The Secretary of State Driver Services Department maintains detailed and informative Illinois driving records for all resident drivers in the state. To find out about these driving history documents and the steps required to obtain them, consider the information outlined below.

What is on my Illinois driving record?

Depending on the type of driving record and where you purchase it, your Illinois driving record may provide either a partial or complete outline of your personal IL driving history. If you order your driving record directly from the Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Department, it will contain:

• Demerit points.
• Driving status.
• Suspensions or revocations.
• DUI/DWI reports.
• Violations.
• Violation codes.
• Fines.
• Endorsements.
• License classification.

Did you know? Your personal driving history is a public record. Potential employers, insurance providers, and courts of law can all request a copy of your driving history.

What do points on my Illinois driving record mean?

The points on Secretary of State driving records represent the traffic violations that you have committed as a resident driver of Illinois. Each infraction has been assigned a different point value by the Illinois SOS, and if your point total reaches the state limit, you will incur a driver’s license suspension:

• Violation of the graduated driver’s license program: 10 points
• Improper stop or turn signal: 15 points
• Improper passing: 20 points
• Exceeding the speed limit by 25+ mph: 50 points
• Reckless driving: 55 points

In the event you find any infractions placed on your Illinois driving history in error, contact your local SOS office to correct the issue. Otherwise, you may take a traffic school course to remove points from your DMV driving record.

How do points against my Illinois license affect me?

An accumulation of points (or three traffic infractions in 12 months) on your SOS drivers record can result in a driver’s license suspension. Points can also raise your auto insurance rates because of the unsafe driving habits that demerit points represent.

Finally, if you are a commercial driver, a bus driver or an employee of any company that requires you to drive as part of your work duties, DMV driving record points can possibly result in your being fired or demoted.

How do I remove drivers license points from my Illinois record?

Depending on the violation you committed, you may enroll in a traffic school course to remove points from your personal IL driving record. In addition to helping you remove points from your driving history, these defensive driving courses will also assist you in reducing your car insurance premiums. Your attendance in a driving course demonstrates that you are putting forth the effort to become a safer driver.

How long do points stay on my Illinois driving record?

If you committed a moving violation that resulted in the minimum number of points being assigned to your drivers license record, these demerit points will remain there for four to five years. Points that result from traffic violations that culminated in a license suspension or revocation will stay on your Illinois driving record from the SOS for seven years.

Any points that you may have accumulated in your IL DUI report, because you were convicted of driving under the influence, will never be removed.

Illinois DUI Records

DUI records can be found within the driving records issued by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. If you have been convicted of a DUI charge, you may need to present an Illinois DUI criminal record to enroll in the drug and alcohol education course or to reinstate your suspended driver’s license.

How do I know if my Illinois driving license is suspended?

The easiest way to discover if your license has been suspended by the Illinois DMV is to purchase a copy of your driving record. Your Illinois driving history will show whether or not your credentials have been suspended or revoked, and for how long.

Previous Traffic Violations in Illinois

Drivers in Illinois can obtain driving records to see what traffic violations they have been cited for in the past. Violations included in your personal IL driving history can include anything from unpaid fines to speeding tickets. Access this information today to verify the accuracy of your drivers history.

Why do I need a copy of my Illinois driving record?

DMV Illinois driving records provide resident drivers with extensive information about their driving history. If clean, these documents can be used to help you secure commercial driving jobs and more affordable car insurance rates.

Check for Points in Illinois

Residents can order Illinois driving records to see how many demerit points they have accumulated in their driving history. By obtaining these driving documents, they can gauge how near they are to driver’s license suspension and adjust their driving habits accordingly.

If you believe that you may be close to a driver’s license suspension, order a copy of your driving record today to verify the accuracy of any violations listed.

Applying for a Commercial Driver Position in Illinois

You must have a clean driving history to pursue a job as a commercial driver. Commercial vehicle employers want to hire drivers who do not have any demerit points, pending fees or violations on their SOS driving records. Therefore, if your driving documentation details numerous accidents or violations, you may be passed over for the job.

By checking your driving record in advance, you can gauge your chances of being hired and take any necessary steps to clean up your history. Potential employers may ask you to submit a copy of your certified driving record during an interview. Thus, also take the necessary steps to prepare for any questions your history may raise.

Lower Illinois Car Insurance Premiums

Local insurance companies pay special attention to personal Illinois driving records when determining premiums. Based on the number of accidents you may have been involved in and the number of points that you may have accumulated in your IL driving history, you will be given a specific rate.

If you have few or no accidents or violations on record, your insurance rate will be low and affordable. However, if you have amassed numerous demerit points from various infractions, expect to receive a more costly premium.

Before you apply for car insurance and begin negotiating premium prices, order a copy of your driving record to see if you pose a risk to the insurer. By obtaining your DMV driving record, you can also fix any errors that may appear on the document before the auto insurance agency sees them.

Take Illinois Traffic School to Prevent Points

Courts all throughout the state of Illinois allow drivers to take a defensive driving class to prevent convictions, and thus points, from being logged in their personal Illinois driving records. To enroll in one of these courses, you must follow a certain plea procedure with the court after you have been cited for a violation.

Following this course of action and completing the necessary class will help you save on auto insurance costs. Without points added to your Illinois DMV driving record, your rates will not increase.

Why do employers check your Illinois driving record?

Potential employers may ask to see your Illinois drivers record to verify that you are a safe and responsible driver. If an employee is involved in an automobile accident, and is driving during work hours for the company, the employer would have to pay for the medical bills, the costs of repairing or replacing damaged vehicles and property, and any potential lawsuits that might ensue.

By obtaining a copy of a potential employee’s SOS driving record, they can rule out any unsafe drivers. If you are a potential employee for any job that involves vehicle operation, from sales to delivery to commercial driving, order a copy of your driving record to show potential employers that you practice safe driving.

Different Types of Illinois Driving Records

The Secretary of State Driver Services Department only offers one kind of driving record: the driving abstract. An Illinois driving abstract is a short, condensed record of your driving history, which includes information such as:

• Your current license status
• The number of demerit points you have accumulated
• Any previous violations you may have committed
• Any previous fines that have been paid or not paid
• All current license endorsements

How do I fix a mistake on an Illinois drivers history report?

When purchasing a copy of driving records, you may discover one or multiple mistakes in the paperwork. These mistakes may appear in the form of points that have already expired or driving statuses (such as “suspended” or “revoked”) that no longer apply.

To fix any issues on your personal Illinois driving history, DMV.com encourages you to call the Illinois Driving Records Unit at 217-782-2720.

What is not included on my Illinois driving record report?

While your DMV driving record features a wide variety of important information, certain parties (such as potential employers and insurance entities) may require additional details about your history. DMV.com provides you access to various documents beyond your personal driving record, which you may be asked to provide:

• Your background check
• A VIN number check
• A DMV police report

Illinois Vehicle Registration History

In addition to checking driving records online, Illinois vehicle owners may also request vehicle registration history reports. These reports provide information about any vehicles that they have previously owned or registered in the state of Illinois, and may be necessary if a resident is ever asked to show proof of owning/registering one of these cars.

Driving Record Fees in Illinois

A certified driving record in Illinois costs $12.

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