When should You Request a Copy of your Driving Record? 

Your Illinois driving record is an extremely important document. The information that shows up on your driving record can influence your insurance rates, affect your current or future employment, and even determine whether or not you get to maintain your driving privileges! Also, Illinois driving records are public records. Anyone can order a copy of yours, and although they would not be able to get personal information such as your home address, they can still see your driving history, including any accidents or violations. Read more...

What Information is Contained in your Driving Record? 

An Illinois driving record contains information about your license status and your driving history. Your license status is simply whether or not you have a valid driver's license in Illinois. If you do, your license status will show as "Active." If you don't, your driver's license status will show as suspended or revoked, depending on the circumstances. Your driving record also shows information about your driving history, such as accidents or violations. These can come back to haunt you even years later. For example, moving violations and accidents remain on your Illinois driving record for 4-5 years from the date you were convicted. Read more...

Where to Get Your Illinois State Driving Record 

The Illinois Secretary of State office keeps track of driving records. They offer two different ways for you to order your driving record: by mail or in person. If you can make it to one of the Secretary of State's Driver Services facilities, you can pay $12, fill out an abstract request form, and they'll print the driving record off for you right then and there. For even faster service, you can print off the abstract request form here and fill it out before you leave. Click here to find the location of the Driver Services facility nearest you. You can also have an immediate family member pick up a copy of your driving record for you, but they'll have to bring notarized written permission with them. Read more...

How is Your Driving Record Used? 

Your Illinois driving record is used first and foremost by the Secretary of State's office, to keep track of your driving habits and the number of accidents and violations you have accumulated. If your Illinois driving record indicates that you consistently use poor judgment or violate the rules of the road, the Secretary of State's office may take away your driving privileges. For example, if you are over 21 and you are convicted of 3 or more traffic offenses in a one-year period, you may lose your license. If you are under 21 and get convicted of 2 or more traffic offenses in 2 years, you could also lose your license. Read more...

How Defensive Driving affects your Driving Record 

With so much riding on your Illinois driving record, it makes sense to try to protect it. If you keep your driving record clean, you will be in much better shape. If you do get a traffic ticket, you can request to pay the fine and take traffic school in order to keep the conviction off of your record. If you choose this option and keep your commitment to the court to take traffic school by the date they designate, you will not have a ticket or any points show up on your driving record as a result. Also, you may qualify for an insurance discount for completing a defensive driving course. Read more...

Insurance Rates and Driving Records 

The final group that uses the information on your driving record is your auto insurance company. Auto insurance companies review your Illinois driving record as part of their underwriting procedure to decide if they want to offer you a policy and to determine your rates if they do offer you a policy. In most cases, they will also look at your driving record prior to renewing an existing policy. What does this mean to you?  If you get a ticket or have an accident that appears on your driving record, expect your insurance rates to increase significantly when your policy renews. Read more...

How much does it Cost to get a Copy of my Driving Record?

No matter how you choose to order your Illinois driving record, the cost is always $12.00. Read more...