How Do You Get a Driver's License Back in Illinois?
It depends on whether the license was suspended or revoked. A suspension ends on its own date and is reinstated on payment of a fee ($250 for a first DUI-related summary suspension, $500 for a later one). A revocation does not end on its own. The driver must wait out the minimum period under 625 ILCS 5/6-208, complete an alcohol and drug evaluation and any required treatment, file proof of insurance, and be granted reinstatement by the Illinois Secretary of State after an informal or formal hearing. The reinstatement fee after a revocation is $500.
Updated September 2026
This page covers the difference between suspension and revocation, the minimum revocation periods after DUI, what the Secretary of State requires before a hearing, how informal and formal hearings work, the fees, and the restricted driving permit. The separate DUI license hearings page covers the court hearing to challenge a statutory summary suspension in the first 90 days after arrest. Ms. Williams represents drivers across Central Illinois in both.
◆ Illinois Law
Under 625 ILCS 5/6-208, a person whose license has been revoked is not entitled to have it reinstated at the end of the revocation period. The person may apply, after the minimum period, for a new license, which the Secretary of State may issue after an investigation and a hearing under 625 ILCS 5/2-118, if satisfied that granting driving privileges will not endanger the public safety or welfare. Subsection (b) sets the minimum periods: one year after a first DUI revocation, five years after a second DUI conviction within 20 years, ten years after a third, and permanent ineligibility after a fourth.
Source: 625 ILCS 5/6-208 — Illinois Vehicle Code, Period of Suspension and Revocation; 625 ILCS 5/2-118 — Hearings
Suspension vs. Revocation
The two words are used interchangeably in conversation. Under the Vehicle Code they are different things with different paths back.
| Suspension | Revocation | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Set period (for example, 6 or 12 months for a first statutory summary suspension) | Indefinite; a minimum period applies before the driver may apply |
| How it ends | Automatically on the end date, after payment of the reinstatement fee | Only when the Secretary of State grants reinstatement after a hearing |
| Hearing required | No, unless the suspension has an added hearing condition | Yes, informal or formal |
| Reinstatement fee | $250 (first DUI-related summary suspension); $500 (subsequent); $70 (most other suspensions) | $500 |
| Common DUI example | Statutory summary suspension after a failed or refused chemical test | Revocation after a DUI conviction |
A single DUI arrest commonly produces both: a statutory summary suspension that begins 46 days after notice, and, if the case ends in a conviction, a revocation. The suspension is reinstated by fee when it ends. The revocation requires the process on this page.
Minimum Revocation Periods After DUI
- First DUI conviction: one year from the effective date of the revocation.
- Second DUI conviction within 20 years: five years.
- Third DUI conviction: ten years.
- Fourth or subsequent conviction: permanent; no application for full reinstatement, with restricted permit relief available in limited circumstances under 625 ILCS 5/6-205(c).
The 20-year period is measured from the dates the offenses were committed. Out-of-state DUI convictions count.
What Must Be Done Before the Hearing
For a DUI-related revocation, the Secretary of State's published requirements are:
- Alcohol and drug evaluation by a licensed provider, completed after the most recent DUI arrest, which assigns a risk classification: minimal, moderate, significant, or high.
- Remedial education for minimal risk; education plus treatment for moderate, significant, and high risk, with documentation of completion and, for high risk, evidence of ongoing support.
- Proof of financial responsibility: an SR-22 certificate of insurance filed with the Secretary of State and maintained for three years.
- The hearing: informal for a single DUI offense, formal for multiple offenses.
- Reinstatement fee of $500 after a favorable decision, then a driver's license examination (written, vision, and driving) and the application fee.
Informal and Formal Hearings
Informal hearings are held at designated Secretary of State Driver Services facilities. No appointment or fee is required. The hearing officer reviews the documents and interviews the driver, and the written decision is mailed afterward.
Formal hearings are required for drivers with multiple DUI offenses. The driver requests one in writing, with a $50 filing fee, to the Department of Administrative Hearings. The hearing is recorded. A hearing officer presides and a hearing representative for the Secretary of State presents the State's evidence and questions the driver. The decision is issued in writing, and a denial states the reasons and the date a new hearing may be requested.
At both types of hearing the burden is on the driver to show that restoring driving privileges will not endanger public safety or welfare. The hearing officer considers the driving record, the evaluation and its risk classification, the treatment record, the driver's testimony about the DUI history and current alcohol or drug use, and the consistency between the documents and the testimony.
