How do I check to see if my license is suspended in Illinois?

Because of this, your driver’s license can be suspended or revoked for a number of reasons, these include unpaid traffic tickets or a DUI.

As we all know, people make mistakes, and sometimes these mistakes can lead to major hardships in our lives. A suspended license can mean not being able to drive to work, drive your children to school, or even to go get groceries.

Learning how to reinstate your Illinois driver’s license can seem overwhelming, but there are things you can do to get the ball rolling.

Driving with a Suspended License

During the process of renewing your driver’s license, you may be having trouble getting around town like you normally would.

This can make life difficult for a lot of people, and it may lead you to risk driving anyway, regardless of your license being suspended or revoked.

While you might think you won’t get caught, driving on a suspended license is a terrible idea, and you should not do it for a number of reasons. 

Driving with a suspended license could lead to:

• An increase in suspension time
• The revocation of your license
• Jail time
• Your car being seized

As hard as it may be to not drive your car now, getting caught driving on a suspended license in IL will make your life much worse.

The Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) allows you to check on the status of your license at any time. You can request your driving records by mail or by visiting a SOS office location in person.

It’s always good to have official documentation of the status of your Illinois driver’s license, regardless of a suspension or revocation.

How to Reinstate Your Illinois Driver’s License

The road to reinstatement of your driver’s license can be a long one. You need to be mentally prepared for the fact that it may take a long time, and that you will be held accountable for what you’ve done.

At your hearing you will be asked a multitude of questions that are meant to dig into your past and present, which are used to determine if you’re a good prospect for a permit . They might be difficult questions, and the officers conducting the hearing have heard every excuse imaginable.

Therefore, they probably will not respond well to people who do not accept responsibility for their actions, or at least people who don’t appear to feel this way. That is why it is important to have legal representation. An IL driver’s license reinstatement attorney can prepare you for the questions you will be asked, and help you frame your answers in a way that shows remorse.

Informal vs. Formal Hearings

You may be required to attend   either an informal or formal hearing to have your IL license reinstated depending upon your circumstances.

The biggest difference is that a formal hearing is required if your revocation involved a fatality or if you’ve had multiple DUIs with multiple losses of driving priviledges.

Either way, you will need to contact a Hearing Officer Facility to get this process started.

A Restricted Driver’s Permit – Hardship License

Your formal or informal hearing may result in one of a few things, such as being given a restricted driver’s permit (RDP).

A RDP is a specific type of permit that allows you to do specific tasks, such as drive to and from work, or to and from school, or to daycare for your children.

For many people, a lack of a driver’s license completely throws their life out of control, a RDP, or hardship license, allows them to continue to live their lives while they are waiting for the suspension or revocation to be lifted.

Your informal or formal hearing is where you will be able to make the case for why you need a RDP.

There are a variety of reasons why you would need to have a RDP, but you will have to be able to prove those reasons at your hearing. A driver’s license reinstatement lawyer can not only help you through this process and show that you’re serious about reinstatement. Contact us right away to see how we can help you with the process!

Note: Covid-19 is changing many areas of the law. Visit our Covid-19 articles for the latest information.

Driving on suspended or revoked driver's license

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Acknowledgements

Scripted by

Dolores Leone

Materials

My driver’s license is suspended or revoked. What does that mean?

A license or revocation takes away one's driving privileges. The driver’s license is not valid. You may not drive.

What do I need to do to get my driving privileges back?

Find out why the driving privileges are suspended or revoked. You can contact the Secretary of State as soon as possible. They can tell you what the problem is. They will know how to restore your driving privileges.

Note: as of July 1, 2021 the IL Secretary of State will reinstate driver's licenses that were suspended before July 1, 2021 for failure to pay:

• Tickets for moving violations,
• Red light tickets,
• Speeding tickets, and
• Abandoned vehicle fees.
   

What should I do if I get a ticket for a suspended or revoked driver’s license?

Buy copies of your driving record from the Secretary of State. They require valid identification and driver’s license number. Explain that you need the record for court purposes. The driving record lists all reasons for the suspension or revocation.

My driver’s license was suspended because of an accident. How do I reinstate it?

This is a “04” suspension. Click on the title below to learn more:

How to get your license reinstated after a financial responsibility "04" suspension

My driver’s license was suspended because I did not have the required SR-22 car insurance. How do I reinstate it?

This is a “05” suspension. 

How to get your license reinstated after an SR-22 car insurance "05" financial responsibility suspension

My driver’s license was suspended because I did not pay the judgment entered against me after a car accident. How do I reinstate it?

This is a “06” suspension. 

How to get your license reinstated after a judgment suspension "06" suspension

My driver’s license was suspended because I did not appear in court or respond to a traffic ticket. How do I reinstate it?

This is a “09” suspension. 

How to get your license reinstated after a failure to appear suspension "09" suspension

My driver’s license was suspended because I violated vehicle emission and/or inspection laws. How do I reinstate it?

This is an “18” suspension. 

How to get your license reinstated after an auto emission suspension "18" suspension

My driving privileges were suspended or revoked because of a (DUI) offense. How do I restore them?

If you had one prior DUI and received court , contact the Secretary of State. The reinstatement fee may not have been paid.

Your driving privileges are revoked if: you were convicted on your prior DUI or you have more than one DUI. You need a with the Secretary of State. Hearings are not given if you have pending traffic matters. Contact the Secretary of State to find out how to get a hearing.

• DUI Arrests before January 1, 2009 
• DUI Arrests on or after January 1, 2009 

I have corrected the reason for suspension or revocation my driver’s license. What do I do now?

Tell the Secretary of State. The emissions department or the insurance company may notify the Secretary of State. It is your responsibility to make sure that the Secretary of State has received notice. There is also a reinstatement fee.

Driving privileges are suspended until the Secretary of State notifies you that your driving privileges are reinstated. Some cases are continued. Take all documents and notices from the Secretary of State to each court date.

This pamphlet also details the process: Road to Reinstatement

Last revised by staff

July 15, 2021

Forms

Secretary of State formal hearing request Blank form

Use this form to request a hearing for a traffic violation.

Learn more

Driver's license suspension and revocation

Going to an informal hearing for license suspension or revocation

Getting a probationary driver's license

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