This suspension is a result of a civil judgment entered against a driver involved in an accident that remains unsatisfied.

The suspension remains in effect until:

• the judgment debtor pays the judgment or settles;
• the judgement debtor files a petition for relief under the federal bankruptcy code pursuant to Chapter 7; or
• an installment payment agreement has been reached between the judgment debtor and judgment creditor. A breach of that agreement will cause a re-suspension of the driving privileges.

In order to reinstate your license, you must do one of the following: 

Enter into an Installment Agreement

You may make an agreement with the plaintiff's attorney to pay the judgment in installments. (If you do not know the name of the plaintiff's attorney, you may call the Illinois Secretary of State at (217) 782-3720.) If you do not make all the payments on time, your license will be re-suspended. 

• Obtain a court order agreeing to pay the judgement in installments and submit this installment agreement order with a court stamp or seal to the Secretary of State's Office.
• Obtain SR22 insurance from a private insurance agency. You must maintain this insurance for three years without lapse or cancellation.
• Pay a $70.00 reinstatement fee.

Make Full Payment

• Pay the full amount of the judgment to the plaintiff's attorney or the Clerk of the Circuit Court. After paying the full amount, make sure you receive a court-certified, file-stamped copy of a satisfaction of judgment form.
• Obtain SR22 insurance from a private insurance agency. You must maintain this insurance for three years without lapse or cancellation.

If you have filed bankruptcy since the time of your automobile accident and the other party (or parties) to the accident are named on your bankruptcy petition:

You must present proof of bankruptcy to the Illinois Secretary of State (see address below). The proof you present must be file-stamped or bar-coded and include:

• your bankruptcy case number;
• the date the bankruptcy was filed; and
• the name of the other party to the accident on the form itself.

If seven years have passed since the date the judgment was entered against you, you must:

• Obtain a court-certified or stamped copy of the court docket sheet (halfsheet) from the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county in which the lawsuit was filed. Bring this to the Illinois Secretary of State (see address below); and
• Obtain SR22 insurance from a private insurance agency. You must maintain this insurance for three years without lapse or cancellation.

If the judgment was entered against you in error, you must:

Obtain a court-certified or file-stamped copy of an order showing that the judgment was removed from your record. (This is often called a vacating or dismissal order.) Bring this to the Illinois Secretary of State (see address below).

Chicago Public Service Center
17 North State Street
10th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 793-1010
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.