How to check your Illinois license status online
The fastest way to find out whether your Illinois driver's license is suspended is to use the Secretary of State's online license status tool. You can check your status in minutes without calling anyone or visiting an office.
Go to cyberdriveillinois.com and look for the "Driver License Status" link on the homepage. You'll enter your driver's license number and date of birth. The system will tell you when ready whether your license is valid, suspended, revoked, or expired. This tool is available 24 hours a day.
If you don't have your license number handy, you can find it on your physical license card or on any traffic ticket or court document you've received. The number is printed in the upper right corner of the front of the card.
Key Takeaways
- The Secretary of State's online tool at cyberdriveillinois.com shows your license status when ready without needing to call or visit an office.
- A suspension is temporary and can be lifted once you resolve the underlying issue, such as paying a fine or completing a required course.
- Common reasons for suspension include unpaid traffic tickets, failure to appear in court, unpaid child support, and medical suspension.
- If your license is suspended, you must stop driving when ready — driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Illinois.
- The Secretary of State's office can tell you the specific reason for suspension and what steps you need to take to restore your license.
What the online status tool will show you
When you look up your license status, the system will display one of several outcomes. If your license is valid, you'll see "Active" or "Valid." If there's a problem, you'll see "Suspended," "Revoked," or "Expired."
The tool will also show you the effective date of any suspension — when it started. However, the online tool does not always display the reason for the suspension or the steps needed to restore it. For that information, you'll need to contact the Secretary of State's office directly or check any court documents or notices you've received in the mail.
Common reasons your license might be suspended in Illinois
Illinois suspends driver's licenses for many different reasons. The most common are unpaid traffic tickets, failure to appear in court for a traffic violation, unpaid child support, and medical suspension (when a doctor reports a condition that makes you unsafe to drive).
Other reasons include conviction for driving under the influence, accumulation of too many points on your driving record, failure to maintain car insurance, and suspension ordered by a court as part of a criminal sentence. Some suspensions are automatic — for example, if you're convicted of certain drug offenses, your license is suspended by law.
If you've moved to Illinois from another state and had a suspension there, that suspension may follow you. Illinois honors out-of-state suspensions, so you need to resolve the original issue in that state before your Illinois license can be restored.
What to do if your license is suspended
Once you know your license is suspended, you need to find out why. Call the Secretary of State's Driver Services Department at 217-782-6900. Have your driver's license number ready. They can tell you the specific reason and what you must do to restore your license.
Do not drive while your license is suspended. Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense in Illinois and can result in arrest, fines, and jail time. If you're stopped by police, you'll face additional charges beyond the original suspension reason.
The steps to restore your license depend on the reason for suspension. If it's unpaid tickets or fines, you'll need to pay them. If it's failure to appear in court, you'll need to contact the court and reschedule. If it's unpaid child support, you'll need to work with the child support enforcement office. If it's medical, you'll need a doctor's clearance.
How long a suspension typically lasts
A suspension is not permanent — it lasts only as long as the underlying problem exists. Once you resolve the issue, you can request that your license be restored. The length of time varies depending on the reason.
For unpaid tickets, your license is restored once you pay. For failure to appear, it's restored once you appear in court. For medical suspension, it's restored once you provide medical clearance. For some suspensions, there's a mandatory waiting period even after you've resolved the issue — for example, a suspension for driving under the influence may require you to wait a certain number of days or months before you can request restoration.
After you've done what's required, you'll need to request reinstatement. This is usually done by mail or in person at a Secretary of State office. There may be a reinstatement fee, which varies depending on the reason for suspension.
Visiting a Secretary of State office in person
If you prefer to check your license status in person or need help understanding your suspension, you can visit any Secretary of State Driver Services facility. Bring your driver's license or state ID and be prepared to wait — these offices can be busy.
You can find the office nearest you on the Secretary of State website at cyberdriveillinois.com. Look for the "Facilities" or "Office Locations" section. Some offices are open Monday through Friday during business hours, while a few have extended or Saturday hours. Call ahead to confirm hours before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive to work if my license is suspended?
No. Illinois does not issue work-only or restricted licenses for most suspensions. Driving for any reason while suspended is illegal and can result in arrest and additional criminal charges. Your only legal option is to resolve the suspension and have your license restored.
How much does it cost to restore a suspended license?
Reinstatement fees vary depending on the reason for suspension. Most range from $100 to $500. You'll also need to pay any underlying fines, tickets, or child support owed. The Secretary of State can tell you the exact amount when you call or visit.
Will a suspension show up on a background check?
A license suspension is a driving record matter and will show on a driving record background check. Whether it appears on an employment or housing background check depends on what the employer or landlord searches for. Some check only criminal records, while others check driving records too.
What if I lost my driver's license number?
You can still check your status by visiting a Secretary of State office in person with your state ID or passport. You can also call the Driver Services Department at 217-782-6900 and provide your name and date of birth, and they can look up your status for you.
Can I check someone else's license status?
No. The online tool requires your own license number and date of birth for security reasons. Only the license holder or an authorized representative can check the status. If you need information about someone else's license, they'll need to check it themselves or give you written permission to inquire on their behalf.