The time period to get a hardship license depends on if you need a formal or informal hearing. If you have one prior DUI, or are revoked for most other reasons, you will need an informal hearing. It takes about 7 days to schedule and prepare for an informal hearing before the Illinois Secretary of State. After the hearing, it takes 4-6 weeks for a decision.
If a person has two or more DUIs or is revoked for a more serious reason a formal hearing before the Illinois Secretary of State is required.
It takes approximately 2 months before a formal hearing can be held. The primary reason is because the Illinois Secretary of State takes five weeks to schedule the hearing once they receive the request and the $50.00 fee.
Further, I need to meet with my Client approximately five times (1 hour each meeting) to ensure that we will have a successful hearing. If the Client has not completed any treatment, there may be a further delay although in some circumstances the treatment can be waived.
After the hearing, the Illinois Secretary of State takes 5-6 weeks to mail a decision. Once a positive decision is made and received it takes a person about 10 days before they can take the road test and obtain the Restrictive Driver’s Permit, (Hardship License).