File Photo – Secretary of State Driver Vehicle Services Facility in Lake Zurich | Photo: Google Street View

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that all driving service facilities will be closed for two weeks starting Monday due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

White said that all Secretary of State departments will not conduct in-person transactions including driver services facilities starting January 3 through January 17.

All departments and driver services facilities will reopen on January 18. White is encouraging the public to visit ilsos.gov for online services.

“After careful consideration and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to close all Driver Services facilities beginning Jan. 3, 2022, through Jan. 17, 2022, due to the spike in COVID-19 cases,” White said.

“The health and safety of employees and the public remains paramount, and face-to-face transactions potentially increase the further spread of the virus. Our goal is to safely reopen all offices and Driver Services facilities on January 18 for face-to-face transactions,” he added.

Online transactions will remain open for all departments to conduct office services including renewing a license plate sticker, renewing a driver’s license or ID card for those who qualify, obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, obtaining a driver record abstract, and filing business services documents, such as incorporations and annual reports.

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The Drivers and Vehicles Services hotline phone number will remain open at 800-252-8980.

Customers with issues involving administrative hearings may email [email protected] or call 312-793-3722 or 217-782-7065.

White recently extended all driver’s license and ID card expiration dates to March 31, 2022. The extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits.

“In addition, White greatly expanded remote renewal for driver’s license and ID card holders. Since this fall, White’s office mailed letters to eligible customers with expired driver’s licenses and ID cards requiring them to renew online, by phone or by mail. The office estimates that this helps to eliminate the need for approximately 1 million people to visit a facility,” the Secretary of State’s Office said in a statement.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023.

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