Need a driver’s license? You’ll have to make an appointment at Belleville office

Residents who use the Belleville and Bethalto driver’s license facilities will soon be required to make an appointment for certain services, the state announced Wednesday.

Appointments will be required for behind-the-wheel road tests, REAL IDs, standard driver’s licenses and ID cards beginning in January.

Vehicle services, such as renewing a license plate sticker or applying for a vehicle title, do not require an appointment.

In the meantime, customers’ ability to complete some tasks virtually will be expanded.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said in a news release the change is necessitated by the renewed increase in COVID-19 cases and high customer volume facilities in the central and southern part of the state.

The appointment requirement is tentatively scheduled to begin on Jan. 11 at the Bethalto office at 20 Terminal Drive, Suite 103, East Alton.

Appointments will be necessary as of Jan. 13 at the Belleville office at 400 W. Main St.

Go to ilsos.gov to schedule an appointment up to 10 days in advance during this phase of the program. New appointment slots will be available each day at ilsos.gov.

Many small, rural facilities will not require the appointment system because they do not experience the heavy customer volume that large facilities encounter.

Normal business hours will remain the same: Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

White’s office is expanding remote renewal for driver’s license and ID card holders.

During this fall and through the end of 2021, the office is mailing letters to eligible customers with expired driver’s licenses and ID cards requiring them to renew online, by phone or by mail. The office estimates that this will eliminate the need for approximately 1 million people to visit a facility.

The state has extended all driver’s license and ID card expiration dates to Jan. 1, 2022. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses and commercial learner’s permits.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023.