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
New Jersey Resident Blocked at MVC Renewal? We Clear Illinois Holds — Via WebEx
If you live in New Jersey and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) has told you that an Illinois revocation is preventing you from renewing or obtaining your New Jersey driver's license, you are dealing with a hold that can only be resolved through the Illinois Secretary of State. The MVC 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 New Jersey clients from Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Edison, Woodbridge, Trenton, Camden, and Cherry Hill — many of whom discovered the Illinois hold only when they walked into an MVC agency for what they expected to be a routine renewal. The entire process is handled remotely. You do not need to travel to Illinois.
How an Illinois Hold Blocks Your New Jersey License
The New Jersey MVC checks the National Driver Register (NDR) and the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) before issuing or renewing any license. These are federal databases maintained by the U.S. Department of Transportation that track drivers with revocations, suspensions, or serious traffic violations in any state. If Illinois has reported a revocation on your record, the MVC will see it and refuse to process your transaction.
New Jersey gives new residents 60 days to transfer an out-of-state license after establishing residency. But unlike most states, New Jersey operates on an appointment-only system for most MVC transactions — you cannot simply walk in. Securing an MVC appointment can take weeks, and if your appointment reveals an Illinois hold, you are back to square one with a new competing deadline.
New Jersey also issues licenses on a 4-year renewal cycle — one of the shortest in the country. This means New Jersey residents interact with the MVC more frequently than residents of most other states, which is why Illinois holds are often discovered sooner in New Jersey than in states with longer renewal periods. The good news is that this means the hold is less likely to compound for decades. The bad news is that you are facing the problem now and need to resolve it.
New Jersey's 6 Points of ID System — And Why It Matters
New Jersey is the only state in the country that uses a "6 Points of ID" verification system for driver's license transactions. To obtain or renew a New Jersey license, you must present documents that total at least 6 points across several categories — including proof of identity, Social Security verification, and proof of address.
This system means that New Jersey residents invest significant time gathering documentation before their MVC appointment. If you arrive at the MVC with all 6 points of documentation in hand, only to be told that an Illinois hold in the national database prevents your transaction from being processed, you have lost not only your appointment slot but potentially weeks of preparation time.
Resolving the Illinois hold before your MVC appointment ensures that when you walk in with your 6 points of ID, the transaction can proceed without interruption.
Case Result — Illinois Hold Cleared After Blocking New Jersey License Renewal
This case is a textbook example of how Illinois holds surprise New Jersey residents.
Our client was a long-time New Jersey resident who went to the MVC for a routine license renewal — a transaction they had completed multiple times before without any issues. This time, the MVC identified an Illinois hold on the client's national driving record that had been sitting in the database for years, undetected during previous renewals.
The client was told their renewal could not be processed until the Illinois matter was resolved. They contacted our office, and we handled the entire reinstatement process remotely. We prepared all documentation, coordinated the required evaluation, and appeared with the client at their Secretary of State hearing via WebEx.
The Illinois Secretary of State granted clearance, the hold was removed from the national database, and our client was able to complete their New Jersey license renewal.
If an Illinois hold has blocked your New Jersey license renewal or application, we can help. See more of our successful case results →
How the Process Works for New Jersey 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. New Jersey 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. As a former prosecutor, he knows exactly what the hearing officers are evaluating — and what will trigger a denial.
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 the MVC and complete your license renewal or application.
Common Questions from New Jersey Residents
I live in New Jersey. 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.
The MVC blocked my license renewal because of an Illinois hold. How do I fix this?
You need to go through the Illinois Secretary of State's reinstatement process to clear the hold from the National Driver Register. Attorney Zaremba handles the entire process remotely. Once the hold is cleared, you can reschedule your MVC appointment and complete the renewal.
I already gathered my 6 Points of ID for the MVC. Do I need to redo that after the hold is cleared?
Your 6 Points of ID documentation should still be valid when you return to the MVC after the Illinois hold is cleared. You will need to schedule a new MVC appointment, but you should not need to re-gather your primary ID documents unless they have expired in the interim.
How long does it take to clear an Illinois hold for a New Jersey resident?
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. We understand the urgency of MVC deadlines and work to move cases efficiently.
Can a New Jersey attorney handle my Illinois reinstatement?
No. The reinstatement process is governed entirely by Illinois law and conducted before the Illinois Secretary of State. A New Jersey attorney would not have the experience or familiarity with Illinois administrative hearing procedures needed to effectively represent you. You need an Illinois attorney who regularly appears before the Secretary of State.
Serving New Jersey Residents Statewide
We represent clients from across New Jersey, including Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Edison, Woodbridge, Trenton, Camden, Cherry Hill, and every community in between. Because the entire process is handled remotely, your location within New Jersey does not affect our ability to represent you.
Don't Let an Illinois Hold Block Your Next MVC Renewal
Call today for a free consultation. Attorney Zaremba will review your Illinois driving record and tell you exactly what it will take to clear the hold — 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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