Do I Have To Make An Appointment For The DMV Illinois

Everyone knows that it’s a real pain in the behind to visit the DMV, mainly for their notoriously and often-mocked wait times and superbly slow service. Thankfully, most state DMVs are now beginning to fix this issue by allowing folks like you and me to book appointments far ahead of time, which does help to reduce those long wait times and prevent you from needing to wait in line for hours at a time. However, do I have to make an appointment for the Illinois DMV?

Well, the short answer is ‘Maybe’, because different types of DMV-related services may or may not require you to make an appointment beforehand prior to visiting the Illinois DMV, as some of their services can be done on a walk-in basis. For example, renewing your driver’s license at the Illinois DMV could be done on a walk-in basis, but applying for a Real ID would require you to make an appointment ahead of time.

So, with that in mind, here are all the DMV-related services that you can get done at the DMV, which I’ve split into what DOES and what DOESN’T require appointments:

1) What Services Do Require Appointments?

If you’re planning to drop by the Illinois DMV to get these services done, be warned that you’ll have to make an appointment ahead of visiting them in person:

• Road Tests – You’ll need to make an appointment if you’re taking the road tests, and it applies to all drivers. So, regardless of whether you’re taking the road test for the first time ever, or if you’re trying to apply for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or a motorcycle license.
• Real ID Application – The process for applying for a Real ID is way more thorough than a lot of people might think. As such, given the specific documents that you’ll have to bring, as well as the extensive verification process needed, you’ll need to make an appointment for this.
• Driver’s License Reinstatement – This applies if you need to go through a hearing to get your driver’s license reinstated.
• Out-of-State Transfers – You’ll also need to make an appointment if you plan on transferring an out-of-state driver’s license or a vehicle registration. This is mostly because of just how complex the verification process is.
• New Driver’s License Applications – If you’re applying for a driver’s license for the first time, and that’s especially so for minors, it’s best to make an appointment ahead of time.
• CDL-Related Services – Anything related to a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), that would include issuance, renewals, or endorsements, the extensive testing and abundance of paperwork involved requires that you make an appointment ahead of time.

2) What Services Don’t Require Appointments?

Meanwhile, here are the Illinois DMV services that you don’t have to make an appointment for, and could be completed on a walk-in basis:

• Driver’s License Renewal – Most DMV offices and locations in Illinois allow folks to renew their driver’s licenses on a walk-in basis. However, I’d highly advise contacting the local DMV office to confirm 100% whether or not this could be done at their location.
• Vehicle Registration Renewal – Usually, renewing your vehicle’s registration paperwork can be done on a walk-in basis, so you won’t have to make an appointment at the Illinois DMV for this.
• Duplicating A License Or ID Card – Similarly, if you want to obtain a duplicate driver’s license or state ID card, you won’t have to make an appointment for it, too.
• Address Or Name Changes – Most slight updates and changes to your personal information on file, including name or address changes, can be done without having to make an appointment.
• Other License Plate Services – Additionally, most services related to your license plates, such as renewing your plates or buying new ones, can be completed on a walk-in basis, too.

So, now that we’ve looked at what kind of services you have to make an appointment for at the Illinois DMV, how do you go about scheduling an appointment, anyway? Well, here’s what you have to do to schedule an appointment, which can be done pretty easily:

3) How To Schedule An Appointment At The Illinois DMV?

1. First off, you’ll have to go to the official Illinois Secretary of State’s website and head on to the DMV section.
2. Now, when you’re on the homepage, look for a tab called “Services” or “Appointments”. When you’ve found it, click on it to access the Illinois DMV’s appointment scheduling system.
3. From the provided list of services, select the service you’re looking to get from the Illinois DMV. These will include the aforementioned selection of services, like driver’s license renewals or any other vehicle-related services, such as registration renewals.
4. The Illinois DMV’s appointment scheduling system will now ask you to choose a location. This is where you could pick any DMV office within the state of Illinois that’s most convenient for you. It would even single out all the DMV offices that only offer the services you picked earlier.
5. Then, you’ll be shown a list of the available timeslots. From here, all you need to do is pick the time and date that best fits your schedule, and the DMV will even show open appointments in real time.
6. Next up, you’ll be asked to fill out your personal information, such as your contact details, your name, and anything else related to the services that you’re scheduling an appointment for.
7. Last but not least, the Illinois DMV’s appointment scheduling system will ask you to review all the information that you typed in earlier to make sure that it’s accurate. So, take a moment to double-check this, and click on the final submission button to schedule your appointment. You will also get an email confirmation in your inbox to confirm your appointment at the DMV.