Chicago
Secretary of State to close Loop REAL ID Supercenter on Dec. 28
The downtown site that processed more than 175,000 REAL IDs will shut at the end of the year as demand falls, and Chicago-area residents will need to use regular DMV facilities.
Prairie Record, published
The Illinois Secretary of State’s office will close its REAL ID Supercenter in the Loop at the end of business on Monday, Dec. 28, saying demand for the federally compliant cards has dropped.1, 2 Workers at the site will be reassigned to other DMV facilities in Illinois.1, 2
The supercenter, at 191 N. Clark St., opened in March 2025, two months before the federal deadline for REAL IDs.1 It processed more than 175,000 REAL IDs, according to the office.1, 2
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias described the site as a response to one of the busiest stretches in his office’s history.1, 2 “The REAL ID Supercenter is an example of what government can accomplish when we recognize a challenge and act decisively to put people first,” he said in a statement.1, 2 “We faced an extraordinary moment at one of the busiest times in the office’s history and instead of allowing residents to face long lines, confusion and frustration, we developed an innovative and efficient solution that became a model for the nation.”1, 2
What changes for residents
After Dec. 28, people who need a REAL ID can still get one at other DMV facilities across Illinois, Giannoulias’ office said.1 The card must be applied for in person.1
Applicants must bring proof of identity, such as a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport, along with proof of a full Social Security number, two current documents showing where they live, and proof of their signature, CBS News Chicago reported.1 People who have changed their names also need the documents showing the change.1
Where the cards are needed
REAL ID cards are required to get through airport security and to enter most federal buildings for people who do not use a U.S. passport, CBS reported.1 NBC Chicago noted that the cards are also needed at federal courthouses.2
Since Feb. 1, 2026, travelers who arrive at TSA checkpoints without a REAL ID or a passport have had to pay a $45 fee to confirm their identity.1
Illinois has issued more than 5.7 million REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state identification cards in all, according to the office’s figures cited by NBC.2
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