Aurora, Illinois Driver’s License Reinstatement Attorney

Wirth Law is committed to providing quality representation for revoked drivers at Illinois license reinstatement hearings with the Secretary of State. For over two decades, our firm has exclusively focused on Illinois driver’s license reinstatement, achieving a success rate of over 95 percent for first-time clients. We offer virtual meetings, as well as in-person appointments at our office locations in Naperville and Chicago.

We are a mid-side practice by design, prioritizing client service and legal skill as top priorities. Our goal is quality over volume. Every client of our firm receives individual attention, regular communication, and a dedicated strategy. We want to know each client individually and personally work with them on reinstating their license. In short, we are passionate about the law and providing quality representation– not running a mega firm.

HELPING AURORA RESIDENTS LEGALLY DRIVE AGAIN

As the second largest city in the state, Aurora has one of the highest DUI arrest rates in Illinois. In the 2023 Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) survey, Aurora ranked first statewide among municipal police departments, with 366 DUI arrests—eclipsing cities like Elgin and Bloomington. In 2022, the city recorded 339 DUI arrests, again topping the list for DUI arrests for Illinois cities, excluding Chicago. These figures translate to an approximate rate of 1.1 DUI arrests per sworn officer during prior years, reflecting Aurora Police Department’s sustained focus on drunk-driving enforcement.

On a broader scale, Illinois had roughly 21,245 DUI arrests statewide in 2024, according to the Illinois Secretary of State. Of these DUIs, 90 percent of eligible arrestees lost driving privileges as a result of their DUI arrest, whether by summary suspension or driver’s license revocation. Males aged 25–34 show the highest DUI arrest rate of about 6 per 1,000 licensed drivers.  These numbers highlight the critical need for experienced legal assistance in license reinstatement matters.

Our office is experienced and focused on representing individuals at license reinstatement hearings with the Illinois Secretary of State. With offices in both Chicago and Naperville, we serve Aurora residents by ensuring easy access for in-person consultations and client meetings. Virtual meetings via phone or Zoom are also available to accommodate various schedules and preferences. Throughout our representation, we meet with clients regularly, whether virtually or in-person, to prepare them for their hearing. We handle both formal and informal hearings.

Formal hearings in Illinois are held exclusively at four locations: Chicago, Joliet, Mount Vernon, and Springfield. Most Aurora residents attend in-person hearings at either the Chicago or Joliet facilities due to geographic proximity. The Secretary of State also provides virtual hearings in many cases. Our Chicago office is conveniently located within walking distance of the Illinois Secretary of State formal hearing facility in the Loop, while the Joliet hearing facility is accessible by car or Metra train.

AWARD-WINNING REPRESENTATION FOR ILLINOIS DRIVER’S LICENSE REINSTATEMENT

Since 2002, our practice has been exclusively handling Illinois license reinstatement hearings and DUI defense. Managing Attorney Jennifer Wirth has been widely recognized for professional excellence relating to Illinois driver’s license reinstatement after a DUI revocation. She has earned a perfect 10.0 rating on both Avvo and Justia, both of which are independent legal ranking platforms. Lawyers cannot pay to obtain a high-rank on these sites- it must be earned through practice.

In 2024, Jennifer Wirth was named one of the Best DUI Lawyers in Chicago by Expertise.com.  She is active in many legal organizations, including membership in the National College of DUI Defense Lawyers, as well as the Kendall Bar Association.  Wirth previously been ranked among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Illinois for DUI defense. She has received multiple client service honors, including the Avvo Client’s Choice Award for ten consecutive years and the Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Award.

Our firm represents both Illinois residents and individuals from across the country who are prevented from obtaining a license in their home state due to an Illinois hold. We regularly help clients obtain out-of-state clearance, hardship permits, probationary permits, and full reinstatement depending on eligibility.

FORMS OF DRIVING RELIEF AFTER A LICENSE REVOCATION

The Illinois Secretary of State offers several pathways to restoring driving privileges, depending on individual eligibility and specific circumstances surrounding the revocation. During a consultation, our office reviews eligibility for a driver’s license hearing and the forms of driving relief that are potentially available to each client. The Secretary of State offers the following forms of driving privileges, if successful at a hearing:

Probationary Permits

Probationary permits, or lawful purpose permits, provide driving relief for certain revoked drivers in Illinois. Introduced in 2021, probationary permits allow individuals greater freedom than traditional restricted permits. Rather than limiting driving to specific activities, probationary permits authorize driving for any lawful reason, including employment, education, errands, and personal visits.

