Illinois suspends your license when you accumulate 15 points within a 12-month period, or 40 points within a 24-month period

The Illinois Secretary of State tracks points on your driving record. Every traffic violation you're convicted of adds points — a speeding ticket might add 5 points, a reckless driving conviction might add 50. When your total reaches the threshold, the Secretary of State sends you a notice of suspension. Your license becomes invalid when ready, and driving during suspension is a separate criminal offense.

The point system exists to identify drivers whose violations suggest they're unsafe. It's not about the severity of any single ticket — it's about the pattern. A driver with five minor speeding tickets over 18 months hits the 15-point threshold just as quickly as someone with one serious violation, and both lose their license.

Points stay on your record for five years from the date of conviction. This means a ticket from 2019 stops counting toward suspension in 2024, even if you never paid attention to it. The 12-month and 24-month windows are rolling — they measure backward from today, not from a fixed calendar date.

Key Takeaways

  • Fifteen points in 12 months or 40 points in 24 months triggers an automatic suspension from the Illinois Secretary of State.
  • Each traffic conviction adds a specific number of points to your record — you can request your current point total from the Secretary of State's office.
  • Points remain on your record for five years, so an old ticket can still count toward suspension if you accumulate new violations.
  • A suspension notice arrives by mail, and driving after suspension begins is a separate criminal charge with its own penalties.

How many points each traffic violation costs

Illinois assigns points based on the type of violation and the circumstances. A conviction for speeding 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit costs 5 points. Speeding 11 to 14 miles per hour over costs 15 points. Speeding 15 to 25 miles per hour over costs 20 points. Speeding 26 miles per hour or more over costs 50 points — a single ticket that alone doesn't suspend you, but puts you halfway there.

Reckless driving is 50 points. Improper lane change is 5 points. Failure to yield is 15 points. Disobeying a traffic signal is 20 points. Driving without a valid license is 20 points. The full list runs to dozens of violations, and the Secretary of State's website publishes the point value for each one.

Points are assigned only when you're convicted — not when you're ticketed. If you pay a ticket, you're admitting guilt and the conviction is recorded. If you contest the ticket in traffic court and lose, the conviction is recorded. If you win, no points are added. Some tickets can be reduced to non-moving violations (like parking in a no-parking zone), which carry no points.

What happens when you reach the suspension threshold

The Secretary of State's office runs a computer check each time a conviction is recorded. When your point total crosses 15 (in a 12-month window) or 40 (in a 24-month window), the system flags your record. You receive a notice of suspension by mail, usually within two to four weeks of the conviction that pushed you over the limit.

The notice tells you the suspension start date, the length of the suspension, and your options for reinstatement. A first suspension is usually for three months. A second suspension within five years is usually six months. A third or later suspension is usually one year. The notice also explains how to request a hearing if you believe the suspension was issued in error.

Your license becomes invalid on the suspension start date. Driving after that date — even for a short trip — is a separate offense. Conviction for driving on a suspended license in Illinois carries a fine of $250 to $1,000 and possible jail time, depending on whether you have prior suspensions.

How to check your current point total

You can request your driving record from the Illinois Secretary of State's office online, by mail, or in person. The online method is fastest: go to the Secretary of State's website, select "Driver Services," then "Driving Record," and follow the prompts. You'll need your driver's license number and date of birth. The record costs a few dollars and arrives within one to two business days if you request it online.

Your driving record shows every conviction on file, the date of each conviction, and the points assigned. It does not show tickets you received but were not convicted of, or tickets that were dismissed. If you see a conviction you don't recognize, contact the Secretary of State's office to dispute it — errors do happen, and they can be corrected.

Checking your record is useful before you accumulate more violations. If you're at 10 points and considering contesting a ticket, you know that losing in court will push you to 15 or higher. If you're at 8 points, you have more room to absorb a conviction without suspension.

How to request a hearing before suspension takes effect

The suspension notice includes instructions for requesting a hearing. You must request it within 10 days of receiving the notice. The hearing is held before an administrative law judge, not in traffic court. You can represent yourself or bring an attorney.

At the hearing, you can argue that the points were calculated incorrectly, that a conviction was recorded in error, or that one of the convictions should not have been counted (for example, if it's older than five years). You cannot argue that you didn't commit the violation or that the violation was unfair — those arguments belong in traffic court, not in a suspension hearing.

If the judge agrees that an error was made, the conviction is removed from your record and your points are recalculated. If the judge finds no error, the suspension takes effect as scheduled. The decision is final unless you file an appeal within 30 days.

How to reinstate your license after suspension ends

When your suspension period ends, your license is not automatically reinstated. You must request reinstatement from the Secretary of State's office. You'll need to pay a reinstatement fee (currently $100 for a suspension caused by points) and submit proof that you've completed any required programs — for example, a defensive driving course if the suspension was for reckless driving.

Reinstatement usually takes one to two weeks after you submit your request and fee. During that time, your license remains suspended. Once reinstatement is approved, you receive a new license in the mail or can pick one up at a Secretary of State facility.

If you're suspended again within five years, the reinstatement fee increases and the suspension period is longer. A second suspension within five years is six months instead of three. This escalation is why it's important to drive carefully after a suspension ends — one more violation can trigger a longer suspension.

What to do if you're suspended and need to drive

Illinois offers a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP) for certain suspensions, but it does not explore to point-based suspensions. If you're suspended for accumulating points, you cannot legally drive during the suspension period, even with a permit.

Your options are to wait out the suspension, request a hearing to challenge it, or request early reinstatement if you meet specific criteria (which vary by case and are rare for point suspensions). If you need to drive for work or medical reasons, you must either arrange alternative transportation or wait until reinstatement is approved.

Driving on a suspended license is not worth the risk. The criminal charge, the fine, and the additional jail time will cost far more than a taxi or rideshare service during your suspension period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do points from out-of-state tickets count toward Illinois suspension?

Yes, if you were convicted in another state and the conviction is reported to Illinois through the Interstate Compact. Illinois receives reports from most states and adds the points to your record. The point value may differ from what the other state assigned, because Illinois uses its own point scale.

Can I take a defensive driving course to remove points?

No. Illinois does not allow you to remove points by taking a course. A defensive driving course can reduce a fine or prevent points from being added in the first place (if the court allows it as part of a plea agreement), but it cannot erase points already on your record.

What if I get suspended while my license is already suspended?

The new suspension is added to the existing one. If you're in the middle of a three-month suspension and accumulate 15 more points, you'll receive a notice that your suspension is extended. The total suspension period becomes longer than either suspension alone.

How long does a suspension stay on my record?

The suspension itself stays on your record permanently, but the points that caused it expire after five years. Once the points expire, they no longer count toward future suspensions. However, a record of the suspension itself remains visible on your driving history.

Can I transfer my license to another state to avoid suspension?

No. Illinois will suspend your license based on your driving record in Illinois, regardless of where you move. If you move to another state and obtain a license there, Illinois can still suspend your Illinois license. Some states will also refuse to issue you a license if you have an active suspension in another state.