Ever want to skip the line at the Illinois DMV? Now you can

Illinois department of motor vehicle offices are known for having long lines and wait times, but relief may be on the way.

Some offices are going appointment-only for certain services, and all offices will be open longer.

It's all part of Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias' "Skip-the-Line" program, aimed at improving customer service and reducing wait times.

Here's what you need to know.

What offices will take appointments?

Forty-four of the state's busiest offices will require appointments for those seeking the REAL ID, driver's license and ID card service and in-car driving tests.

Those offices include 3720 E. State St. in Rockford, 3311 N. Sterling Ave. in Peoria, 1650 Wabash Ave. in Springfield, 200 S. Second St. in Pekin, 1066 E. Losey St. in Galesburg and 425 W. Southtowne Drive in Belvidere.

Will I have to make an appointment for all services?

No. Those seeking vehicle-related services, such as title and registration or renewing their license platesticker, do not need to make an appointment and can just walk in.

More: Illinois Secretary of State: Candidates want to cut wait times, modernize offices

How will hours of operation change?

All DMV offices in Illinois will adopt the same hours of operation. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday each week.

Sixteen offices across the state — including Rockford's East State Street office, the Sterling Avenue office in Peoria and the Wabash Avenue office in Springfield — will be open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

When will the changes take place?

"Skip-the-Line" goes into effect Sept. 1.

How do I make an appointment?

You can visit ilsos.gov or call (844) 817-4649 to schedule an appointment. When you arrive for your appointment, you will check in with DMV staff and “skip the line.”

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Ever want to skip the line at the Illinois DMV? Now you can