Illinois Secretary of State

What Illinois Secretary of State does

The Illinois Secretary of State is a constitutional statewide elected office of the State of Illinois, established in 1818 upon statehood, that serves as the exclusive statutory provider of driver's licenses, state identification cards, vehicle titles and registrations, business filings, and official state records within Illinois. The office administers approximately 10.4 million registered vehicles across categories including passenger vehicles (~7.1 million), B-trucks (~1.3 million), motorcycles (~240,000), and recreational vehicles, and licenses approximately 6,000 vehicle dealers alongside ~800 remittance agents. It operates a distribution network of 140 DMV facilities statewide, complemented by an online services portal, self-service kiosks, mobile DMV units deployed at events such as the Illinois State Fair, and partner currency exchanges and banks that process registration sticker renewals.

Its service portfolio includes driver's license and REAL ID issuance and renewal, Commercial Driver's License (CDL) programs with ELDT requirements, vehicle title and registration services, license plates (including vanity and specialty categories), business services (corporation and LLC formation, annual reports, UCC filings, trademark registration), notary public commissions with electronic notarization capabilities, apostille and certification services for international document use, administrative hearings and BAIID (Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device) management, the Illinois State Library and Archives, lobbyist registration, securities regulation, and organ/tissue donor registry administration.

The office generates fee-based revenue through statutory transaction fees (driver's license issuance and renewal, vehicle registration at $151 per sticker standard, title at $165, certificate of good standing at $25 for corporations, driving record abstracts at $20, dealer licensing at $1,000) and operates on state appropriations. Technology infrastructure includes a digital government services platform with mobile ID capabilities integrated into Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet, plus a free Mobile ID Verifier app for businesses using cryptographic verification standards that avoid centralized transaction databases. Current leadership is Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who took office in 2023.

Name

Illinois Secretary of State

Legal name

Office of the Secretary of State, State of Illinois

Website

https://ilsos.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1818

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Illinois Secretary of State is a constitutionally established state government office providing driver's licensing, vehicle registration and titling, business filings, and state records management to Illinois residents and businesses across 140 DMV facilities statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Government Administrative Services

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (92612), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector) (BPAIABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Licensing & Permitting Authorities (General) (BPAIAOAB), Business Registration & Corporate Affairs (Registries) (BPAIAOAA)

Keywords

• Driver license services
• Vehicle registration
• Business entity filings
• State ID verification
• DMV services

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Driver's License and ID Fees: Fees collected for driver's license issuance, renewal, duplicate requests, and state ID cards. Fees vary by service type and include processing fees for credit card transactions.
2. Vehicle Registration and Title Fees: Fees for vehicle registration renewals, title applications, duplicate titles, and registration cards. Standard renewal sticker costs $151, title costs $165.
3. Vehicle Dealer Licensing: Licensing fees for vehicle dealers ($1,000 for new/used dealer license) and dealer plate purchases ($45 master set, $13 duplicate sets)
4. Business Services Fees: Fees for corporation and LLC filings, annual reports, certificate of good standing ($25 for Corporation/LLC, $5 for Not-for-Profit), and business name reservations
5. Driving Record Abstracts: Certified abstracts of driving records sold for $20 each to individuals, parents/guardians of minors, or immediate family members of adults
6. License Plate Fees: Fees for vanity and personalized plates, specialty plates, and plate replacement services

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Illinois Secretary of State issues driver's licenses, REAL IDs, and state ID cards; processes vehicle titles and registrations and license plate issuance; administers Commercial Driver's License programs; provides business filing services for corporations, LLCs, not-for-profits, and trademarks; issues apostilles for international document use; commissions notaries public; manages the Mobile ID digital driver's license platform; and operates the Illinois State Library and Archives.

Product overview

The Illinois Secretary of State operates a comprehensive government services platform offering driver and vehicle services, business filings, and administrative functions. The core offerings include Driver's License & State ID Card Services (including REAL ID and Mobile ID via Apple/Google/Samsung Wallet), Commercial Driver's License (CDL) programs, Vehicle Registration & Title Services, and License Plates. Business Services encompass corporation/LLC formation, annual reports, and trademark registration. Additional services include Apostilles & Certifications for international document authentication, Notary Public commissions, Administrative Hearings & BAIID services, Illinois State Library with Talking Book & Braille Services, Capitol Tours, disability services with parking placards, and traffic safety programs. The Mobile ID program enables digital driver's licenses for identity verification at TSA checkpoints and age-restricted purchases. The platform serves over 10.4 million registered vehicles and operates 140 DMVs statewide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DMV: Driver Services facilities operated by the Secretary of State for driver licenses, ID cards, and vehicle services

Products and services

• Driver's License and State ID Card Services Comprehensive services for obtaining, renewing, replacing, and correcting driver's licenses and state ID cards, including REAL ID compliance for federal identification requirements such as air travel.
• Mobile ID (Digital Driver's License) Digital version of the driver's license stored in mobile wallets (Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet) with cryptographic verification capabilities for age-restricted purchases and TSA checkpoints.
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Services Licensing for truck drivers and commercial motor vehicle operators, including Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), endorsements (Hazardous Materials, School Bus, Charter Bus), and Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements.
• Vehicle Registration and Title Services Services for vehicle title applications, registration renewals, title transfers, and expedited title processing for Illinois residents and businesses.
• License Plates Standard, vanity, and personalized license plates, plus specialty plates (military, environmental, organizational), replacement and defective plate services for Illinois vehicle owners.
• Business Services Corporation and LLC formation, annual reports, business name searches, certificates of good standing, trademark and servicemark registration, UCC filings, and not-for-profit corporation administration for Illinois businesses.
• Apostilles and Certifications Authentication services for Illinois documents intended for use in foreign nations, including Apostilles for Hague Convention countries and Certificates of Authority for non-member countries.
• Notary Public Services Online application and renewal for Notary Public commissions, including electronic notarization capabilities, search tools, and commission management for Illinois residents.
• Administrative Hearings and BAIID Services Reinstatement of driving privileges, hearing information, driving permits, and Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) program management for individuals with driving suspensions or revocations.
• Illinois State Library and Archives Services Library grants, research databases, literacy services, archival and genealogical records management, Talking Book and Braille Services (TBBS) for residents unable to read standard print material.

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First StudentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership to address school bus driver shortage in Illinois. First Student, the largest school transportation provider, worked with Illinois school districts and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to reduce hiring barriers through policy changes including adjusted training requirements, waived under-the-hood exam requirements, Spanish-language CDL exams, and expanded licensing pathways. These structural changes have stabilized Illinois' school transportation market.
• Illinois School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with Illinois school districts to address the severe school bus driver shortage. The shortage, the worst in decades, began in 2020 when elderly retiree drivers were heavily affected by COVID-19, with 80% of school administrators in a 2025 survey reporting the issue as a problem. Policy changes were implemented to grow and diversify the workforce.
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)minorOthersRegulatory oversight relationship where FMCSA conducted an audit of Illinois' non-domiciled CDL issuance. The audit found nearly 1-in-5 such licenses were issued improperly. The U.S. DOT has given Illinois 30 days to revoke illegally issued non-domiciled CDLs or risk losing $128 million in federal highway funding. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is challenging the finding, asserting state policies are substantially compliant with federal requirements.
• Other Jurisdictions (24 jurisdictions)minorOthersAt least 24 jurisdictions face similar FMCSA findings regarding non-domiciled CDL issuance. The dispute is expected to continue in litigation as a final federal rule limits non-domiciled CDL eligibility. Illinois is working with other affected states in challenging the federal requirements.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California Department of Motor Vehicles: Largest U.S. state DMV serving ~36M residents with comparable driver licensing, vehicle registration, and business filing functions. Operates a similar physical-plus-online service model and is a leading Mobile ID rollout reference state.
• Texas Department of Motor Vehicles: Texas DMV oversees vehicle titling and registration for ~25M registered vehicles, with a similar fee-for-service model and CDL program exposure. Comparable in scale of regulated vehicle population and dealer licensing operations.
• Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles: Ohio BMV issues driver's licenses and vehicle registrations for ~11.7M residents with a comparable online-plus-physical service model. Recent digital ID modernization efforts make it a directly comparable modernization peer.
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT): PennDOT administers driver licensing, vehicle registration, and REAL ID compliance for ~13M residents. Comparable CDL program and federal compliance exposure, including similar FMCSA audit dynamics.
• New York State Department of Motor Vehicles: NY DMV issues driver's licenses (including enhanced versions comparable to REAL ID) and handles vehicle registration for ~19M residents. Operates a similar electronic licensing and verification platform.
• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Florida DHSMV provides driver licensing, ID cards, and vehicle services to ~22M residents with parallel Mobile ID initiatives. Operates a similar mix of state-DMV and tax-collector service delivery model.
• Michigan Secretary of State: Michigan SoS is a directly analogous constitutional office combining driver licensing, vehicle registration, and business filings under one elected official. Strong operational peer on integrated service delivery.

Others

• Thales DIS (Digital Identity & Security): Provider of secure identity documents, driver's license production, and digital ID wallet solutions for state governments. Comparable as a supplier and standards partner for state-level digital identity ecosystems.
• American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA): Industry association representing U.S. and Canadian motor vehicle and identity administrators. Comparable because it shapes cross-jurisdictional standards, Mobile ID specifications, and CDL compliance frameworks that Illinois must align with.
• IDEMIA (Idemia National Security Solutions): Leading vendor of driver's license cards, mobile ID platforms, and biometric verification systems for U.S. states. Comparable as the technology enabler behind many state DMV digital ID programs, including mDL infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ILSecOfState
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ILSecofState
• Facebookfacebook.com/ILSecofState
• Instagraminstagram.com/ilsecofstate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ilsecofstate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Illinois Secretary of State