Secretary of State Facilities Closing For 2 Weeks Due To COVID-19

CHICAGO — If Illinois residents were planning to renew their driver’s license in person to start off the new year, they will have to adjust their plans thanks to the uptick in new positive cases of the coronavirus.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Wednesday that all of the state’s driver’s services centers will be closed from Monday through Jan. 17 due to the onslaught of new COVID-19 cases. The secretary of state's office will still offer online services so residents can take care of business via the agency’s website, but in-person visits won’t be an option.

The facilities are to reopen for business on Jan. 18.

“The health and safety of employees and the public remains paramount, and face-to-face transactions potentially increase the further spread of the virus,” White said in a news release Wednesday, saying the move was being made out of an abundance of caution.

The Drivers and Vehicles Services hotline phone number will remain open at 800-252-8980, the release said. Customers with issues involving administrative hearings may email adminhearings@ilsos.gov or call 312-793-3722 or 217-782-7065.

White said the following transactions may be handled online at ilsos.gov:

• Renewing a license plate sticker.
• Renewing a driver's license or ID card for those who qualify (people may call 217-785-1424 to confirm their eligibility or to obtain their PIN).
• Obtaining a duplicate driver's license or ID card.
• Obtaining a driver record abstract.
• Filing Business Services documents, such as incorporations and annual reports.

All driver's license and ID card expiration dates have been extended until March 31, 2022.