The Restricted Driving Permit
A driver who is revoked and not yet eligible for reinstatement, or who is eligible but has been issued a probationary permit rather than full reinstatement, may apply for a restricted driving permit under 625 ILCS 5/6-205(c) or 6-206(c). The permit requires a showing of undue hardship: inability to get to work, school, medical treatment, or court-ordered activities by other means. It allows driving only for the purposes and during the hours and area written on the permit. For DUI-related revocations, the Secretary of State conditions the permit on a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) installed on the vehicle. Drivers with two or three DUI convictions are required to hold a BAIID-restricted permit for five continuous years before full reinstatement under 625 ILCS 5/6-208(b)(1.3).
Frequently Asked Questions: Driver's License Reinstatement in Illinois
What is the difference between a suspended and a revoked license in Illinois?
A suspension is a temporary loss of driving privileges for a set period. When the period ends, driving privileges are restored on payment of the reinstatement fee and any other conditions. A revocation is the termination of driving privileges for an indefinite period. A revoked driver does not get the license back when the minimum period ends; the driver becomes eligible to apply, and must be granted reinstatement by the Secretary of State after a hearing.
How long is a license revoked after a DUI conviction in Illinois?
Under 625 ILCS 5/6-208(b), a first DUI conviction carries a minimum revocation of one year before the driver may apply for reinstatement. A second DUI conviction within 20 years carries a minimum of five years. A third carries a minimum of ten years. A fourth or subsequent conviction results in a lifetime revocation, with limited permit relief available in some circumstances. Reaching the eligibility date does not restore the license; a Secretary of State hearing is still required.
Do I need a formal or an informal hearing?
The Illinois Secretary of State requires an informal hearing for a driver with a single DUI-related revocation and a formal hearing for a driver with multiple DUI offenses or a revocation involving a fatality. Informal hearings are held at designated Driver Services facilities without an appointment. Formal hearings are requested in writing with a $50 filing fee and are scheduled by the Secretary of State.
How much does a formal hearing cost?
The Secretary of State charges a $50 filing fee for a formal hearing request. The request must be in writing and mailed to the Secretary of State Department of Administrative Hearings. There is no filing fee for an informal hearing.
What is the reinstatement fee in Illinois?
The Secretary of State charges $500 to reinstate after a revocation, and the payment is processed only after the Administrative Hearings Department has issued a reinstatement recommendation and proof of financial responsibility (an SR-22 certificate) is on file. A first statutory summary suspension carries a $250 reinstatement fee; a second or subsequent statutory summary suspension carries a $500 fee. Other suspension types carry a $70 fee.
What does the Secretary of State require before a DUI revocation hearing?
The Secretary of State requires an alcohol and drug evaluation completed after the most recent DUI arrest; proof of completion of any treatment the evaluation recommends; completion of a remedial education program; and proof of financial responsibility (SR-22 insurance). The hearing officer reviews the driving record, the evaluation and its risk classification, treatment records, and the driver's testimony.
What is a risk classification?
The alcohol and drug evaluation places the driver in one of four classifications under the Secretary of State's rules: minimal risk, moderate risk, significant risk, or high risk. The classification determines what education or treatment must be completed and documented before a hearing. Higher classifications require more extensive treatment records and, for high risk, proof of ongoing recovery support.
What is a restricted driving permit?
A restricted driving permit (RDP) is a limited permit the Secretary of State may issue under 625 ILCS 5/6-205(c) and 6-206(c) to a revoked or suspended driver who shows undue hardship, such as the inability to get to work, school, medical care, or court-ordered treatment. It allows driving only for the purposes, days, hours, and area stated on the permit. For DUI-related revocations, a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) on the vehicle is typically a condition of the permit.
Can a lawyer attend the Secretary of State hearing with me?
Yes. A driver may be represented by an attorney at both formal and informal hearings. At a formal hearing, the Secretary of State is represented by a hearing representative who presents the State's evidence, the hearing is recorded, and the hearing officer issues a written decision. Ms. Williams represents drivers in Central Illinois at Secretary of State reinstatement hearings.
What happens if the hearing officer denies reinstatement?
The Secretary of State issues a written order stating the reasons for the denial. A driver denied at a formal hearing may request another formal hearing after the waiting period stated in the order, which is commonly four months from the date of the decision, and may address the specific reasons given. A formal hearing decision may also be reviewed in the circuit court under the Administrative Review Law within 35 days of the decision.
This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. To discuss your situation, contact Ms. Williams at (309) 999-1177.