A REAL ID in Illinois costs the same as a standard driver’s license: $30 for most adults ages 21 to 68. If you already hold a valid Illinois license or state ID that won’t expire for more than a year, you can convert it to a REAL ID for a flat $5. Drivers under 21 or over 68 pay less, and applicants 87 and older pay nothing.
Driver’s License Fees by Age
Illinois sets driver’s license fees by age, and the REAL ID version costs no more than a standard license at any age:
- Ages 18 to 20: $5
- Ages 21 to 68: $30
- Ages 69 to 80: $5
- Ages 81 to 86: $2
- Age 87 and older: Free
A motorcycle endorsement adds $5 to the base license fee.1ILSOS.gov. Fees – ILSOS.gov
State ID Card Fees
If you don’t drive, a REAL ID-compliant state identification card works the same way at airport checkpoints and federal buildings. A five-year state ID costs $20 for adults ages 18 to 64 and $5 for applicants under 18. Anyone 65 or older gets a state ID free.
Illinois also waives the state ID fee for residents who are homeless and for residents with disabilities. The disability waiver requires a Disabled ID Form.1ILSOS.gov. Fees – ILSOS.gov
The $5 Conversion Option
If your current Illinois driver’s license or state ID won’t expire for more than a year, you can upgrade it to a REAL ID for a flat $5. Your expiration date stays the same, so you don’t lose any time on your existing card.2ILSOS.gov. REAL ID – ILSOS.gov
For most adults between 21 and 68, this is the cheapest route. Instead of paying $30 at renewal, you pay $5 now and gather the required documents on your own schedule.
Replacement and Correction Fees
Lost, stolen, or damaged cards carry their own fees:
- Duplicate driver’s license or permit: $5
- Corrected driver’s license or permit, ages 81 to 86: $2
- Corrected driver’s license or permit, age 87 and older: Free
- Duplicate state ID card: $20
- Duplicate state ID card, under age 18: $5
- Duplicate state ID card, age 60 and older if lost or stolen: Free
- Duplicate state ID card, stolen with police report: Free
- Duplicate state ID card, active-duty military, spouse, or dependents: Free
A corrected state ID card costs $10 for adults, $5 for applicants under 18, and is free for anyone 65 or older.1ILSOS.gov. Fees – ILSOS.gov
How You Can Pay
Secretary of State facilities accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and electronic checks. A processing fee applies to credit card transactions. The processor fee for e-checks is currently being waived, so that’s the cheaper option if you want to avoid the surcharge.3ILSOS.gov. Duplicate Driver’s License or ID Card – ILSOS.gov
What to Bring So the Fee Actually Gets You a Card
A REAL ID application must be made in person, and every document must be original and unexpired. Photocopies and phone images aren’t accepted. You’ll need:
- One document proving identity, date of birth, and lawful status, such as an unexpired U.S. passport or a U.S. birth certificate.
- One document showing your Social Security number, such as a Social Security card or a W-2.
- Two documents proving Illinois residency, such as a utility bill and a bank statement showing your current address.
- One document bearing your written signature.
If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your identity document, bring paperwork linking the two, like a marriage certificate or court-ordered name change. The Illinois Secretary of State publishes an interactive checklist on its REAL ID website that confirms which specific documents qualify before you make the trip.2ILSOS.gov. REAL ID – ILSOS.gov
You’ll leave the facility with a temporary paper ID, and your permanent card with the gold star arrives by mail in roughly 15 business days. The temporary paper version is not accepted as federal identification at TSA checkpoints or federal facilities, so apply well ahead of any travel.2ILSOS.gov. REAL ID – ILSOS.gov