A newly designed “one-stop-shop” DMV in suburban Des Plaines is now officially open to the public, according to the Illinois Secretary of State.
The new, “modernized” location, at 1533 Lee St., is steps away from the previous facility, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said during a news conference. The old location is set to close Friday.
The new DMV, Giannoulias said, will be “full service,” which means customers can make appointments for drivers licenses, state IDs, real IDs, behind-the-wheel road tests, vehicle registrations, renewals and more. Unlike most other DMVs, the new location will handle multiple transactions at one counter, Giannoulias said.
“No more bouncing from line to line,” Giannoulias said. “It’s faster, simpler and more efficient.”
The appointment-only, redesigned facility allowed for the location to double its employees and expand appointment slots, Giannoulias said.
“The opening of this redesigned Des Plaines facility is about rethinking how we deliver service to better meet people where they are,” Giannoulias said in a release. “With a more efficient layout and our One-Stop-Shop approach, we’re cutting down complexity, increasing access to appointments and making every visit quicker and easier for customers.”
According to Giannoulias, the Des Plaines DMV is among the busiest in the Chicago suburbs and in the state, with nearly 100,000 transactions in 2025 alone.
A similar streamlined model opened in Naperville earlier this year. The “one-stop-shop” model was first announced by Giannoulias in 2024, with his office noting that all new Illinois facilities would be built with it.
The new Des Plaines DMV is open from 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Customers are encouraged to schedule appointments at www.ilsos.gov or by calling 800‑252‑8980.
