Illinois SR-22 requirements after a DUI
Illinois requires an SR-22 filing for 3 years after a DUI.
What Illinois says
The Illinois Secretary of State's Financial Responsibility (SR-22) Insurance page states that SR-22 insurance is required for individuals with safety responsibility suspensions, unsatisfied judgment suspensions, revocations, mandatory insurance supervisions, and three or more mandatory-insurance convictions, and that the insurance must be maintained for three years. A DUI conviction is a mandatory revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205(a)(2), and the SOS reinstatement-fee page states the $500 revocation reinstatement fee is processed only after the office has received the SR22 certificate (or an out-of-state insurance waiver). Statutory basis: 625 ILCS 5/7-304 (proof of financial responsibility for 3 years after a § 6-205 revocation). Both SOS pages were read from Internet Archive snapshots because ilsos.gov did not respond; see notes.
“Upon the revocation of a driver's license of any person as provided in Section 6-113, 6-205 or 6-206, the Secretary of State shall suspend any and all of the registration certificates ... except that the Secretary shall not suspend such evidences of registration in the event such owner has”
Ignition interlock statute (see the state page): 625 ILCS 5/6-206.1
At a glance
| Filing required after a DUI | Yes |
|---|---|
| Form | SR-22 |
| Filing period | 3 years |
| License reinstatement fee | $500 |
| Licensing agency | Illinois Secretary of State (Driver Services Department) |
How an SR-22 filing works
An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility. The driver does not file it; the insurer does, electronically, with the state licensing agency, confirming that a policy meeting the state's minimum liability limits is in force. Most insurers charge a one-time filing fee, and a driver who needs one may find that fewer carriers offer it or that premiums are higher.
The filing must stay on file for the period the state sets. If the policy is cancelled or lapses during that period, the insurer notifies the state (an SR-26), and the license is typically suspended again until a new filing is made — which can restart the period.
The period usually starts at reinstatement, not at the arrest or conviction, though states differ; where the state specifies the start date, the note on this page says so.
Questions about SR-22 in Illinois
- How long must proof of financial responsibility be kept after an Illinois DUI revocation?
- 625 ILCS 5/7-304 provides that upon revocation of a driver's license under § 6-205 or § 6-206, the Secretary of State suspends the person's vehicle registrations unless the owner gives, and thereafter maintains for a period of 3 years, proof of financial responsibility.
Sources
- 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees, incl. reinstatement fees (Illinois General Assembly)
- 625 ILCS 5/7-304 – Proof of financial responsibility required after revocation (Illinois General Assembly)
- Illinois SOS – Financial Responsibility (SR-22) Insurance (live page; read from Internet Archive snapshot of 2025-12-31)
- Internet Archive snapshot (2025-12-31) of the SOS SR-22 page actually fetched
- Illinois SOS – Driver's License Reinstatement Fees (live page; read from Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-08-24)
- Internet Archive snapshot (2026-08-24) of the SOS reinstatement-fees page actually fetched