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
Florida Resident with an Illinois License Hold? Here's How to Clear It
If you are a Florida resident and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has told you that an Illinois hold is preventing you from obtaining or renewing your driver's license, you are not alone. Thousands of people who once lived in Illinois — or who had a DUI arrest while visiting the state — have moved to Florida only to discover years later that Illinois still has a revocation on their record that blocks their ability to drive legally anywhere in the country.
Attorney Jack L. Zaremba is a former Will County prosecutor who has dedicated his practice to helping people in exactly this situation. He has successfully cleared Illinois license holds for clients across Florida — from Jacksonville to Miami, Tampa to Orlando — entirely through video consultation and online WebEx hearings. You will never need to travel to Illinois.
How an Illinois Hold Blocks Your Florida Driver's License
When Illinois revokes your driver's license — whether for a DUI, multiple DUIs, or any other qualifying offense — that revocation is reported to the National Driver Register (NDR) and the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS), which is a federal database shared by every state in the country.
Florida participates fully in the NDR. When you walk into a Florida DHSMV office to apply for a new license, renew an existing one, or transfer your credentials as a new resident, the DHSMV runs your information against the national database. If Illinois has reported a revocation or hold, the Florida DHSMV will refuse to issue your license until that hold is cleared — regardless of how long ago the offense occurred.
This is a situation that catches many Florida residents off guard. You may have left Illinois 10, 15, or even 20 years ago. You may have assumed that because your Illinois court case was resolved, fines were paid, and probation was completed, the matter was behind you. But under Illinois law, paying fines and completing a court case does not automatically restore your driving privileges. The revocation remains on your record and in the national database until you go through the Illinois Secretary of State's formal reinstatement process — a process that is entirely separate from the criminal court system.
Florida's 30-day residency requirement makes this particularly urgent. Under Florida law, new residents must obtain a Florida driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency. If an Illinois hold is blocking your ability to get that license, you could be driving without valid credentials — putting your insurance, your employment, and your daily life at risk.
How Attorney Zaremba Helps Florida Residents Clear Illinois Holds
Attorney Jack Zaremba's practice is specifically designed for people who live outside Illinois but need to resolve an Illinois license revocation. The entire process — from your first consultation through your Secretary of State hearing — is handled remotely so that you never have to leave Florida.
Here is how the process works:
Step 1 — Free Case Evaluation: Attorney Zaremba reviews your Illinois driving record and explains exactly what needs to happen to clear your hold. There is no cost and no obligation for this initial consultation.
Step 2 — Documentation & Evaluation: We coordinate your alcohol or drug evaluation with providers who understand Illinois requirements — even from Florida. We ensure your evaluation, treatment history, and all supporting documents meet the Secretary of State's standards.
Step 3 — Hearing Preparation: Attorney Zaremba prepares you extensively for your administrative hearing. You will know exactly what questions to expect and how to testify credibly about your history and the changes you have made.
Step 4 — WebEx Hearing: Your formal or informal hearing before the Illinois Secretary of State is conducted entirely by video via WebEx. Attorney Zaremba appears with you and advocates on your behalf throughout the proceeding.
Step 5 — Hold Cleared: Once the Secretary of State grants clearance, the Illinois hold is removed from the national database. You then take that clearance documentation to your local Florida DHSMV office and obtain your Florida license.
Real Result: Florida Client — Lifetime Revocation Cleared
Lifetime Revocation Cleared — License Restored in Florida
Our client was a Florida resident who had been lifetime revoked in Illinois — the most serious classification of license revocation under Illinois law. A lifetime revocation means the state has determined that the individual poses such a significant risk that standard reinstatement timelines do not apply. These cases require extraordinary documentation and preparation.
Despite the severity of the revocation, our client had made genuine and lasting changes in his life. We worked with him entirely through video consultation — he never had to travel to Illinois. We prepared him thoroughly for the administrative hearing, ensuring his alcohol evaluation, treatment history, and testimony all met the elevated standards the Secretary of State applies in lifetime revocation cases.
The Illinois Secretary of State granted our client full clearance of the Illinois hold on his license. With that clearance in hand, he was able to return to the Florida DHSMV and obtain a valid Florida driver's license.
Hearing Type: Formal Administrative Hearing | Result: Full Clearance Granted
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Common Questions from Florida Residents
I live in Florida. Do I have to travel to Illinois for my reinstatement hearing?
No. Attorney Jack Zaremba handles the entire process remotely. Your hearing is conducted via WebEx video, and all preparation, evaluations, and documentation are completed online. You never have to leave Florida.
Why is the Florida DHSMV blocking my license because of an old Illinois DUI?
Florida participates in the National Driver Register and the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS). When Illinois revokes your license and reports it to the national database, every other state — including Florida — can see that hold. The Florida DHSMV will not issue or renew your license until the Illinois hold is cleared at its source.
How long does it take to clear an Illinois hold if I live in Florida?
The timeline depends on your specific case, but most cases are resolved within 2 to 4 months from start to finish. This includes time for completing your alcohol evaluation, gathering documentation, and scheduling your Secretary of State hearing.
Can I use a Florida treatment provider for my Illinois alcohol evaluation?
In many cases, yes. We work with evaluators who understand Illinois requirements and can conduct evaluations that meet the Secretary of State's standards, even if you are located in Florida. Attorney Zaremba coordinates this as part of your case preparation.
I was denied at a previous hearing. Can you still help me from Florida?
Yes. Attorney Zaremba regularly handles cases where clients have been denied at prior hearings. A previous denial makes the case more complex, but with the right preparation and strategy, successful outcomes are still very achievable.
Why Florida Residents Choose Attorney Jack Zaremba
Jack Zaremba is not a general practice attorney who occasionally handles license cases. His practice is focused specifically on Illinois driver's license reinstatement, with particular expertise in out-of-state cases. As a former prosecutor in the Will County State's Attorney's Office, he has firsthand experience with the administrative hearing process and understands what the Secretary of State expects to hear.
His clients in Florida choose him because:
- No travel required — everything is handled by video from start to finish
- 95% first-hearing success rate — thorough preparation makes the difference
- Former prosecutor — he knows the process from the inside
- Hundreds of out-of-state cases — he understands the unique challenges Florida residents face
- Free initial consultation — he will review your case and tell you exactly where you stand
Ready to Clear Your Illinois Hold?
Call today for a free consultation. Attorney Zaremba will review your Illinois driving record and explain your options — 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:
