Check your Illinois license status directly through the Secretary of State website
The Illinois Secretary of State runs the official system for checking your driver license and ID card status. You can look up whether your license is valid, suspended, revoked, or expired without calling or visiting an office. The online tool is free and gives you an answer in seconds.
Go to cyberdriveillinois.com and find the "Driver License Status" lookup tool. You will need your driver license number or state ID number. Enter it, and the system will show your current status and any restrictions or holds on your record.
If you do not have your license number handy, you can find it on your physical license card — it is the number printed on the front. If you have lost your license and do not know the number, you will need to contact the Secretary of State directly by phone or visit a Driver Services facility in person.
Key Takeaways
- The Illinois Secretary of State website at cyberdriveillinois.com has a free online tool to check your license status when ready.
- You need your driver license number or state ID number to use the lookup tool.
- The system will tell you if your license is valid, suspended, revoked, expired, or restricted.
- If you cannot find your license number, you must call the Secretary of State or visit a Driver Services facility in person.
- Checking your status online is faster than calling and does not require an appointment.
What the status results mean
When you look up your license, the system returns one of several possible statuses. Valid means your license is current and you can legally drive. Expired means your license passed its renewal date and you need to renew it before driving. Suspended means the state has temporarily taken away your driving privileges — usually because of unpaid tickets, unpaid child support, or a conviction. Revoked means the state has permanently cancelled your license, typically after a serious violation like a DUI conviction.
The lookup tool will also show any restrictions on your license, such as corrective lenses required, automatic transmission only, or daylight driving only. These restrictions appear on your physical card and must be followed while driving.
If your status shows suspended or revoked, the tool may display the reason and the date you can reapply or have your license reinstated. Write down this information — you will need it if you contact the Secretary of State or visit a Driver Services facility.
Why your license might be suspended in Illinois
Illinois suspends driver licenses for several reasons, and the lookup tool does not always show which one applies to you. The most common causes are unpaid traffic tickets, unpaid child support, failure to appear in court, a DUI or reckless driving conviction, or accumulating too many points from traffic violations.
If you have multiple suspensions on your record, the tool may show only the most recent one. To find out all the reasons your license is suspended, you will need to contact the Secretary of State Driver Services line at 217-782-6900 or visit a Driver Services facility. Have your license number ready when you call.
A suspension is temporary — once you resolve the underlying issue (pay the ticket, pay the child support, complete a DUI program), you can petition to have your license reinstated. The Secretary of State website has instructions for reinstatement based on the reason for suspension.
How to contact the Secretary of State if the online tool does not work
If the website is down, if you cannot find your license number, or if you need more information than the online tool provides, call the Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services line at 217-782-6900. The line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Wait times are often long during lunch hours and late afternoon.
You can also visit a Driver Services facility in person. Illinois has facilities in most counties. Go to cyberdriveillinois.com and use the "Find a Driver Services Facility" tool to locate the office nearest you and see its hours. Bring your physical ID or passport and your license number if you have it.
If you are calling about a suspension or revocation, have your license number, date of birth, and the reason you believe your license was suspended ready to give the representative. This speeds up the call.
What to do if your license is suspended and you need to drive
If your license is suspended and you need to drive for work or medical reasons, Illinois may issue a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP) or a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP), depending on the reason for suspension. These permits allow limited driving — usually to and from work, school, medical appointments, or court — while your suspension is in effect.
You cannot request a permit online. You must visit a Driver Services facility in person or call 217-782-6900 to ask whether you are may be able to access and what documents you need to bring. may be able to access depends on the reason for your suspension and how long you have been suspended.
If your suspension is due to unpaid child support or unpaid tickets, you may be able to resolve the issue and have your suspension lifted without needing a permit. Contact the agency that issued the suspension — the Illinois Department of Human Services for child support, or the court that issued the ticket — to find out what you owe and how to pay.
Renewing your license after it expires
If your status check shows your license is expired, you can renew it online, by mail, or in person at a Driver Services facility. The method depends on how long your license has been expired and whether you have any suspensions or holds on your record.
If your license expired fewer than 12 months ago and you have no suspensions, you can renew online at cyberdriveillinois.com. The online renewal takes about 10 minutes and costs less than renewing in person. You will receive your new license by mail in 7 to 10 business days.
If your license expired more than 12 months ago, or if you have a suspension or hold, you must renew in person at a Driver Services facility. Bring your expired license, proof of residency (a recent utility bill or lease), and proof of Social Security number. The in-person renewal takes about 30 minutes and you can drive home with a temporary license the same day.
Understanding Real ID and how it affects your status
Illinois offers both standard driver licenses and Real ID compliant licenses. A Real ID license has a gold star in the upper right corner and meets federal requirements for entering federal buildings and boarding domestic flights. A standard license does not have the star and cannot be used for federal purposes after May 7, 2025.
The status lookup tool does not tell you whether your license is Real ID compliant. If you need to know, check your physical license for the gold star, or call 217-782-6900. If you have a standard license and want to upgrade to Real ID, you must renew in person at a Driver Services facility and bring additional documents like a birth certificate or passport.
Your Real ID status does not affect whether your license is valid for driving — it only matters if you plan to fly or enter a federal building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check someone else's license status?
No. The Secretary of State lookup tool is for your own license only. You cannot look up another person's status without their permission. If you need information about someone else's license — for example, if you are an employer checking a driver's record — you must contact the Secretary of State directly and may need to provide written consent from that person.
What if the lookup tool says my license is valid but I was told it is suspended?
Call the Secretary of State at 217-782-6900 right away. There may be a delay in the system updating, or there may be a suspension on file that the online tool is not showing. A representative can tell you exactly what is on your record and why. Bring your license number and be ready to explain what you were told.
How often should I check my license status?
You do not need to check regularly unless you have a reason to — for example, if you are waiting for a suspension to be lifted, or if you know your license is expiring soon. If you have unpaid tickets or child support, check your status every few months to see if a suspension has been added, so you can address it before you are stopped while driving.
Can I check my status if my license is from another state?
No. The Illinois Secretary of State system only shows Illinois licenses and IDs. If you have a license from another state, you must contact that state's Department of Motor Vehicles. If you recently moved to Illinois and got an Illinois license, the old state's system will no longer show your status.
What does it mean if the lookup tool says "no record found"?
This usually means you entered your license number incorrectly, or the number does not exist in the Illinois system. Double-check the number on your license and try again. If you still get no result, call 217-782-6900 to confirm your license number is correct and that your license is registered with the state.