What you can look up and where to find it
Illinois maintains separate public lookup systems depending on what you need to verify. If you're checking a driver's license, you'll use the Secretary of State's online portal. If you're verifying a professional license — such as a nurse, contractor, real estate agent, or electrician — you'll search a different state database run by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Both searches are free and available online. You can look up your own license to check its status, or search for someone else's license if you have a legitimate reason — for example, confirming a contractor's credentials before hiring them.
The information returned varies by license type. A driver's license lookup typically shows whether the license is valid, suspended, or revoked, along with the expiration date. A professional license lookup shows the license number, issue and expiration dates, and any disciplinary actions on record.
Key Takeaways
- Driver's licenses are searched through the Illinois Secretary of State website; professional licenses are searched through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website.
- Both searches are free and do not require you to create an account or provide personal information beyond what you're searching for.
- Driver's license lookups show status and expiration; professional license lookups show credentials, issue dates, and any disciplinary history.
- You will need either a name and date of birth (for driver's licenses) or a name and license number (for professional licenses) to complete a search.
How to look up an Illinois driver's license
Go to the Illinois Secretary of State website and navigate to the Driver License Lookup tool. You will need to enter the person's full name and date of birth. The system will return results showing whether the license is currently valid, suspended, revoked, or expired, along with the expiration date.
If you're searching for your own license and the system does not return a result, it may mean the license was never issued, has been cancelled, or the name or date of birth you entered does not match the state's records exactly. Try searching again with a different spelling or middle initial. If you still cannot find your license, contact the Secretary of State's Driver Services department by phone or visit a local Driver Services facility in person.
The lookup tool does not show your address, driving record, or points on your license — only the status and expiration date. If you need your full driving record, you must request it separately through the Secretary of State.
How to look up an Illinois professional license
Go to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) website and use their License Lookup tool. You can search by the person's name, license number, or both. The search will return the license holder's name, license number, issue date, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions or restrictions.
Professional licenses covered by this search include nurses, physicians, dentists, contractors, electricians, plumbers, real estate agents, cosmetologists, and dozens of other regulated professions. If you're unsure whether a particular profession is regulated in Illinois, the IDFPR website lists all professions under its jurisdiction.
If you're searching by name and the person holds multiple licenses, the system will show all of them. If a license has expired or been revoked, that status will appear in the results. Some disciplinary actions — such as fines, suspensions, or practice restrictions — are also listed, though minor violations may not appear in the public record.
What to do if a license appears suspended or revoked
If a driver's license shows as suspended or revoked, the person is not legally permitted to drive in Illinois. If you're considering hiring someone who holds a professional license and the lookup shows a suspension or revocation, that person is not legally permitted to work in that profession in Illinois during the suspension period.
Suspensions are usually temporary and may be lifted once certain conditions are met — for example, paying outstanding fines or completing a required course. Revocations are permanent unless the license holder successfully petitions to have it reinstated, which is a formal legal process.
If you believe a lookup result is incorrect, contact the issuing agency directly. For driver's licenses, contact the Secretary of State's Driver Services. For professional licenses, contact the IDFPR board that oversees that profession.
Searching for someone else's license
Both the driver's license and professional license lookup tools are public and do not restrict who can search. You do not need permission from the person whose license you're looking up. This is intentional — the state publishes this information so the public can verify credentials before hiring contractors, medical professionals, or other regulated workers.
However, the lookup tools do not return personal information beyond what is necessary to verify the license itself. You will not see a driver's address, phone number, or Social Security number. For professional licenses, you will see only the information related to their license status and any public disciplinary record.
If the lookup tool is not working
If the Secretary of State or IDFPR website is down or the search function is not responding, try again in a few minutes. State websites occasionally undergo maintenance or experience temporary outages.
If the problem persists, you can contact the agencies directly. For driver's license questions, call the Secretary of State's Driver Services line or visit a local Driver Services facility. For professional license questions, contact the IDFPR by phone or visit their office in person. Both agencies can perform a manual search if the online tool is unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up my own license to check if it's still valid?
Yes. Both the driver's license and professional license lookup tools are open to anyone. You can search your own name and date of birth (for driver's licenses) or name and license number (for professional licenses) to check your status and expiration date at any time.
What if someone's license shows as expired but they're still working?
An expired license means the person is not currently authorized to work in that field or drive. If you encounter someone working with an expired license, you can report it to the issuing agency — the Secretary of State for drivers, or the relevant IDFPR board for professionals. The agency will investigate.
Do I need to pay to use the lookup tools?
No. Both the Illinois Secretary of State driver's license lookup and the IDFPR professional license lookup are free. You do not need to create an account, and there are no fees for searching.
Will the lookup show why a license was suspended or revoked?
The lookup will show that a license is suspended or revoked, and for professional licenses it may show the reason if it was a disciplinary action. For driver's licenses, the lookup does not explain the reason — you would need to contact Driver Services directly to learn why your license was suspended.
What if I search and find no results?
No results usually means the license was never issued, has been cancelled, or the name and date of birth (or license number) you entered do not match the state's records. Try searching again with a different spelling, middle initial, or maiden name. If you still find nothing, contact the issuing agency directly to confirm whether a license exists.