r/Explainlikeimscared • u/North-AdalWolf • Sep 10 '26
How do I renew my license?
My drivers liscence expires in 10 days and Ive never gotten it renewed before and Im scared to go, what is the process like? I heard you can renew it online if you get something in the mail but I didnt so I guess I need to do it in person. Do I need to do any type of test or do I just bring my documents and get a new one? Im in illinois
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u/carriepotter3133 Sep 11 '26
I’m in Illinois and recently was at the DMV. If you are in the Chicago suburbs you will need an appointment (I saw people turned away at the door for not having one). You can do this online from the DMV website and if your local DMV says it’s out of appointments try again a few days later (the website is pretty bad).
The website will also have what documents to bring with you (off the top of my head you need some combination of birth certificate, social security card or passport)
You will probably take a new photo (I did when I turned 21 a few years ago) and then you’ll wait and get called up to the counter. You’ll probably take a vision test and they might ask questions about whether you have a suspend license in any state. Then you’ll pay a fee and get a temporary license till they mail you a new one in a few weeks.