How to Replace a Lost Driver’s License in Illinois

Replacing a lost driver’s license in Illinois costs $5 for most drivers, and you can handle it online through the Secretary of State’s duplicate portal or in person at any Driver Services facility.¹ Online takes minutes if you qualify. In person gets you a temporary paper license the same day, good for 90 days while your permanent card is printed and mailed.

What to Bring

A duplicate replacement is lighter on paperwork than your first Illinois license was. If nothing on the card is changing, you only need one document from Group A, which proves your signature.² A current or recently expired U.S. passport works. So does a canceled check dated within 90 days, or a credit card carrying your signature.

Your date of birth, Social Security number, and residency are already on file from the original application, so a straight replacement doesn’t require reproving them. The full four-group document scheme only applies to first-time Illinois applicants.²

Changing your address at the same time? Bring one Group D document showing the new residence. Utility bills, bank statements dated within 90 days, and government mail to the current address all qualify.

If you still have a damaged or partial copy of your old license, bring that too. Facility staff will verify and return it once the electronic record is updated.

Fees and Who Pays Nothing

The standard duplicate fee is $5 regardless of license class.¹ A few groups get the replacement free:

Drivers age 60 and older, when the license was lost or stolen.
Active-duty military members, along with their spouses and dependent children living with the member.
Anyone whose license was stolen who brings a police report to the facility.

These waivers cover duplicates specifically. A full renewal is a separate transaction with its own fee.¹

Replacing It Online

The online duplicate portal is the fastest route, but the eligibility list is long. You cannot use it if any of the following apply:³

Your license is suspended, revoked, or canceled.
Your license expires within the next 30 days.
You owe a reinstatement fee.
You’ve already changed your address online or by mail.
You hold a license in another state.
You need the replacement mailed to a temporary address.
You need any changes to the information on your license.
You’ve already gotten 3 replacements in the past 12 months or 10 in your lifetime.

If none of that applies, submit the request through the Secretary of State’s website. The system validates your identity against existing records, takes payment, and sends the print job through. Your permanent card comes by mail.

Replacing It in Person

Not eligible online? Visit any Secretary of State Driver Services facility. Check in at the information desk, present your Group A document, and staff will match it to your existing record. You’ll have a new photo taken, since Illinois moved to centralized card production in July 2016 and no permanent cards are printed on site.⁴ You’ll leave with a temporary paper license and a confirmation receipt.

Your Temporary License

The temporary paper document you receive at the facility is valid for 90 days. The Secretary of State treats it as both a driving credential and a form of identification, with your photo and basic information printed on it.⁴

One important boundary: TSA does not accept temporary driver’s licenses at airport security checkpoints.⁵ If you have travel coming up, ask the facility to return your old license. The Department of Homeland Security allows you to board a domestic flight using your expired or old license alongside the temporary while you wait for the permanent card.⁴

Expect the permanent card within 15 business days.⁶ If it hasn’t arrived by then, contact the Secretary of State’s office to track it.

Driving While You Wait

Illinois law requires you to carry your driver’s license whenever you’re behind the wheel and to produce it for any officer who asks. Driving without it can result in a citation, but the statute includes a defense: you cannot be convicted if you show up in court with proof that a valid license had been issued to you at the time of the stop.⁷

Once you have the temporary paper license, it satisfies the possession requirement. The risk window is the stretch between losing the card and getting to a facility. During that gap, keep any documentation you have in the car — an expired license, a passport, anything that shows your name and photo. It doesn’t guarantee you avoid a ticket, but officers have discretion.

If Your License Was Stolen

A stolen license is more than a paperwork problem. The card carries your full name, date of birth, address, and often your signature, which is enough raw material for someone to attempt identity fraud. File a police report right away. Beyond triggering the free replacement at the Secretary of State’s office, the report creates a paper trail if your information is later misused.¹

Consider a fraud alert with Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion; contacting one bureau automatically notifies the other two. A fraud alert is free and requires creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts. If someone is already using your information, you can file a report and follow a guided recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC’s dedicated portal. A credit freeze is stronger, blocking new credit applications entirely until you lift it.

Upgrading to REAL ID at the Same Time

REAL ID enforcement for domestic air travel began on May 7, 2025, so a standard Illinois license no longer clears TSA on its own.⁸ Replacing a lost card is a reasonable moment to handle the upgrade.

If you already hold a REAL ID and just need a duplicate, the paperwork is the same as any other duplicate: one Group A document.² Moving from a standard license to a REAL ID for the first time takes more. You’ll need one document each from Groups A, B, and C, plus two from Group D. Group B covers date of birth (a certified birth certificate or passport). Group C covers your Social Security number (your Social Security card or a W-2). Group D is two separate proofs of your current address.

Every document for a REAL ID upgrade must be an original or a certified copy. Photocopies won’t be accepted. The Secretary of State’s document requirements guide lists every acceptable item by group.²

If You’re Out of State

Lost your Illinois license while traveling or temporarily living elsewhere? The online portal is the best option, assuming you meet the eligibility rules.³ The replacement goes to the address on your existing record, not a temporary one. If you need it sent somewhere else, online isn’t available and you’ll have to visit an Illinois facility in person.

Active-duty military members stationed outside Illinois face the same online restrictions but keep the fee waiver for themselves and their dependents.¹ If the online portal isn’t open to you, the replacement waits until you can reach an Illinois Driver Services facility. Illinois doesn’t currently offer a mail-in replacement process for standard licenses.

1
Illinois Secretary of State. Fees
2
Illinois Secretary of State. Document Requirements to Obtain a Driver’s License/State ID Card
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Illinois Secretary of State. Duplicate Driver’s License or ID Card
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Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Information
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
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Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Renewal
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Illinois General Assembly. 625 ILCS 5/6-114 – Duplicate and Corrected Licenses and Permits
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID