How to get one – NBC Chicago

Do you have an Illinois teen who will soon take a driving test? You'll need an appointment at the DMV, the Illinois secretary of state said — and there's only one way to get it.

Earlier this month, the Illinois Secretary of State's Office announced that 12 driver services facilities in Illinois would offer new Saturday hours exclusively for teen drivers.

Opening hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday from June 1 to August 31. They will be reserved only for teenagers seeking to obtain their license or driver's license, the office said.

“Teen-only DMVs provide working parents, who cannot take time off work during the week to transport their child to a DMV, a convenient weekend option where they can schedule an appointment without waiting,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. A declaration. “Getting your first driver’s license is an exciting step, and we want to ensure the experience is as easy as possible for Illinois teens and their parents.”

Here's what you need to know:

Which DMVs will offer Saturday hours for teens and when?

Locations include Addison, Aurora, Bethalto, Belvidere, Bridgeview, Chicago West, Des Plaines, Elgin, Joliet, Lake Zurich, Plano, St. Charles.

In addition to the 10 locations offering Summer Saturdays for Teens, 15 other DMVs are open Saturday across Illinois, including those on Chicago's North and South Sides.

How to make your appointment?

The only way to do this is by phone, according to the office.

Parents and teens can call (800) 252-8980 to make an appointment at one of the participating locations.

Who can make an appointment?

Teen hours will be reserved only for teens seeking to obtain their license or driver’s license.

The offices will have designated “selfie stations” for newly licensed drivers and will offer advice to new drivers.

“The teen-only service hours will make available an additional 1,000 appointments per week to accommodate the nearly 9,000 current licensees who will become eligible for licensing this summer,” the Secretary of State's office said in a press release. “The Teen DMVs will also release appointments during the week for those who need in-person DMV visits.”

But if no teenager requests an appointment, some could make themselves accessible to the general public.

If there are any teen-only appointments remaining, they will then be made available to the general public at 7 a.m. each Saturday.

How much time do you need?

As for how much time you'll need, teens who have already passed a driving test will have 10-minute appointments, while those who need to complete the test will have 30-minute appointments. Those who need a permit can also make an appointment to take a written test.

What should you bring?

Here's what the Secretary of State's office recommends teens bring with them to their appointment:

• Their logbook for their teaching permit.
• Their blue and white road test waiver form from their high school if they have one.
• Their birth certificate.
• Their physical social security card.
• Two proofs of address, such as school transcripts or their parents' driver's license or ID card.

Although a REAL ID is not required, the Secretary of State's office encouraged teens to request one during the designated hours.