Updating Your Illinois License and Registration
Illinois law gives drivers 10 days to notify the Secretary of State of an address change, and the change has to be reflected on both the driver's license and the vehicle registration. Name changes have a similar requirement but trigger more documentation — Illinois treats a name change as a complete re-verification of identity.
Address change
Online
The fastest channel. Sign in to the Illinois SOS portal with your driver's license number and last four digits of your SSN. The system updates the SOS record immediately and prints an updated card in 15 business days. Free for the first change in a 12-month period; $5 thereafter.
By mail
Send Form DSD-AC-01 (Address Change Card) to the Driver Services Department in Springfield. Allow 4-6 weeks. Most drivers don't need this option since the online channel covers nearly every address change.
In person
Visit any Driver Services Facility with photo ID and proof of the new Illinois address (utility bill, bank statement, lease). The clerk updates the record and issues a sticker for the back of your existing license, with a permanent corrected card mailed in 15 business days. The first change is free; later changes within 12 months cost $5.
Address change on vehicle registration
The same SOS portal updates your vehicle registration address — it's a separate transaction from the license address change but uses the same login. The SOS will not mail you a new registration card automatically; the next renewal sticker arrives at the new address, but in the meantime you should print a confirmation receipt to keep in the vehicle. Cook County and Chicago drivers who move within their county should also update with the local Vehicle Wheel Tax administrator.
Name change after marriage, divorce, or court order
Illinois requires an in-person visit for any name change. Bring:
- Your current Illinois driver's license or state ID.
- A certified copy of the legal name-change document — marriage certificate, divorce decree, court-issued name change order, or naturalization certificate.
- Your Social Security card showing the new name (the SOS confirms with the SSA database, so your SSA record needs to match before you visit).
- Two proofs of Illinois residency in your new name, dated within the last 90 days.
- Payment for the corrected license fee (typically $5) and any photo retake fee.
The clerk takes a new photo and signature, prints a temporary paper license, and mails the permanent card in 15 business days. The new card carries the same expiration date as the old one — a name change isn't treated as a renewal.
Important: update SSA first
The Illinois SOS verifies your name and SSN with the Social Security Administration in real time during the in-person visit. If the SSA hasn't yet updated your record (it typically takes 2-4 weeks after you submit Form SS-5), the SOS visit will fail. Always update with the SSA first — it's free and can be done by mail or in person at a local SSA office.
What if you don't update?
An out-of-date address on file can cost you in several ways:
- Missed renewal notices for license or registration, leading to expired credentials and a $20 late fee.
- Missed jury-duty notices, which are mailed to the address on file with the SOS.
- Court summons and ticket notices not delivered, which can result in default convictions and a license suspension.
- Insurance verification mismatches that trigger an Illinois Insurance Verification Program letter.
Vehicle title address
The address on your vehicle title is set when the title was issued. Illinois doesn't automatically update the title address when you update the registration; you'd request a corrected title via Form VSD 333 ($50) only if the title address matters for a sale or refinance. Most drivers leave the title address as-is and let the registration update reflect their current address.
For a national overview of address-change rules, see our national DMV services hub.