Moving to Illinois, REAL ID and renewals

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state how long a new resident may drive on an out-of-state or foreign license.
• You can explain what replaced the Temporary Visitor Driver's License.
• You can list the documents needed for a first REAL ID card.
• You can explain how long an Illinois license lasts and how early you can renew.
• You can explain when a renewal requires a driving exam.

What you need to know and understand

• New residents with a valid license from another state or country must get an Illinois license within 90 days, or before their license expires if that is sooner.
• Since July 1, 2024 Illinois no longer issues Temporary Visitor Driver's Licenses; people who were eligible can apply for a standard license.
• Since May 7, 2025 a REAL ID or another accepted document such as a U.S. passport is needed to board domestic flights; a standard card still works for driving and general ID.
• Most licenses last four years and expire on your birthday; under-21 licenses expire three months after the 21st birthday.
• You can renew up to one year before a two- or four-year license expires.
• Licenses are valid for two years at ages 81 to 86 and must be renewed every year from 87.
• Under the 2026 Rules of the Road, drivers 87 and older, or turning 87 at renewal, must take a driving exam.
• You must tell the SOS about an address change within 10 days and a legal name change within 30 days.

New to Illinois

Once you move here permanently, your out-of-state or foreign license is valid only for 90 days, or until it expires if sooner. Visitors passing through and out-of-state college students can keep driving on their home license, as can active duty military members, their spouses and dependent children.

To switch, visit an SOS Driver Services facility with documents proving your name, date of birth, Social Security number, residency and signature, and take any required exams. Former Temporary Visitor Driver's License holders now apply for a standard license. Check with the SOS which exams you will need, and see our deeper guide on licenses for new residents and visitors.

Standard card or REAL ID

Both cards cost the same and both let you drive. You only need REAL ID if you want to use your license to board domestic flights or enter military bases and secure federal facilities and you do not have a valid U.S. passport or passport card. For a first REAL ID, bring:

• Proof of identity, including U.S. citizenship or lawful status.
• Proof of your full Social Security number.
• Two current documents proving Illinois residency.
• Proof of signature.
• Certified name change documents if your name differs from your birth certificate.

Renewing your license

The SOS usually mails a renewal notice about 90 days before expiry, but renewing on time is your responsibility even if no letter arrives. Eligible drivers can renew online with a PIN from their notice; others visit a facility, pay the fee, have a new photo taken and take any required exams. You receive a temporary paper license valid for 90 days, and the permanent card is mailed, usually within 15 business days.

Drivers with no traffic convictions skip the eight-yearly written exam. From July 1, 2026, a state law raised the age for a mandatory renewal road test from 79 to 87, so drivers aged 79 to 86 no longer take an automatic driving test at renewal, although vision screening still applies. Check with the SOS for the full rules for older drivers.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until your old license expires after moving. You have 90 days, or less if it expires sooner.
• Bringing one proof of address for REAL ID. You need two.
• Relying on the renewal letter. If you moved without telling the SOS, it may never arrive.
• Relying on the temporary paper license at the airport. TSA accepts only the permanent REAL ID card, so the paper version can leave you paying TSA's extra fee.

Test yourself: Moving to Illinois, REAL ID and renewals

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Illinois TVDL Replaced
• Illinois Instruction Permit at 15
• Illinois 50-Hour Driving Log