La Salle, Mendota DMV offices see increase in numbers since DMV in Ottawa closed

The DMV offices in La Salle and Mendota have serviced more patrons since Ottawa’s facility closed permanently Oct. 19.

The week of Oct. 19, news was announced that the Ottawa Driver Services facility located at 404 Stevenson Road would permanently close because the property's lease was not renewed by the owner.

Ottawa residents have been given the opportunity to travel to DMV locations at La Salle, Mendota, Streator and Morris since the Ottawa location was closed.

La Salle’s DMV saw 243 more people in November than it did in September.

Mendota’s DMV saw 11 more people in November than September (but saw 140 more people in October than September).

Since the Ottawa location closed, the Secretary of State's Office has narrowed the options down to a handful of prospective locations for a new driver services facility in Ottawa, but there's still no timetable for when it may open.

Henry Haupt, press secretary for Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, said finding a location in Ottawa remains a priority for the agency.

A lot of business at the driver services facility can be conducted through mail, including renewing registration stickers. To get a REAL ID, which is required by October 2020, residents must go in-person to the driver services facility.

Haupt said he didn't want to give a deadline, because he said there are many variables remaining. The department is looking at cost, location, ease of entrance, building size, layout and parking when picking a new location. Once a spot is found, the department also will have to come to an agreement, then may need to do more work to prepare the building for its use.

“All of that varies, because we could move in somewhere that requires a lot of work to get ready, or we find a place that's ready, but maybe it needs a new parking lot.”

For online services such as obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or identification card or purchasing a vehicle sticker, visit cyberdriveillinois.com.

Visitors by the numbers

Sept. Oct. Nov.

La Salle — 1,139 1,321 1,382

Mendota — 555 695 566

Streator — 619 849 837

Ottawa — 1,192**

** Facility closed Oct. 19. No figure was available for October or November.

Other area facilities Ottawa residents can visit:

La Salle: 536 Third St.

Streator: 201 Dannys Drive, Suite 6

Morris: 425 East Route 6

Mendota: 108 E. 12th St.