Illinois drivers who lose their licenses due to DUI or other traffic offenses may be eligible to pay their reinstatement fees online. Under certain circumstances, drivers can submit the required fees to the Secretary of State and regain driving privileges.
Which Reinstatement Fees are Eligible for Online Payment in Illinois?
The Illinois Secretary of State only accepts online payment for the following types of driver’s license reinstatement fees:
- Traffic Offenses: These suspensions carry a $70 fee and are only available for online payment 10 days before the suspension ends;
- Court Orders: These suspensions carry a $70 fee and are only available for online payment once the court receives proof of order completion;
- Child Support: These suspensions carry a $70 fee;
- Field Sobriety (single offense): These suspensions carry a $250 fee;
- Field Sobriety (several offenses): These suspensions carry a $500 fee;
- Mandatory Insurance: These suspensions carry a $100 fee;
- Parking and Tollway: These suspensions carry a $70 fee and are only available for online payment after receipt of a Notice of Final Disposition;
- Revocation: These suspensions carry a $500 and are only available for online payment after receipt of a recommendation to reinstate;
- Uninsured Accident: These suspensions carry a $70 fee;
- Towing: These suspensions carry a $100 fee;
- DUI (single offense): These suspensions carry a $250 fee;
- DUI (multiple offenses): These suspensions carry a $500 fee; and
- Underage Drinking: These suspensions carry a $70 fee.
What are the Requirements for Paying a Reinstatement Fee Online in Illinois?
In order to use the online payment system for driver’s license reinstatement, the driver must:
- Owe a reinstatement fee from the list above;
- Utilize a credit card from American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa; and
- Pay a 2.35% or $1 processing fee, whichever is larger.
What is the Process of Paying a Reinstatement Fee Online in Illinois?
Assuming a driver qualifies as detailed in the previous section, he or she will need to execute the following steps to submit online payment for a reinstatement fee:
- Click on the “Pay Your Reinstatement Fee Now!” button on the Secretary of State’s website;
- Navigate to the next page and submit the relevant driver’s license number or legal name and birth date;
- Locate the appropriate record that matches his or her identity;
- Select the fee available for payment; and
- Enter credit card information to submit payment.
Once the driver completes the online payment process, the system will generate and send an electronic receipt via email.
Do You Need Legal Help?
No matter what the criminal offense, all criminal charges are serious. A sound strategy and an aggressive defense are essential for a positive outcome. To protect your rights in such situations, it is highly advisable to retain legal counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
The Prior Law Firm in Bloomington, Illinois, has proven experience in criminal defense. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free consultation. You can reach The Prior Law Firm by phone at (309) 827-4300, email at johnprior@thepriorlawfirm.com or by completing an online form.
(image courtesy of Glenn Carstens Peters)