Suspending the reminder service will save about $450,000 per month, according to Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. They'll be able to mail renewal stickers, titles and license plates for a few more months before the postage account is depleted, and that will have to stop as well.
Without those reminder notices, you won't have a pin number to renew online, so more people will have to go to a vehicle registration facility to renew and get new registration stickers. You'll be on your own to be sure you get your registration renewed so you aren't driving on expired vehicle stickers.
"People who have signed up to receive electronic reminder notices will continue to receive them by email. To sign up for this service, please visit http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com," White said.
If his office's postage account runs out before January 2016, White said he will also be unable to mail annual licenses to auto dealers; those dealers are legally required to have those licenses to operate legally. His office would also be unable to mail "critical incorporation paperwork needed for businesses in Illinois," White said.
White said he recently sent a letter to legislators and Governor Bruce Rauner, letting them know the budget stalemate was also compromising computer maintenance, data security and DMV office operations.
"The lack of a Fiscal Year 2016 budge is adversely impacting the Secretary of State's office, and threatens to jeopardize the services we provide to the public," White said in a statement issued Monday, September 28, 2015.
(W)e are doing what we can to manage so that we may serve the people of Illinois for as long as possible," White said.