A probationary permit allows an individual to select the days and hours they would like to drive, with some restrictions. Under the permit, the person can generally drive up to six days per week, no more than 12 hours each day, within a 200-mile radius of their residence. To qualify for the permit, an individual must attend a successful Secretary of State hearing. If approved, the permit holder must complete any requirements imposed by the Secretary for issuance of the permit, such as payment of administrative fees, passing a driving test, or obtaining SR-22 insurance.

Hardship Permits

Hardship permits allow individuals with revoked or suspended licenses limited driving privileges for specific essential purposes. Commonly approved reasons include traveling to work, attending school, obtaining medical care, participating in substance use treatment, or transporting dependent children to daycare or school. Under Illinois Administrative Code (92 Ill. Adm. Code 1001.420), individuals must prove no reasonable alternative transportation methods exist and that denial of driving privileges would cause undue hardship.

Applicants typically provide documents to show hardship, such as a letter from their employer,  to show transportation is essential and no reasonable alternatives, such as public transportation or affordable ridesharing, exist. The Secretary of State considers each application at a hearing, weighing the severity of the hardship against potential public safety concerns based on the individual’s driving history.

Full Reinstatement

Full reinstatement restores unrestricted driving privileges to an applicant. Unlike probationary or hardship permits, reinstatement provides full freedom to drive at any time, for any purpose. To request full reinstatement, an applicant must attend a successful hearing with the Secretary of State and complete all post-hearing requirements in a prescribed time frame, such as payment of reinstatement fees or obtaining SR-22 insurance.

Out-of-State Clearance

Out-of-state clearance is a form of full reinstatement that allows out-of-state drivers to request the removal of an Illinois hold on their driving privileges. An out-of-state driver must show proof of residency, as well as complete a licensing hearing in-person or by out-of-state packet. If reinstatement is granted, Illinois removes the driving hold once all requirements are completed, allowing the driver to pursue licensing in their new state. Out-of-state clearance ensures previous Illinois driving issues are resolved and helps drivers reestablish lawful driving privileges elsewhere.

OUR PROCESS FOR DRIVER’S LICENSE REINSTATEMENT

“She handled everything with great precision and genuine care for my case and was a true gem in every sense of the word. She is the best, absolutely a true professional and has an exceptional team assisting in the process. Thank you so much Jennifer- you are definitely a class act! The best in the business, second to none.” Avvo Client Review, May 2025.

Our driver’s license reinstatement practice is committed to guiding revoked drivers through every stage of the Illinois Secretary of State hearing process. Each case is approached with an individualized strategy that emphasizes personal growth, character, and a compelling legal presentation. Our comprehensive services include:

• Gathering Evidence. Obtaining all evidence from the Secretary of State, including the court purposes driving abstract, sworn report(s), and any records of prior hearings.

• Reviewing DUI History. Reviewing all prior records, cataloging relevant information, and understanding any mitigating evidence surrounding the DUI arrest(s).

• Preparing Client. Multiple meetings with each client to review questions for hearing, and to discuss the best response to difficult topics. Meetings can be held in-person, by phone, or on Zoom.

• Attending the Hearing. Actively representing each client in the hearing room with a thorough, strategic direct examination, as well as presenting evidence to support our case for driving privileges.

• Decision. Helping each client understand their written decision, whether it involves completing requirements to obtain a restricted driving permit, or obtain full reinstatement of a driver’s license.

• Follow Up Services. When our representation has concluded, we remain available to answer questions on our representation. Our clients are always welcome to contact our office with updates or collateral concerns after a revocation, such as responding to employer background checks or questions about obtaining a CDL license.

Our focus on quality over volume has produced one of the strongest first-time win rates in Illinois. We continue to focus on client satisfaction, legal strategy, and knowledge of the law to deliver top-rated service for license reinstatement cases.  

Free Consultations and Flat-Fee Pricing

Wirth Law offers free consultations for all prospective clients. We proudly serve individuals from Aurora, Illinois, providing transparent, flat-fee pricing structures and accessible payment plans.

To schedule your consultation, please contact our office at (312) 761-8290 or email jennifer@wirthlaw.org. We look forward to assisting Aurora drivers in regaining their independence through dedicated, experienced legal representation.