Metro East Sun

The deadline to renew expired Illinois drivers licenses, learner's permits, and ID cards is now a little more than two months away after it was extended an additional three months to March 31, 2022 at the end of last year. 

State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) issued a reminder to constituents about the upcoming deadline and encouraged people to utilize the online renewal tool.

"With the predicted surge in COVID-10 cases around the state, it's important to take as many steps to slow the spread of the disease as much as we can," Turner said in a Dec. 20, 2021 press release.

Commercial driver's licenses and permits were not included in the deadline extension. According to the Illinois Secretary of State's Office website, people whose regular driver's license, instructional permit, or identification card expired between Jan. 1, 2020 and March 31 of this year have until the end of March to renew it.

"Many services have been made available online, so I encourage you to take full advantage of the new extension and the secretary of state's website," Turner said in the press release.

Secretary of State Jesse White said the most recent deadline extension would be the last. 

"During the pandemic, my office has continued to serve the public, including face-to-face transactions, in a safe and responsible manner," White stated in a Dec. 17 press release. "This extension is necessary as my office continues to address the heavy customer volume caused by the COVID-19 pandemic through expanded online services and the introduction of appointments at select Driver Services facilities."

There are some services that need to be handled in-person at a state driver's license facility which includes: applying for the federal REAL ID driver's license or card, permit renewals, school bus permit holders, commercial driver's license with HAZMAT endorsements, a new prescription for glasses or contacts since the last renewal, or you hold a driver's license from a different state. 

The complete list of scenarios that need to be dealt with at a Secretary of State facility can be found online.

Drivers services facility closures were extended another week in an effort to combat the increase in positive COVID-19 cases. According to a press release, the facilities are scheduled to reopen for in-person services on Jan. 24.