How to Get Your License Reinstated
     After a Financial Responsibility-
     "04" Suspension (625 ILCS 5/7-301; 7-302)

Suspensions titled "04" relate to the obligations of a driver to be financially responsible. If you are involved in an automobile accident in the State of Illinois, you are required to establish financial responsibility.

• This is normally done by filing an accident report, which contains insurance information.
  
  
• The report is filed with the Illinois Department of Transportation.
  
  
• If a you fail to comply with this requirement, the Illinois Secretary of State is notified and a driver's license suspension goes into effect and remains until you comply with the statute.

In order to reinstate your license, you must:

1)	If you or the vehicle you were driving was insured at the time of the accident: Obtain a letter from the insurance company stating that you or the car you were driving was insured on the date of the accident. The letter must include the policy number and the dates upon which you were insured. Mail or deliver this letter to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Illinois Department of Transportation Accident Records Section 3215 Executive Park Drive Springfield, IL 62766
2)	If you did not have insurance but you did not cause the accident: You must have a hearing to prove that the accident was not your fault. In order to prove that the accident was not your fault, you must: Contact the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Administrative Hearings, http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/admin_hearings/home.html, at (217) 785-8342 and schedule a hearing. You must attend the hearing and present evidence that you did not cause the collision. Hearings are NOT ordinarily rescheduled.
3)	If you did not have insurance, you caused the accident and the other party to the accident agrees not to sue you, you must:   a)    Obtain a release form from your local Drivers Services Facility or the Illinois Secretary of State, Chicago Public Service Center.   b) The owner of the other vehicle involved in the accident, each person who may have been injured in the accident and you must sign the release form. These signatures must be notarized.   c) Mail or deliver the completed release form to the Illinois Secretary of State, Chicago Public Service Center (see address below).   d) Obtain SR22 insurance from a private insurance agency. You must maintain this insurance for three years without lapse or cancellation.
4)	If you caused the accident and you and the other party to the accident agree to an amount for you to pay for damages, you must:   a)    Pay the agreed amount to the other party. Make sure you receive a release from the other party as proof of payment. You can obtain a release form from your local Drivers Services Facility or the Illinois Secretary of State, Chicago Public Service Center (see address below). OR   b) If the other party agrees, enter into an installment agreement, which allows you to pay the amount owed to the other driver over a designated period of time. Obtain an installment agreement from the Illinois Secretary of State (see address below). The owner of the other vehicle in the accident, each person having possible injury from the accident and you must all sign the installment agreement form. These signatures must be notarized. Return the form to the Illinois Secretary of State (see address below).   c) Obtain SR22 insurance from a private insurance agency. You must maintain this insurance for three years without lapse or cancellation.
5)	If you have filed for bankruptcy since the time of the accident and the other party to the accident is listed on the bankruptcy petition, you must: Go to the Illinois Secretary of State and present proof of bankruptcy from the Bankruptcy Court. The form you present must be file-stamped or bar-coded and must include: your bankruptcy case number; the date the bankruptcy was filed; and the name of the other party to the accident on the form itself.
6)	If two years have passed since the date your license was suspended and there are no pending lawsuits regarding this accident:   a)    You must submit an affidavit for termination of suspension. This form is available at the Illinois Secretary of State and the completed form must be returned to that office (see address below); and Chicago Public Service Center 17 North State Street 10th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60602 (312) 793-1010 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/facilities/chicago/chicagopublicservice.html   b) You must obtain SR22 insurance from a private insurance agency. You must maintain this insurance for three years without lapse or cancellation.   c) Pay a $70.00 reinstatement fee.
7)	If you were not insured, do not wish to make an agreement with the other parties to the accident or cannot locate the other parties, you must:   a)    Submit a security deposit to the: Illinois Secretary of State Safety Responsibility Section 2701 South Dirksen Parkway Springfield, IL 62723 The security deposit must be a certified check, cashier's check or money order (not a personal check) payable to the Illinois Secretary of State for the total amount of damages as determined by the Illinois Department of Transportation, www.dot.state.il.us/. Call (217) 782-3720 and ask for information about security deposits and refunds. Installment payments are NOT allowed.   b) You must purchase SR22 insurance from a private insurance agency. You must maintain this insurance for three years without lapse or cancellation.   c) Pay a $70.00 reinstatement fee.
8)	If five years have passed since the date of the accident and there are no pending lawsuits regarding this accident:   a)    You may clear suspension by filing the SR22 insurance. An affidavit is not required. Chicago Public Service Center 17 North State Street 10th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60602 (312) 793-1010 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/facilities/chicago/chicagopublicservice.html   b) Pay a $70.00 reinstatement fee.