You can get your Illinois driving record online through the Secretary of State’s website at ilsos.gov, pay $21 by credit or debit card, and download a certified PDF right away.1Illinois General Assembly. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees The whole thing takes about ten minutes if your license is in front of you.
Pick the Right Abstract First
Illinois issues two versions of your driving record, and ordering the wrong one means paying a second time.
The Public Driving Record Abstract shows traffic convictions, accumulated points, and reported accidents. It leaves out court supervision dispositions and the full details of any DUI history. Employers and insurance companies usually want this one.
The Affected Driving Record Abstract, sometimes called the Court Purposes Abstract, is the complete file. It adds confidential information like suspensions, revocations, reinstatements, and supervision outcomes. Only you, law enforcement, courts, and your attorney can access this version. If you need the record for a court hearing, a substance abuse evaluation, or to check the status of a past suspension, this is the one to order.2Illinois Secretary of State. Driving Record Abstract FAQ
What to Have Ready Before You Start
The site verifies your identity by cross-checking several fields from your physical license. Every entry has to match exactly, so pull out your license and gather:
- Your driver’s license or state ID number
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
- License issue date and expiration date
- License class
- Weight as listed on the license
If you renewed recently and your issue or expiration date changed, use the current dates from the new card. Payment goes through Visa, Mastercard, or Discover.3Illinois Secretary of State. Driving Record Abstract
Ordering and Downloading Your Record
Go to the Driving Record Abstract page on ilsos.gov. The site first asks you to confirm you’re requesting your own record. Then you enter your personal information, select the Public or Affected Abstract, and complete the $21 payment. That covers a $20 state fee plus a $1 processor charge. The certified record is available for immediate download as a PDF.4Illinois Secretary of State. Purchase Driving Record Abstract
You can reprint the document for five days after your initial purchase without paying again.3Illinois Secretary of State. Driving Record Abstract After that, a new copy means a new order and a new $21. Save the PDF and print a copy right away instead of counting on the reprint window.
If Online Doesn’t Work for You
Two alternatives exist if you can’t or don’t want to use the website.
By Mail
Download the Driving Record Abstract Request Form from the Secretary of State’s website, fill it out, and mail it with a $20 check or money order payable to the Secretary of State. The address is:
Driver Analysis Section
2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy.
Springfield, IL 62723
Mail requests take about ten business days to process.4Illinois Secretary of State. Purchase Driving Record Abstract The $1 processor fee doesn’t apply to mail orders, so your total is $20.1Illinois General Assembly. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
In Person
Any Illinois Driver Services facility will process a request on the spot. Bring a completed request form, valid identification, and $20. You leave with a certified record the same day. This is the option to use if you need the document immediately and the website isn’t working.
If You Spot an Error on the Record
Once you have the PDF, read it carefully. If it lists a conviction you don’t recognize, an accident you weren’t part of, or wrong personal information, contact the Driver Analysis Section at the Springfield address above. You’ll need documentation supporting the correction, such as court records showing a conviction was vacated or a ticket was dismissed. Errors tied to court dispositions usually have to be fixed at the source: the court that handled the original case has to submit a corrected record to the Secretary of State. You may end up working with both the court clerk and the SOS office to get it cleaned up.
The practical point is to check your record before you actually need it. Finding a mistake while an employer or insurer is already looking at your abstract is a much harder problem than finding it while there’s still time to fix it.
One boundary worth noting: the process above is for ordering your own record. If you’re trying to pull someone else’s Illinois driving record, the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act restricts who can do that and for what purpose, and the online self-service path isn’t the route.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 2721 – Prohibition on Release and Use of Certain Personal Information From State Motor Vehicle Records