What is the Difference Between a Suspended and Revoked Driver’s License?

Suspensions and revocations of your driver's license both mean you've lost your driving privileges under Illinois law. However, a revocation represents the loss of your driving privileges indefinitely while suspensions are temporary, ranging anywhere from one month up to a year.

In Illinois, your driver's license could be suspended for a number of reasons, including three traffic moving violations in twelve months, ten unpaid parking violations or more, failure to appear in court, failure to pay child support, tollway violations, first DUI offense, and minor drug crimes and traffic offenses. However, if you have a single or multiple DUI convictions, recklessly injured or killed someone on the road with your vehicle, or have a number of serious drug offenses, then your driver's license will be revoked.

If your Illinois driver's license has been suspended due to a DUI or traffic offense, it will be reinstated after the suspension period has elapsed and you will have to pay a reinstatement fee to the Illinois Secretary of State before driving again or else the suspension will not be lifted.

If your license was revoked (which happens if you have been convicted of DUI or another serious offense), there is no automatic reinstatement. Your license can only be reinstated following a formal administrative hearing with the Illinois Secretary of State's office. To have your driver's license reinstated, you need to prove to the Secretary of State's office that you will be a safe and responsible driver in the state of Illinois and that you are no longer a danger to the public's safety. You will be asked more than 100 questions, and if you are not prepared to give the right answers, you are likely to lose.

At our Illinois license reinstatement law firm, defense lawyer John W. Callahan will represent you at this hearing to help get your driver's license reinstated as quickly as possible. Fewer than 10 percent of the people who represent themselves at these administrative hearings with the Secretary of State's office are successful in their first attempt. With the proper lawyer's assistance, the odds are in your favor. Illinois lawyers of John W. Callahan, Ltd., represent people at their Illinois driver's license revocation hearing.  The driver's license reinstatement attorneys at John W. Callahan, Ltd., have helped more than 95 percent of our clients get their driver's licenses back at their first administrative hearing. We offer a complimentary case evaluation at no cost to you.

If you are faced with the suspension or revocation of your driver's license or you have been caught driving with a suspended or revoked license, the attorneys at the law offices of John W. Callahan, Ltd., can help you fight the charges and win back your driving privileges. We serve clients in Schaumburg, Naperville, and throughout Kane County, Dupage County and Cook County. To speak right away with an experienced lawyer for a free consultation or to set up an appointment, call our firm at 1-877-335-6697 or complete our online contact form.