With new federal Real ID requirements now in place, smaller DMVs in Illinois are suddenly becoming popular destinations—especially the one in Aledo.
The Mercer County facility is seeing visitors from across the state, including metro areas like Chicago, drawn by reports of shorter lines and more personal service. Aledo Police Chief Trevor Fisk says it’s no surprise the word has gotten out.
“We feel that Aledo is very fortunate to have the Secretary of State’s office in Aledo. So my conversation with the landlord is that I hope that they can work it out and maintain this facility in this city. And that affects their ability to fly, you know, to go to the airport and use their real IDs and stuff like that. So I don’t doubt that people are coming this far out to do that. Plus, it’s a smaller facility.”
The Real ID is now required to fly domestically without a passport or enter certain federal buildings. You may be subject to extra screening without the Real ID.