which officials said was not possible at the former location due to inadequate space.

"A new DMV+ in Aurora had been a top priority for our administration since taking office," Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a statement. "The previous DMV had been at the same location for more than 30 years and had not modernized or grown with its population. This DMV+ not only offers more services, but also noticeable efficiencies that will reduce wait times."

Aurora's DMV+ is appointment-only and open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will also operate the same hours until May 31 to offer non-appointment, walk-in services for Real IDs.

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