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illinois drivers license renewal - IL

Renew your Illinois Drivers license now and avoid going to the DMV. There are three different ways in which you can renew your license in Illinois. You can show up in person to any Illinois DMV office , or you can process your renewal online, or you can send everything via mail, or you can use our convenient and easy to use website. We’ll supply you with all of the forms , rules, and steps. 

The Illinois drivers license renewal rules vary depending on your age.

Illinois License Expiration Dates

The expiration date of your license depends on your age

  • If you are under 21 years of age, your license expires 3 months after your 21st birthday
  • If you are between 21 and 80 years of age, your license expires every 4 years
  • If you are between 81 and 86 years of age, your license expires every 2 years
  • If you are 87 or above, your license expires every year

Renewal Notice

Roughly 3 months or 90 days before your license expires, the Secretary of State office will send you a renewal notice to the address listed on your driving record file. This notice will notify you of what tests and documents you will be required to take in order to renew your Illinois drivers license. 

When To Renew

Licenses which expire every 2 or 4 years (between ages of 21 and 86), may apply for renewal 1 year before it expires. Licenses which expire each year (ages 87 and above), may apply for renewal 6 months before it expires.

Renew Online

This option is only available for drivers that qualify for the Safe Driver Renewal Program. This means that you have a clean driving record. Your renewal notice that you receive via mail will state if you qualify as a safe driver and the notice will provide you with instructions on how to renew online.

Requirements to Renew Online with the Safe Driver Renewal Program

  • Must be between the ages of 22 and 74
  • Only valid for regular drivers license (cannot be used for Commercial Driver Licenses or School Bus Permits)
  • Must have a clean record (free of traffic tickets, sanctions or crashes)
  • Your Social Security Number must be verifiable through the Social Security Online Verification System
  • Your license cannot have been expired for more than 1 year
  • You can only renew your license online every other renewal cycle. In other words, if you last renewed your license online, you cannot use the website a second time in a row
  • You must not be required to take a vision test or medical report
  • Your vision has not changed since your last renewal. In other words, if you are now required to wear glasses or lenses, you cannot use the online system
  • Your license must remain the same class, otherwise (if you wish to change it), it must be done in person.
  • You cannot use this system if you possess a drivers license from another State
  • You cannot use this system if your name or gender has changed

Steps When Renewing Online

  1. Have your renewal authorization number handy (which can be found on your renewal notice). You will need this number
  2. Make sure that all the information online is indeed your correct information
  3. Prepare to make a payment with a credit card or personal checking account
  4. When complete, make sure to print out the confirmation (in order to keep a log for yourself)

 

Click here to Renew Your Illinois Driver License online

Renew By Mail

This is another alternative in the Safe Driver Renewal Program. The instructions will be provided inside the renewal notice package.

Renew By Phone

Renewing your Illinois license by phone is yet another alternative in the Safe Driver Renewal Program. The instructions will be provided inside the renewal notice package.

Renew In Person at a DMV Office

You can also walk into any illinois dmv office to renew your license. This is also a requirement (every 8 years) for people who are in the Safe Driver Program.

Steps When Showing up in Person

  1. Be sure to bring your Renewal notice which was sent to your address
  2. If your notice indicates that you must take a test (vision, written or driving), please be prepared for that
  3. Be prepared to pay the cost of having your license renewed.
  4. If accepted, you can walk out with your renewed drivers license

Documents required to Renew In Person

The only document that you need is your existing Drivers License or ID Card If you do not have your current License or ID, then you must show the following:

  • One document which proves and demonstrates your Written Signature
  • One document which proves your Date Of Birth, Social Security Number and Residency

For your complete list and to get all your Illinois DMV forms and instructions, please click below to get started.

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