An Illinois Secretary of State address change must be filed within 10 days of moving, and the update is free when you do it online.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/6-116 – Notice of Change of Residence Address or Legal Name The change covers two separate records: your driver’s license or state ID, and your vehicle registration. They live in different databases, so you have to update each one.2Illinois Secretary of State. Address Change
The 10-Day Deadline
The clock starts the day you establish your new residence. For a driver’s license or state ID, 625 ILCS 5/6-116 requires written notice to the Driver Services Department showing your old address, new address, and license or permit number.1Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/6-116 – Notice of Change of Residence Address or Legal Name A parallel 10-day requirement applies to vehicle registration under 625 ILCS 5/3-416.3Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/3-416 – Notice of Change of Address or Name
Because the two records are separate, running through the online portal once isn’t enough. Update the license record, then update the vehicle record.
Commercial driver’s license holders have an extra step. Beyond the 10-day notification, a CDL holder must appear at a Driver Services facility in person within 30 days to get a corrected CDL hard card.4Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Information
What to Have Ready
Pull these together before you open the form:
- Your full legal name, date of birth, and the number on your current Illinois driver’s license, permit, or state ID card.
- Both your old and new residential addresses. If your mailing address is different from your physical residence, you’ll enter both.
- For the vehicle side: your license plate number and the last four digits of the Vehicle Identification Number, which appear on the registration card or your insurance documents.
Typos here can delay future renewal mailings and title paperwork, so double-check what you enter.
How to Submit the Change
Online
The Secretary of State’s address change portal is at apps.ilsos.gov/addrchange. There is no fee for the online update.2Illinois Secretary of State. Address Change Complete the process once for the license or state ID, then again for the vehicle registration. Save the confirmation page as your receipt.
By Mail
A downloadable PDF form is posted on the Secretary of State’s website. Print it, fill in your old and new addresses, and mail it to the Driver Services Department in Springfield at the address printed on the form.
In Person
Any Driver Services facility can process the update. An in-person visit makes sense if you also want a corrected physical card, since that visit requires ID documents in any case.
Do You Need a New Card?
Updating your address in the state database does not automatically produce a new card. Your existing license or ID stays valid through its expiration date as long as the electronic record shows the correct address.
If you want a physical card that reflects the new address, go to a Driver Services facility with acceptable identification and pay the correction fee: $5 for a driver’s license, $10 for a state ID card,4Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Information and $3 for a corrected vehicle registration card.
Most people wait until the next renewal cycle and skip the corrected card. That works for everyday use. Getting the corrected card earlier is worth it if renewal is close anyway, or if you need current proof of address for something else.
REAL ID Timing
Federal REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025. You now need a REAL ID-compliant license, or another acceptable document like a passport, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.5Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID If your current license isn’t REAL ID-compliant and you’re already heading in for a corrected card, this is a reasonable time to upgrade.
Illinois asks for two documents proving your current residential address for a REAL ID. Acceptable proofs include a utility bill, bank statement, or insurance policy dated within 90 days, paired with something like a mortgage document, lease agreement, or government mail showing your name and full address.6Illinois Secretary of State. Document Requirements to Obtain a Driver’s License or State ID Card Start setting aside qualifying mail as soon as you move so you’ll have the paperwork on hand.
Voter Registration Updates Automatically
You don’t need a separate voter registration update in most cases. Under the National Voter Registration Act, an address change filed through a state motor vehicle agency also updates your voter registration unless you opt out on the form.7U.S. Department of Justice. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) – Section: Overview This applies whether you file online, by mail, or in person.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 52 USC Chapter 205 – National Voter Registration
If you moved from another state, that transfer doesn’t apply. Voter registration is state-specific, so you’ll need to register as a new Illinois voter through your county clerk or the State Board of Elections.
What the Secretary of State Won’t Update
The Secretary of State’s address change reaches only your license, state ID, and vehicle registration. It does not forward mail, update your tax records, or change your auto insurance policy. File a separate change of address with the U.S. Postal Service, notify the IRS if you’re expecting a refund or between filing seasons, and call your insurer promptly, since a ZIP code change often affects your premium and an outdated address on the policy can complicate a claim.