Illinois Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias, has announced the expansion of online services for the “Skip the Line, Do It Online” program in an effort to save taxpayers’ time and reduce long queues at driver and motor vehicles services facilities, commonly known as the DMV. Giannoulias urged motorists to avoid visiting the DMV unless absolutely necessary, as most services can now be conveniently accessed online, by mail, or through telephone transactions.
The expanded online services include a website portal that helps customers determine the specific service they need and the subsequent steps required. For those instances when an in-person visit is necessary, appointments can now be made online, with text message reminders sent to customers to confirm or cancel their appointments. The program has also introduced separate telephone lines dedicated to addressing the questions of seniors and teens.
To further streamline the process, new facilities have been opened in the Chicagoland area to cater to specific, time-consuming activities. This includes four stations reserved for seniors and their needs, as well as four others set aside for individuals requiring road tests for license renewal.
Giannoulias emphasized that motorists with clean driving records between the ages of 21 and 78 should only need to visit a driver’s facility once every 12 years. Since the launch of the program in September, the secretary of state has successfully served 800,000 motorists by appointment, resulting in minimal wait times.
Out of the 2.25 million drivers needing license renewals this year, 1 million can complete the process online, through the mail, or by phone. Similarly, 10 million vehicle registration renewals can be done through these alternative methods. Despite these convenient options, last year, over half of the 1 million people eligible for remote license renewal still visited a state facility, and 3 million made special trips for an annual license plate sticker. Giannoulias aims to put an end to these unnecessary visits and reduce the time wasted by Illinoisans in line or making unnecessary trips to the DMV for basic government services.
To address the problem of no-shows for online appointments, the program has introduced text messaging reminders. This alerts customers to appointments they may have forgotten or no longer wish to keep, allowing them to cancel and confirm the appointments accordingly. This feature aims to alleviate the burden on secretary of state employees caused by a significant number of missed appointments.
With the expansion of online services and the implementation of appointment reminders, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office seeks to provide a more efficient and convenient experience for motorists in need of DMV services. By embracing technology and reducing the need for in-person visits, the program aims to save taxpayers’ time and improve overall customer satisfaction.
