Secretary of State Driver Services

"This is the armpit of Illinois. The staff was rude and the lines were long and slow. The worst part is I had taken my 16 year old for his driving test. There were 6 teens and about 20 elderly waiting. We waited nearly 90 minutes for his turn. During that time, 4 kids failed. As the 4th came back in saying she failed I suggested to my son we leave. He insisted he felt confident about his abilities. I did too, but I didnt feel confident about their test. Off went my son and he failed too. Only 1 out of the 6 passed. A failure rate that high indicates that its a poor test. I drove the same route my son did and was stunned. This is a set-up for failure. Here is the secret. When you come to the intersection that has a left turn only AND a bike lane and youre told to go straight...drive through the bike lane. I drove the same route my son did and was stunned. This is a set-up for failure. I even had to give pause before knowing where to drive and Im a cop and in my 50s! We went to Schaumburg the next day and it was a lovely experience. Everyone is nice and the lines moved quickly. He got a perfect score on his driving test and his evaluator even played along with the joke when my son told me he failed. Avoid the Rockford SOS as it is a special slice of Hell!"

"Its good that appointments can be scheduled online. The people working there have always been friendly and nice. Today, the person helping me was not mean or rude to me -- but I could not hear or understand much of anything she was saying. I recognized her from prior visits to this facility -- and she is always wearing a mask and gloves. I dont fault her for wanting to protect her health. But the inability to read lips, combined with the glass divider between us, and the music playing in the background of the facility, also combined with all of the normal noise of a public place like a DMV -- I could not hear a darn thing she was saying, and I couldnt try to read lips or take visual cues due to the mask either. Could you guys at least get rid of the music playing there? Its hard enough already to hear someone behind a glass divider. I dont have degraded hearing either... Additionally, I was absolutely floored today that I was unable to update the beneficiary on a vehicle title, without going somewhere else to get a Notary Signature. Isnt the DMV/SOS the place -- LITERALLY -- that verifies and issues IDs? But you require forms with a Notary Signature, which you cant do at the SOS office? Insane!"

"Took 2 weeks of checking daily for open appts to make one at ANY DMV! (PITA)... Finally secured one in Rockford over 70 miles from where I live (Drove 1.5 hrs to get there) We were prepared & on time, made it thru the line pretty fast... but then we had to wait forever for an available instructor for the road test. At 430pm we were turned away & told they dont do road tests after 430pm. This is something they should consider when allowing this type of appt to be made online. We were however also told to come back today; no appt needed for my sons road test. (He Passed). It wasnt the worst experience... please were very nice... Just super inconvenient and tucked up time along with my gas tank!!!"