Former Prosecutor
Will County State's Attorney's Office
20+ Years
Legal Experience
95% Success
First-Hearing Success Rate
100% Remote
No Travel to Illinois Required
Arizona Resident with an Illinois License Hold? Your License May Be Valid Until 65 — But the Hold Isn't Going Away
If you live in Arizona and the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) has identified an Illinois revocation on your record, you are dealing with a hold that can only be resolved through the Illinois Secretary of State. The Arizona MVD cannot remove this hold for you — no matter how long ago your Illinois case occurred.
Attorney Jack L. Zaremba is a former Will County prosecutor who focuses his practice on clearing Illinois license holds for out-of-state residents. He has represented Arizona clients from Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Flagstaff, and communities throughout the state — including college students, seasonal residents, and long-time Arizonans who had no idea an Illinois hold existed on their record. The entire process is handled remotely. You do not need to travel to Illinois.
Why Arizona's License System Creates a False Sense of Security
Arizona is unique among all 50 states in one critical way: your Arizona driver's license is valid until you turn 65. No other state issues licenses with this kind of duration. While most states require renewal every 4 to 8 years, Arizona drivers can go decades without setting foot in an MVD office.
This creates a dangerous blind spot for anyone with an Illinois hold on their record. Because you rarely interact with the MVD, the hold can sit in the National Driver Register (NDR) and the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) for 10, 20, or even 30 years without ever surfacing. You may have been driving on a valid Arizona license the entire time, completely unaware that an Illinois revocation is lurking in the federal database.
The hold becomes visible when you finally need to interact with the MVD — whether for a photo update (required every 12 years), a REAL ID or Travel ID application, a CDL transaction, or when you turn 65 and need to renew. At that point, the MVD checks the national database, discovers the Illinois hold, and your driving privileges are suddenly at risk.
Arizona law requires new residents to transfer their out-of-state license immediately upon establishing residency — defined as living in Arizona for seven or more consecutive months or working in the state. If an Illinois hold blocks that transfer, you are driving without a valid Arizona license from day one.
Case Result — College Student's Out-of-State DUI Cleared, Full Driving Privileges Restored
This case illustrates one of the most common scenarios we see with Arizona clients.
Our client was a young professional living in Arizona who had received a DUI while attending college in Illinois. The court case was resolved years earlier, fines were paid, and the client assumed the matter was behind them. When the client attempted to complete an MVD transaction, the Illinois hold surfaced — blocking their ability to maintain valid driving privileges in Arizona.
We handled the entire reinstatement process remotely via WebEx. We prepared the client's documentation, coordinated their alcohol evaluation, and appeared with them at the Secretary of State hearing — all without the client leaving Arizona.
The Secretary of State granted full clearance, and our client's driving privileges were fully restored.
If you are an Arizona resident dealing with an old Illinois matter, this result shows that these cases can be resolved efficiently and entirely from Arizona. See more of our successful case results →
Who Is Affected — Students, Snowbirds, and Long-Time Residents
Because of Arizona's unique license duration and its large population of transplants from other states, a wide range of Arizona residents are affected by Illinois holds:
University students and graduates: Arizona State University in Tempe, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and the University of Arizona in Tucson all attract students from across the country — including Illinois. A DUI picked up during college in Illinois follows you to Arizona and stays on the national database permanently.
Snowbirds and seasonal residents: Many people split time between Arizona and other states, including Illinois. If you established residency in Arizona after an Illinois DUI, the hold transfers with you — and because Arizona rarely requires you to visit the MVD, it can remain hidden for decades.
CDL holders and logistics workers: Arizona is a major distribution and logistics hub. If your job requires a Commercial Driver's License or any MVD transaction, an Illinois hold will surface during the process and potentially threaten your employment.
How the Process Works for Arizona Residents
Attorney Zaremba's practice is built for out-of-state clients. Every step of the reinstatement process is handled remotely — from your initial consultation to the day your hold is removed from the national database.
Step 1 — Free Case Review: Attorney Zaremba pulls your Illinois driving record and evaluates the full scope of your situation — including what type of hearing is required and what documentation you will need.
Step 2 — Evaluation & Documentation: We coordinate your alcohol or drug evaluation with providers who understand Illinois-specific requirements. Arizona residents can often complete evaluations locally with a provider who meets the Secretary of State's standards.
Step 3 — Hearing Preparation: This is where cases are won or lost. Attorney Zaremba prepares you to testify credibly and consistently about your history and the changes you have made. As a former prosecutor, he knows exactly what the hearing officers are evaluating.
Step 4 — WebEx Hearing: Your formal hearing before the Illinois Secretary of State is conducted entirely by video via WebEx. Attorney Zaremba appears with you and handles the proceeding from start to finish.
Step 5 — Hold Cleared: Once the Secretary of State grants clearance, the hold is removed from the NDR. You take that clearance documentation to your local Arizona MVD office to resolve any outstanding issues with your license.
Common Questions from Arizona Residents
I live in Arizona. Do I need to travel to Illinois for any part of this?
No. The entire reinstatement process — from your initial consultation through the administrative hearing — is handled remotely. Your hearing is conducted via WebEx video, and all evaluations and document preparation are completed without traveling to Illinois.
My Arizona license is valid until I turn 65. Why should I worry about an Illinois hold now?
Because the hold sits in the National Driver Register regardless of your Arizona license status. It will surface the next time you interact with the MVD — whether for a photo update, REAL ID application, CDL transaction, or age-65 renewal. Resolving it now prevents a surprise denial later and ensures your record is clean.
I got a DUI in Illinois while attending college. I have lived in Arizona for years. Can that still affect me?
Yes. Illinois revocations do not expire. A DUI from your college years creates the same hold as one from last year. It remains in the national database indefinitely until you go through the Illinois Secretary of State's reinstatement process.
I am a seasonal resident who splits time between Arizona and another state. Does the Illinois hold affect me?
Yes. The Illinois hold is in the federal National Driver Register, which every state checks. Whether you spend most of your time in Arizona, split between states, or are just establishing residency, the hold will block any state from issuing you a license until it is cleared.
How long does the process take for Arizona residents?
Most cases are resolved within 2 to 4 months from start to finish. This includes completing your evaluation, gathering required documentation, and scheduling your Secretary of State hearing via WebEx.
Don't Wait Until Your Next MVD Visit to Discover the Problem
Call today for a free consultation. Attorney Zaremba will pull your Illinois driving record and tell you exactly where you stand — no cost, no obligation.
We Help Clients Across the Country
Attorney Zaremba has cleared Illinois license holds for clients nationwide. Click your state below for details on how Illinois holds affect your state's licensing process.
Learn more about our out-of-state practice:
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