You live in Texas, Florida, California, or anywhere outside Illinois. You haven't lived in Illinois for years — maybe decades. But when you try to get your driver's license in your current state, you're told: "Illinois has a hold on your license."
Surprise. That old DUI from 2005, 2010, or whenever you lived in Illinois? It's still there. And Illinois won't release the hold until you complete an alcohol and drug evaluation from an Illinois DBHR-licensed provider.
This is frustrating, confusing, and — until recently — required flying or driving to Illinois just for a one-hour appointment.
Not anymore. Here's how to clear your Illinois DUI hold and get your license reinstated, no matter where you live.
Why Does Illinois Still Have a Hold on Your License?
Most states participate in the Driver License Compact and the Non-Resident Violator Compact — interstate agreements that share information about driving violations, suspensions, and DUI convictions.
When you get a DUI in one state and then move to another, the new state checks your driving record nationwide. If Illinois shows an unresolved DUI or license suspension, your new state cannot issue you a license until Illinois clears the hold.
This happens even if:
- Your DUI was years or decades ago
- You completed your court case
- You haven't lived in Illinois in years
- You've had a license in another state since then
Illinois doesn't care where you live now. If you didn't complete the required evaluation, treatment, and reinstatement process back when you got the DUI, the hold remains active indefinitely.
What Does Illinois Require to Release the Hold?
To clear an Illinois DUI hold, the Illinois Secretary of State requires you to:
- Complete a DUI evaluation from an Illinois DBHR-licensed provider
- Complete any required treatment or education recommended by the evaluation
- Go through the administrative hearing process with the Secretary of State (informal or formal hearing)
- Pay reinstatement fees
- Obtain clearance from Illinois once the hold is lifted
Once Illinois releases the hold, your current state can issue you a license.
Can You Use a Provider in Your Current State?
No.
This is the most common misconception. People assume they can go to a local DUI evaluator in Texas, Florida, or wherever they live, get the evaluation done, and send it to Illinois.
Illinois will reject it.
The Illinois Secretary of State only accepts evaluations from providers licensed by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Abuse (IDHS DBHR). An evaluation from a Texas, Florida, or California provider — even if they're licensed in that state — doesn't meet Illinois' requirements.
This is where most people get stuck: they need an Illinois-licensed provider, but they don't live in Illinois.
The Solution: Virtual Evaluations from an Illinois Provider
Illinois law allows licensed DBHR providers to conduct DUI evaluations via secure telehealth. This means you can complete your evaluation remotely from wherever you live — no travel to Illinois required.
Here's how it works:
Step 1: Schedule a Virtual Evaluation
Call or email us at (217) 891-6063 or duieats@gmail.com. Let us know you're out of state and need an Illinois evaluation to clear a license hold.
Step 2: Gather Required Documents
Before your appointment, you'll need to obtain:
- Court-purpose driving abstract from Illinois: Order online at cyberdriveillinois.com or call the Secretary of State
- Driving records from any other state you've been licensed in: Contact the DMV in each state where you've held a license to obtain your driving history
- Arrest paperwork (if available): Law Enforcement Sworn Report or court documents from your original DUI case
- Valid photo ID: Driver's license (from current state), state ID, or passport
- Out of State Resident Reinstatement Application: Download and complete the application form (PDF) — you'll fill your section of this form out as part of your application for reinstatement. Your evaluator will also need to complete their section of this form
If you don't have your old arrest paperwork, don't worry — we can often work with just the driving abstract and any court records you can obtain from the county where you were arrested.
Step 3: Complete the Virtual Evaluation
At your scheduled time, you'll join a secure video call from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. The evaluation takes about one hour and follows the same process as an in-person assessment:
- Review your documents
- Ask standardized questions about your arrest, alcohol/drug use history, and current situation
- Apply the ASAM Criteria, 4th Edition to determine your risk level and treatment recommendation
Step 4: Receive Your Documentation
We'll provide your written evaluation report the same day via email (PDF). You can forward it to the Illinois Secretary of State, your attorney, or whoever needs it.
If treatment is recommended, we can coordinate virtual or in-person treatment options (depending on where you live and what Illinois requires).
Step 5: Go Through the Administrative Hearing Process
Once you've completed your evaluation (and treatment, if required), you'll need to go through the Illinois Secretary of State hearing process. This is typically:
- Informal hearing (walk-in basis) for simpler, first-time cases
- Formal hearing (virtual or in-person) for more complex or multiple-offense cases — the Secretary of State offers virtual hearings for out-of-state residents
We can guide you on what to submit and how the process works. Many out-of-state clients also hire Illinois attorneys who specialize in Secretary of State hearings to handle this step.
What If Your DUI Was in Another State, But You Need an Illinois License?
This is the reverse scenario: you got a DUI in Texas, Florida, or another state, but now you're moving to Illinois and need an Illinois driver's license.
In this case, Illinois will require you to:
- Clear the hold in the state where you got the DUI (complete their evaluation and treatment requirements)
- Provide proof to Illinois that your out-of-state case is fully resolved
- Potentially complete an Illinois evaluation if the Secretary of State requests one
Each state has different rules, but the principle is the same: you can't get a license in Illinois if another state has an unresolved DUI hold on you.
