Lifetime Revocations

Wirth Law has helped many individuals navigate the process of obtaining driving privileges after a lifetime driver’s license revocation in Illinois. Our office recognizes that a lifetime revocation can present significant obstacles to a person’s livelihood, as well as their overall lifestyle. This page provides an overview of the history of the Illinois lifetime revocation law, outlines important legal distinctions that influence eligibility, and highlights the options for driving relief under current law.

The History of the Illinois Lifetime Revocation Law

The concept of a “lifetime revocation” of Illinois driving privileges was formally codified in January 1, 1999. Under the former version of Section 6-208(b)4 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, any person who incurred a fourth or subsequent conviction for serious traffic offenses—specifically, Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Injury or Death, or Reckless Homicide—on or after that date would be permanently barred from seeking a driver’s license or a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) in Illinois. The 1999 law applied regardless of whether the convictions occurred in Illinois or another state.

The former law, often referred to as the “four strikes rule,” imposed a blanket lifetime prohibition on driving relief. No administrative hearing was available for affected individuals, and no distinction was made between those whose offenses were decades apart and those whose offenses occurred in a condensed time period. Furthermore, the Illinois Secretary of State would notify the National Driver Register of the revocation, effectively blocking license eligibility in other states as well, pursuant to the Driver’s License Compact.

This rigid prohibition remained in place for over sixteen years, leaving many individuals indefinitely unable to legally drive, even when they had demonstrated personal reform and long-term sobriety.

Significant changes to this legal landscape took effect on January 1, 2016. The amended law created limited but meaningful pathways to driving relief for both Illinois residents and out-of-state individuals who were subject to the Illinois lifetime revocation law. Today, Illinois license reinstatement lawyers can present options to clients who are subject to a lifetime revocation, ranging from hardship permits to full reinstatement for eligible out-of-state residents.

Convictions vs. Supervision in Determining Lifetime Revocation Status

A key legal distinction under the lifetime revocation framework is the difference between a conviction and court supervision. For purposes of applying the lifetime revocation rule, only actual convictions count toward the threshold of four or more offenses. Under Illinois law, a sentence of court supervision does not constitute a conviction and will not trigger the lifetime revocation provision.

Court supervision is a form of deferred adjudication in which a plea of guilt does not result in a formal conviction if the individual successfully completes the terms of supervision. This legal nuance is critically important when reviewing a person’s driving record to determine eligibility for relief. If a prior offense resulted in court supervision rather than conviction, it may not be counted toward the total offenses that can lead to a lifetime revocation.

Eligibility for Illinois Residents: Hardship Permits

Since January 1, 2016, Illinois residents who are subject to a lifetime revocation can request limited driving relief under specific circumstances. Full reinstatement of a driver’s license is not available for Illinois residents under current law, but a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) may be granted for hardship purposes. To be eligible to apply for a hardship permit, the petitioner must meet the following requirements:

1. Five-Year Waiting Period: The individual must wait five years from the date of the most recent order of revocation or the date of release from incarceration related to the most recent DUI or related offense, whichever is later.
2. Three Years of Continuous Abstinence: The applicant must demonstrate at least three years of continuous abstinence from:
   • Alcohol
   • Cannabis (including legal recreational use)
   • Controlled substances under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act
   • Intoxicating compounds under the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act
   • Methamphetamine under the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act

• Treatment and Evaluation Compliance: All applicable treatment requirements must be completed. This includes obtaining a drug/alcohol evaluation, successfully attending any required risk education or treatment classes, and providing character references supporting the claim of abstinence.

4. Demonstrate a Hardship. An applicant must present evidence of a driving hardship relating to work, school, support meetings, or other recognized hardship purpose.

5. Formal Hearing and BAIID Requirement: An applicant must appear at a formal hearing before the Secretary of State and, if granted a permit, must install a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) on all vehicles operated. The BAIID must remain installed as a condition of any hardship permit for a lifetime petitioner.

While the RDP does not equate to full license reinstatement, it can allow limited driving for employment, medical care, support group attendance, and other hardship-related purposes.

License Reinstatement for Non-Residents

When an out-of-state resident is subject to an Illinois lifetime revocation, they may apply for full license reinstatement under certain circumstances. Under current law, non-residents must meet the following criteria to apply for out-of-state clearance:

1. Ten-Year Waiting Period. The applicant must wait ten years from the date of the most recent revocation.
2. Out-of-State ID. A valid out-of-state identification card must be presented to request a formal hearing for out-of-state clearance.
3. Evaluation, Treatment and Other Documents. All applicable treatment requirements must be completed. This includes obtaining a drug/alcohol evaluation, successfully attending any required risk education or treatment classes, and providing all applicable character, abstinence, and/or support program letters.
4. Formal Hearing Requirement: An applicant must appear at a formal hearing before the Secretary of State. If successful, they must complete all applicable requirements for full reinstatement within an 18-month period after decision, including SR-22 waiver and payment of reinstatement fees.

If full reinstatement is granted and the individual later moves back to Illinois, the lifetime revocation is automatically reimposed. At that point, the person becomes subject to the same lifetime hardship permit as other similarly situated Illinois residents, including a lifetime BAIID installation.

Free Consultations on Lifetime Revocation Eligibility

With offices in Chicago and Naperville, Wirth Law provides experienced representation for clients seeking relief from lifetime revocations, whether through a Restricted Driving Permit in Illinois or reinstatement of driving privileges for those who now reside out of state.

 Our firm regularly assists individuals in Cook, Will, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Kankakee, Dekalb, and Winnebago Counties, offering dedicated representation to those facing complex driver’s license suspension or revocation issues. Wirth Law also represents out-of-state residents who have an Illinois hold on their driving privileges, helping clients across the country navigate the process of clearing their Illinois record so they can drive legally again.

Our practice is known for its exceptional client service and strong record of success with license reinstatement cases. Jennifer Wirth, managing attorney, has received multiple awards recognizing her commitment to client advocacy, including perfect “10” ratings on Avvo and Justia, the Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Award, and selection as one of the top DUI defense attorneys in Chicago by Expertise.com. Her approach to legal representation is grounded in professionalism, compassion, and an in-depth understanding of Illinois Secretary of State hearing procedures.

Wirth Law offers free consultations, affordable flat fees, and payment plan options through Affirm. To schedule a consultation, contact Wirth Law at (312) 761-8290 or email jennifer@wirthlaw.org.

Further Reading: Illinois Driver’s License Reinstatement

• Practice Area: Driver’s License Reinstatement
• Step-by-Step: The Illinois License Reinstatement Process
• Understanding DUI Revocations in Illinois
• The PDPS: Out-of-State Residents Facing a Driver’s License Hold for an Illinois DUI
• Types of Driving Relief after an Illinois Driver’s License Revocation
• Common Reasons for Denial at Illinois Driver’s License Reinstatement Hearings
• Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License in Illinois
• Understanding DUI Evaluations and Recommended Interventions
• Reckless Homicide and Driver’s License Reinstatement in Illinois
• Illinois Hardship Permits: A Brief Overview
• Law Library: DUI & License Reinstatement Law
• Understanding the BAIID Program in Illinois
• Lifetime Revocations