‘Like a Food Truck:’ Illinois Lauches New Mobile DMV

Don't want to wait in line at the DMV? Illinois residents will soon be able to renew their drivers licenses in minutes, thanks to a new state initiative.

Going to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is not something I enjoy. It's sort of like going to the dentist's office. You know you need to go, but you definitely have no desire to do so. When I moved back to Indiana earlier in 2024, my wife and I had to visit the BMV to transfer our drivers licenses from Kentucky and register our out-of-state vehicles with Indiana. It was a lot of paper work, but I will say the team at the Princeton BMV did a wonderful job and really made it as painless as possible.

While I'm not sure what the wait times or service is like in Illinois for driver services, a new initiative will soon allow folks in the Prairie State to get their paper work done in "minutes." According to NBC Chicago, the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is set to roll out a brand-new "Mobile DMV," which will give Illinois residents the opportunity to go to the DMV without actually going to the DMV. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told the news outlet that the new operation will be similar to a food truck, but instead of slinging burritos and burgers, this truck will be dishing out things like driver's licenses, ID cards, vehicle registrations, and more.

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NBC Chicago reports that the first mobile DMV will launch this month in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Three additional units are expected to be up and running later in the summer, which will cover events across the state. Additionally, the mobile DMVs will be available anytime there is an unexpected closure at one of the brick-and-mortar locales.

To me, this sounds like a great idea. It will certainly help those who may not have regular transportation get an ID or register to vote. Although I'm skeptical that services will still be offered in a matter of minutes. We will just have to wait and see.