Des Plaines Secretary of State: Hours, Appointments & Services

The Des Plaines Secretary of State facility sits at 1533 Lee Street and operates by appointment only. It’s a full-service office, so you can handle driver’s license renewals, REAL ID applications, state ID cards, vehicle titles, registration stickers, and road tests all in one place. You just can’t walk in. Book online at ilsos.gov or by phone before you go.

Hours and Address

The facility is at 1533 Lee Street, Des Plaines, IL 60018, a short walk from the previous location. Since the April 2026 redesign, hours are:1Illinois Secretary of State. Find a DMV Service – Des Plaines

  • Tuesday through Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sunday, and Monday: closed

The office closes on standard Illinois government holidays, and hours occasionally shift. Confirm on the Secretary of State’s facility finder before heading over.

How to Book an Appointment

Every service at Des Plaines runs on a reservation. That includes licenses, REAL ID, state IDs, vehicle transactions, and driving tests.2Illinois Secretary of State. Giannoulias Implementing Skip-the-Line Program at Busiest DMVs

Two ways to book:

  • Online at ilsos.gov
  • By phone at (844) 817-4649

Check in with staff at the front when you arrive, and they’ll direct you to the right counter. Because the redesigned office handles multiple transaction types at a single counter, a combined visit (say, a license renewal plus a plate sticker) doesn’t send you between windows.3Illinois Secretary of State. Convenience Meets Innovation: Giannoulias Debuts Redesigned Des Plaines DMV Facility

Services Handled at Des Plaines

The office covers the complete Secretary of State menu:3Illinois Secretary of State. Convenience Meets Innovation: Giannoulias Debuts Redesigned Des Plaines DMV Facility

  • Driver’s license applications, renewals, duplicates, and classification changes
  • REAL ID driver’s licenses and state ID cards
  • State identification cards for non-drivers
  • Vehicle title transfers, registration renewals, and license plate stickers
  • Vision screenings, written knowledge exams, and behind-the-wheel road tests

REAL ID

Federal enforcement of REAL ID began May 7, 2025. If you want the gold-star license to board domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings, you have to apply in person; there’s no online option.4Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Renewal A valid U.S. passport still works at the airport if you’d rather skip the upgrade.5Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID

Senior Drivers

Renewal fees drop sharply with age: $5 for ages 69 through 80, $2 for 81 through 86, and free at 87 and older.6Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees Drivers 79 and older must take a driving test at renewal, so an in-person visit is required at that age.7Illinois Secretary of State. Resources for Seniors

What to Bring

Showing up short one document is the most common reason people leave without finishing. Read this section before you pack a folder.

For a Driver’s License or State ID

Illinois uses a Group system for a standard license or ID. You need documents from four groups:8Illinois Secretary of State. Document Requirements to Obtain a Driver’s License/State ID Card

  • Group A, written signature: one document, such as a current or recently expired Illinois license or a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or Diners Club).
  • Group B, date of birth and legal presence: one document with your full legal name and complete date of birth, such as a U.S. birth certificate or valid passport.
  • Group C, Social Security number: one document showing your name and full SSN, such as your Social Security card, a W-2, or a pay stub with the full number.
  • Group D, residency: two documents showing your current Illinois address, such as a utility bill or bank statement dated within 90 days.

REAL ID uses a separate numbered system (Groups 1 through 4) that overlaps but isn’t identical. Print the REAL ID checklist before you go.9Illinois Secretary of State. REAL ID Document Checklist

Documents must be originals or certified copies. Photocopies won’t be accepted. One document can sometimes cover more than one group, so check the list closely.

For a Vehicle Title or Registration

You’ll need an Application for Vehicle Transaction, Form VSD 190. Fill it out in advance through the Electronic Registration and Title (ERT) system on the Secretary of State’s website; you can print the completed form before your appointment.10Illinois Secretary of State. Electronic Registration and Title

Double-check the VIN and purchase price. Errors in either field slow things down because staff have to verify against the title. Bring the original signed title from the seller, proof of insurance, and your driver’s license. If you’re moving plates from an old vehicle, bring that registration card too.

Fees

Fees are set by the Illinois Vehicle Code and are identical statewide.6Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees

Driver’s License and ID

  • Standard 4-year license (original or renewal): $30
  • 8-year license (original or renewal): $60
  • Original license, ages 18 to 20: $5
  • Ages 69 to 80: $5
  • Ages 81 to 86: $2
  • Age 87 and older: free
  • First-time instruction permit, under 69: $20
  • Duplicate or corrected license: $5

Vehicles

  • Passenger vehicle plate renewal (annual sticker): $151
  • Motorcycle plate renewal: $41
  • Title and transfer on a vehicle purchase: $190 ($165 title plus $25 transfer)
  • Transfer only, moving plates to a new vehicle: $25

Plate renewal amounts vary by vehicle type; $151 is the standard passenger figure.11Illinois Secretary of State. Fees The $190 title-and-transfer fee applies to private-party purchases and covers both the title and the plate move.12Illinois Secretary of State. Transferring Plates

Payment

The facility accepts credit cards, checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders. Credit card payments carry a convenience fee the Secretary of State doesn’t publish prominently, so budget a few extra dollars if paying by card, or bring a check or money order made out to the Secretary of State.

When You Can Skip the Trip

If you received a renewal notice with a PIN or Renewal Authorization Number, a standard driver’s license or state ID can be renewed online. So can license plate stickers.4Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Renewal

You still have to come in person if any of these apply:

  • You want a REAL ID license or state ID.
  • You need to take a written exam or road test.
  • You need to submit an updated medical or vision report.
  • You’re adding a PO Box to your address.

For anyone eligible for the online path, that’s the quickest option. If not, book your Des Plaines appointment, gather your documents the night before, and you’ll be in and out at your scheduled time.