How Long Does the Out-of-State Process Take?
The timeline depends on how complicated your case is and how quickly you complete the steps, but here's a typical path:
- Virtual evaluation: Can be scheduled within days (1 hour to complete)
- Receive documentation: Same day
- Complete treatment (if required): 4-12 weeks (some programs can be done virtually)
- Submit to Illinois Secretary of State: 1-2 weeks to prepare and mail
- Secretary of State review: 4-8 weeks for informal hearings, 2-6 months for formal hearings (scheduling can be slow)
- Receive clearance: Once approved, you can apply for a license in your current state
Total timeline: 3-9 months from start to finish, depending on whether treatment is required and how quickly the Secretary of State processes your case.
The key is to start the evaluation as soon as possible — it's the first domino that gets everything else moving.
Do You Need an Attorney?
Not necessarily — but it can help, especially if:
- Your case is old (10+ years) and records are hard to find
- You have multiple DUI offenses
- You're facing a formal Secretary of State hearing
- You're unsure how to navigate the Illinois system from out of state
We work with several Illinois attorneys who specialize in out-of-state license reinstatement cases. If you need a referral, we're happy to point you in the right direction.
What If You Can't Find Your Old Arrest Paperwork?
Don't panic. Many out-of-state clients don't have their arrest documents from years ago. Here's what you can do:
- Order your Illinois driving abstract — this will show the DUI arrest date and some details
- Contact the county circuit clerk where you were arrested and request court records
- Work with us — we can often complete the evaluation using the driving abstract and whatever court records you can obtain
In many cases, the driving abstract is sufficient to complete the evaluation. The Secretary of State may request additional documentation later, but we can get you started with what you have.
Can Classes Be Completed Virtually?
It depends on the recommendation. Early Intervention Services and Risk Education programs can now be completed online. Substance Use Treatment cannot be done across state lines by an Illinois Provider at this time.
If your evaluation recommends:
- 10 hours of Driver's Risk Education or 12 hours of Early Intervention Services: Some Illinois providers (including DUI Evaluation & Treatment Services) offer these programs virtually
- Outpatient treatment: Cannot be completed across state lines. You will be referred to a local substance abuse treatment provider to complete any recommended treatment.
We'll discuss your options during the evaluation and can recommend appropriate providers for out-of-state clients.
Real-Life Example: How This Works
Let's say you're John, and you live in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2012, you were arrested for DUI in Springfield, Illinois while visiting family. You completed your court case, paid fines, and moved back to Arizona.
Now, in 2026, you're trying to renew your Arizona license and you're told: "Illinois has a hold on your license."
You never completed your DUI evaluation or treatment back in 2012, so Illinois never released the hold. Arizona won't renew your license until Illinois clears it.
Here's what you do:
- Order your Illinois driving abstract online
- Order a driving abstract from any other state you've been licensed in
- Call DUI Evaluation & Treatment Services and schedule a virtual evaluation
- Complete the one-hour evaluation via video call from your home in Phoenix
- Receive your evaluation report the same day
- Complete the recommended services (online options available)
- Submit proof of evaluation and treatment to the Illinois Secretary of State through the Administrative Hearing process
- Wait for Illinois to process and clear the hold (4-8 weeks)
- Once cleared, renew your Arizona license
Total time: 3-4 months. No travel to Illinois required.
Why Choose DUI Evaluation & Treatment Services for Out-of-State Evaluations?
We've been helping out-of-state clients clear Illinois license holds for years. Here's what makes us a good fit:
- 15 years of experience navigating the Illinois DUI system and Secretary of State requirements
- Licensed Illinois DBHR provider — our evaluations are accepted by the Secretary of State
- Virtual evaluation expertise — we've conducted hundreds of remote evaluations for clients nationwide
- Same-day documentation — no waiting weeks for your report
- Knowledgeable about out-of-state cases — we understand the interstate license compact and how to navigate it
- Treatment coordination — we can help you find virtual treatment options if needed
We know this process is frustrating, especially when you haven't lived in Illinois in years. We're here to make it as straightforward as possible.
What States Do We Work With Most Often?
We've helped clients in nearly all 50 states clear Illinois license holds, but we work most frequently with people in:
- Texas
- Florida
- California
- Arizona
- Indiana
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Tennessee
No matter where you live, if you need an Illinois DUI evaluation, we can help.
Don't Let an Old DUI Keep You From Driving
An Illinois license hold from an old DUI can feel like a nightmare — especially when you haven't lived there in years and just want to move on with your life.
The good news: clearing the hold is straightforward if you know the steps. And with virtual evaluations, you don't have to fly or drive to Illinois to get it done.
We've helped hundreds of out-of-state clients successfully navigate this process. We know what Illinois requires, how to get it done remotely, and how to minimize delays and complications.
Call us today at (217) 891-6063 to schedule your virtual evaluation. Let's get this cleared so you can get your license back.