Where to Change Your Illinois Driver's License or ID Address

The Illinois Secretary of State handles driver's license and ID card address changes. You can update your address online through their website, by mail, or in person at a Driver Services facility. Online is the fastest route if your license or ID is not expired and you have not changed your name since it was issued.

If your license or ID expired more than a year ago, you will need to renew it rather than straightforward change the address. The renewal process includes the address update. If you have changed your name, you must visit a facility in person with legal documentation of the name change.

Key Takeaways

  • Online address changes take a few minutes and cost nothing if your license or ID is current and your name has not changed.
  • Mail and in-person changes both work, but mail takes two to three weeks while in-person is when ready.
  • You will need your driver's license or ID number, your new address, and a way to verify your identity online.
  • If your license or ID is expired by more than one year, you must renew it instead of changing the address alone.
  • A name change requires an in-person visit with a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order proving the new name.

Changing Your Address Online

Visit the Illinois Secretary of State website and select the address change option under driver services. You will need your current driver's license or ID number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your new address. The system will ask you to verify your identity, usually by answering security questions based on your driving record or previous applications.

Once you submit the change online, you do not need to do anything else. Illinois will mail you a new card with your updated address within seven to ten business days. You can use your old card until the new one arrives. There is no fee for an address change.

Online changes are not available if your license or ID is expired, if you have a commercial driver's license (CDL), or if you need to change your name at the same time. In those cases, use the mail or in-person method.

Changing Your Address by Mail

read the address change form from the Illinois Secretary of State website, or call 217-782-6900 to request one by mail. Fill in your current license or ID number, your new address, and sign the form. Do not send your physical card unless you are renewing it.

Mail the signed form to the address listed on the form. Processing takes two to three weeks. Illinois will send your new card to your new address. If you need your card sooner, use the in-person method instead.

Keep a copy of what you mail for your records. If your card does not arrive within four weeks, contact the Secretary of State to confirm they received your form.

Changing Your Address In Person at a Driver Services Facility

Bring your current driver's license or ID and proof of your new address to any Driver Services facility in Illinois. Proof of address can be a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or government mail dated within the last 60 days. The facility staff will update your record on the spot and issue a new card when ready, or mail it to you depending on the facility's equipment.

No appointment is required, but wait times vary by location and time of day. Visiting early in the morning on a weekday usually means a shorter wait. There is no fee for an address change.

If you have a commercial driver's license, you must visit in person. Online and mail changes do not work for CDLs.

What Happens If Your License or ID Is Expired

If your license or ID expired within the last year, you can still change the address using any of the three methods above. If it expired more than one year ago, you must renew it instead. The renewal process includes updating your address, so you will fill in your new address on the renewal process.

Renewal requires visiting a facility in person or mailing in a renewal process with new documents. The cost is higher than an address-only change. If you are past the one-year mark, contact the Secretary of State or visit a facility to start the renewal process.

Changing Your Address and Your Name at the Same Time

If you have changed your name since your license or ID was issued, you must visit a Driver Services facility in person. Bring your current license or ID, proof of your new name, and proof of your new address. Proof of name change is a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Proof of address is a utility bill, lease, or government mail dated within the last 60 days.

The facility will process both changes at once. You will receive a new card with your updated name and address. There is no additional fee beyond the standard address change cost, which is nothing.

Finding a Driver Services Facility and Hours

Illinois has Driver Services facilities in most counties. Use the facility locator on the Illinois Secretary of State website to find the one nearest you and check its hours. Some facilities have limited hours or are closed on certain days, so confirm before you go.

Facilities in larger cities are usually busier than those in smaller towns. If you have flexibility, visiting a facility outside your when ready area may mean a shorter wait. All facilities can process address changes, so location does not affect what you can do.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get my new card after I change my address?

Online and mail changes take seven to ten business days for the new card to arrive. In-person changes at a facility may give you the card when ready if the facility has a card printer, or mail it within seven to ten days if it does not. Call ahead to ask if your local facility prints cards on site.

Do I need to change my address with the Illinois Secretary of State if I already changed it with my vehicle registration?

Yes. Your driver's license address and your vehicle registration address are separate records. Changing one does not change the other. You must update both if you want both to reflect your new address.

What if I moved out of state but still have an Illinois license?

You can change your address to an out-of-state address online or by mail using the same process. Illinois will mail your new card to that address. However, if you now live in another state permanently, you should eventually get a driver's license from that state instead.

Can I change my address if my license is suspended or revoked?

You can change your address online or by mail even if your license is suspended or revoked. In-person changes at a facility may be restricted depending on the reason for the suspension or revocation. Call the Secretary of State at 217-782-6900 to confirm before visiting a facility.

Is there a fee to change my address?

No. Address changes are free whether you do them online, by mail, or in person. You only pay a fee if you are renewing your license or ID at the same time, which is a separate transaction.