Illinois suspends licenses for drivers under 21 after accumulating points, not after a set number of tickets
In Illinois, your license doesn't get suspended because you received three tickets or five tickets. Instead, the state uses a point system. Each traffic violation adds points to your record, and when you hit a certain number of points within a set time period, the Secretary of State suspends your license. For drivers under 21, the threshold is lower than for adult drivers, which means you lose your license faster.
The exact number of tickets that triggers suspension depends on what violations those tickets are for. A minor speeding ticket might add 5 points, while reckless driving could add 50 points. Two reckless driving tickets could suspend your license when ready, while ten minor violations might not. Understanding which violations carry which point values helps you see how close you are to suspension.
Key Takeaways
- Drivers under 21 in Illinois face license suspension when they accumulate 15 or more points within a 12-month period, compared to 50 points for drivers 21 and older.
- Different violations carry different point values: minor speeding might be 5 points, while reckless driving or driving under the influence carries 50 points.
- The 12-month period resets, so points from violations more than 12 months old no longer count toward your total.
- A suspension notice comes from the Illinois Secretary of State, not from the court that handled your ticket, and you have the right to request a hearing to contest it.
The point values for common violations under 21
Illinois assigns points based on the type of violation, not the number of times you've been ticketed. Here are the violations you're most likely to encounter and their point values:
| Violation Type | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–10 mph over limit | 5 points |
| Speeding 11–20 mph over limit | 10 points |
| Speeding 21+ mph over limit | 15 points |
| Improper lane change | 5 points |
| Failure to yield | 10 points |
| Reckless driving | 50 points |
| Driving under the influence (DUI) | 50 points |
| Driving with a suspended or revoked license | 50 points |
A single violation worth 50 points — like reckless driving or a DUI — will suspend your license when ready, since you only need 15 points to trigger suspension. Three speeding tickets for going 11–20 mph over the limit would also reach 30 points and suspend your license. The point values are set by Illinois law and do not change based on where you were ticketed or which court handled your case.
How the 12-month rolling window works
Illinois counts points within a 12-month rolling period. This means the state looks back 12 months from today and adds up all the points from violations during that time. Once a violation is older than 12 months, it stops counting toward your total.
For example, if you received a ticket on January 15, 2024, that violation's points count toward your total until January 15, 2025. On January 16, 2025, those points drop off. This matters because you might be close to suspension now, but if you avoid new violations for a few months, older points will age out and your total will drop.
The 12-month period is separate from how long the violation stays on your driving record. Even after points age out and no longer count toward suspension, the violation itself remains on your record for insurance and other purposes.
What happens when you reach 15 points
When your point total hits 15 or more within 12 months, the Illinois Secretary of State mails you a notice of suspension. This notice tells you the suspension date, which is usually 30 days after the notice is mailed. The suspension is automatic — you don't have to do anything for it to take effect, and the court that issued your ticket has no power to stop it.
During the suspension period, you cannot legally drive. Driving with a suspended license is itself a violation worth 50 points and can result in criminal charges. The suspension lasts until you meet the requirements to get your license back, which usually means waiting out the suspension period and then paying a reinstatement fee to the Secretary of State.
You have the right to request a hearing to contest the suspension. You must request the hearing in writing within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points were calculated incorrectly or that there are other reasons the suspension should not take effect. Requesting a hearing does not automatically stop the suspension, but it gives you a chance to be heard before the suspension becomes final.
Violations that cause when ready suspension
Some violations are so serious that they trigger suspension right away, regardless of your point total. A DUI conviction results in an automatic suspension that begins when ready or on a date set by the court. The length of a DUI suspension for a first offense is typically six months to one year, depending on whether you refused a breath test and other factors.
Driving with a suspended or revoked license also causes when ready suspension of whatever driving privileges remain. If you are caught driving during a suspension, the state will suspend your license again for an additional period. This creates a cycle that is hard to escape without legal help.
How to check your current point total
You can check how many points are on your driving record by visiting the Illinois Secretary of State website or calling their Driver Services department. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth. Some online services also offer point checks, though the official source is always the Secretary of State.
Checking your points regularly helps you understand how close you are to suspension and whether violations have aged out of the 12-month window. If you see points on your record that you believe are wrong — for example, a violation you thought was dismissed — you can request a correction. The Secretary of State will investigate and update your record if an error is found.
Options if you have received a ticket
If you have been ticketed, you have choices about how to respond. You can pay the ticket, which usually means pleading guilty and accepting the points. You can contest the ticket in court, which gives you a chance to have it dismissed or reduced to a lesser violation with fewer points. You can also ask about traffic school or defensive driving courses, which some courts allow in place of a conviction.
Reducing a violation to a non-moving violation or having it dismissed removes those points from your record. This is one of the few ways to lower your point total before the 12-month period ends. If you are close to suspension, fighting a ticket or negotiating a reduction can make the difference between keeping your license and losing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my license back before the suspension period ends?
No. You must wait out the full suspension period set by the Secretary of State. After the suspension ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee (currently $100 for a standard suspension) and explore to have your license restored. Once you pay the fee and submit the process, your license is usually restored within a few days.
Do points from out-of-state tickets count toward Illinois suspension?
Yes. Illinois counts violations from other states if they occurred while you held an Illinois license. The points assigned are based on Illinois law, not the other state's law. If you are unsure whether an out-of-state ticket added points, check your record with the Illinois Secretary of State.
What if I turn 21 while my license is suspended?
Your suspension continues regardless of your age. However, once you turn 21, the point threshold changes. You would then need 50 points to trigger a new suspension instead of 15. This means that if you are close to suspension as a minor, turning 21 during the suspension period does not end it early.
Can I get points removed from my record?
Points age out and stop counting after 12 months, but they remain on your record. You cannot have them removed early. The only way to lower your point total before 12 months is to have a violation dismissed or reduced in court, which removes those points when ready.
What is the difference between suspension and revocation?
A suspension is temporary — your license is taken away for a set period, after which you can get it back by paying a fee. A revocation is permanent — your license is cancelled and you must reapply and retake the written and driving tests to get a new one. Revocations are usually imposed for serious violations like multiple DUIs.