driver's license renewal (Naperville, Bridgeview: living, move, suburbs)

[Gemini1963]

We need to renew our expired licenses and we also want to convert over to Real IDs. I know we have a long grace period to do this, due to COVID. We both need to do vision exams and one of us needs to take a written test. The downtown SoS office does not offer those services. We went to the Bridgeview office yesterday but the block was (no exaggeration) two blocks long and we drove away. Then, living south as we do, we tried Orland, but it was "permanently closed." That's when we decided we were not going get our licenses renewed that day....

Does anyone have any recent experience renewing a license at a SoS facility that was not SO crowded? If so, where? We would not mind driving out the suburbs some morning if we had a hope it would be better than what we saw yesterday.

Thank you.

[Sunbiz1]

I live near one way out in the suburbs, and every time I drive by; the parking lot is MUCH fuller than pre-covid levels.
Leading me to believe all of them are back logged/playing catch-up.
Good thing you don't have to do a road test.

[Gemini1963]

Originally Posted by Sunbiz1

.
Good thing you don't have to do a road test.

No kidding!

Thanks for the information. We tried Naperville this morning - every bit as bad as Bridgeview. This time we did get out of the car and waited at the back of a really long line that did not move at all in the 15 minutes we stood there. When we decided we did not want to spend hours and hours there, we left, and as we returned to the car, I counted 97 different parties in line (some singles, some couples, some trios). I've heard that late in the day, getting there at about 3pm, is better, so we may try that next. Also, today is the last day when new drivers and license renewals are given priority, according to the SoS website. I wonder if the passing of that deadline might somehow improve things. (I realize how unlikely that is. Probably the opposite will happen. Oh well.)

Anyway, thanks again for the reply.

[Sunbiz1]

Originally Posted by Gemini1963

No kidding!

Thanks for the information. We tried Naperville this morning - every bit as bad as Bridgeview. This time we did get out of the car and waited at the back of a really long line that did not move at all in the 15 minutes we stood there. When we decided we did not want to spend hours and hours there, we left, and as we returned to the car, I counted 97 different parties in line (some singles, some couples, some trios). I've heard that late in the day, getting there at about 3pm, is better, so we may try that next. Also, today is the last day when new drivers and license renewals are given priority, according to the SoS website. I wonder if the passing of that deadline might somehow improve things. (I realize how unlikely that is. Probably the opposite will happen. Oh well.)

Anyway, thanks again for the reply.

Due to them being closed, thousands could not renew.
What they should have done, and could still do; is extend all expiration/renewal for another year.
But this would make too much sense.
I'd hold off until Fall before wasting yet more time, hopefully by then they'll be caught up.

[BOBNCHI]

Originally Posted by Gemini1963

No kidding!

Thanks for the information. We tried Naperville this morning - every bit as bad as Bridgeview. This time we did get out of the car and waited at the back of a really long line that did not move at all in the 15 minutes we stood there. When we decided we did not want to spend hours and hours there, we left, and as we returned to the car, I counted 97 different parties in line (some singles, some couples, some trios). I've heard that late in the day, getting there at about 3pm, is better, so we may try that next. Also, today is the last day when new drivers and license renewals are given priority, according to the SoS website. I wonder if the passing of that deadline might somehow improve things. (I realize how unlikely that is. Probably the opposite will happen. Oh well.)

Anyway, thanks again for the reply.

Expired DL's are currently good until Nov 1 and certainly waiting until October is a option. What I've done in the past when there were long lines for whatever reason, was to get up early and be one of the first in line. Afterwards I rewarded myself to a nice breakfast!

[Gemini1963]

Thanks very much, Sunbiz1 and BOBNCHI. I may try BOTH ideas -- wait till the fall and try to be among the first. I like the breakfast-reward idea. (This is also how we get through colonoscopies in our household.... TMI? Yes. Oh well.)

I know I have until Nov. 1 but if I happen to take a road trip, I'd rather not have to explain about how my license "isn't really expired," if something goes wrong out of state. Ugh.

I agree that a 1-year extension would have been easiest.

Thanks again!