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
Pennsylvania Resident with 3 DUIs? We Won Full Reinstatement — Via WebEx
If you are a Pennsylvania resident and an Illinois hold is blocking your ability to get or keep a valid PennDOT driver's license, you are not alone. We have represented multiple Pennsylvania clients who discovered that an old Illinois DUI or traffic matter was preventing them from driving legally in the Keystone State.
The good news: you do not need to travel to Illinois to resolve this. Attorney Jack Zaremba handles the entire reinstatement process remotely through video consultation and WebEx hearings before the Illinois Secretary of State.
How an Illinois Hold Affects Your Pennsylvania License
Pennsylvania requires all new residents to transfer their out-of-state license to PennDOT within 60 days of establishing residency. When you apply at a PennDOT Driver License Center, PennDOT checks the National Driver Register (NDR) and the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) — and if Illinois has a hold on your record, your transfer will be denied.
But the problem does not only affect new residents. Many Pennsylvania residents have held valid PennDOT licenses for years, unaware that an Illinois hold exists on their national driving record. The hold often surfaces during a routine renewal, a background check for employment, or when PennDOT conducts a periodic records review.
Once PennDOT identifies the Illinois hold, the result is the same: your Pennsylvania driving privileges are at risk until the Illinois matter is resolved.
The PennDOT Expired License Trap
Pennsylvania has a rule that creates a serious compounding problem for anyone who delays resolving an Illinois hold. If your out-of-state license has been expired for more than six months, PennDOT will not accept a simple transfer. Instead, you will be required to apply for a Pennsylvania Learner's Permit and pass a vision test, a written knowledge test, and a road skills test — essentially starting the entire licensing process over from scratch, as if you had never been licensed at all.
This means that if an Illinois hold prevents you from maintaining a valid license for too long, you will not just need to clear the hold — you will need to retake every test PennDOT requires. The longer you wait, the more complicated and expensive the process becomes.
Case Result — 3 DUIs, Full Reinstatement via Remote WebEx Hearing
This is one of the strongest results we have achieved for a Pennsylvania client.
Our client was a Pennsylvania resident with three DUI convictions on his record. Multiple DUIs require a formal hearing before the Illinois Secretary of State and result in a significant risk classification, which demands a higher standard of proof.
We handled every aspect of this case remotely. All preparation sessions were conducted by video. We reviewed and organized all required documentation and appeared with the client at his formal hearing via WebEx — with no travel to Illinois required at any point.
We prepared the client to testify credibly about his entire drinking history, what he learned in treatment, the lifestyle changes he made, and the support systems he had in place. The Secretary of State granted full reinstatement on the first attempt.
If you believe your case is too difficult or your history is too complicated for anyone to help, this result should change your mind. See more of our successful case results →
Why You Need an Illinois Attorney — Not a Pennsylvania One
An Illinois hold can only be resolved through the Illinois Secretary of State's administrative hearing process. No Pennsylvania attorney can appear at this hearing on your behalf, and no action taken through PennDOT will clear the hold.
Attorney Jack Zaremba is a former Will County prosecutor who has handled hundreds of Illinois reinstatement hearings. He understands the specific standards the Secretary of State applies to out-of-state cases, including how to prepare alcohol evaluations, treatment documentation, and testimony that satisfy Illinois requirements — which differ significantly from Pennsylvania DUI procedures.
That preparation is reflected in a 95% first-hearing success rate — meaning the vast majority of his clients get their hold cleared on the first attempt, without the delays and expense of having to go through the process again after a denial.
PennDOT's Temporary License and Facial Recognition System
When PennDOT issues a new or transferred license, it first issues a temporary license valid for 15 days while it runs your photograph through its FaceEXPLORER facial recognition system. This is a routine fraud-prevention measure — but if PennDOT discovers an unresolved out-of-state hold during this verification window, your permanent license may never be issued.
This is another reason to resolve an Illinois hold before applying for any PennDOT transaction. Walking into a Driver License Center with an unresolved Illinois hold will not only result in denial — it may also flag your record for additional scrutiny.
How the Illinois Reinstatement Process Works for Pennsylvania Residents
The process is straightforward and entirely remote:
Step 1 — Free Consultation: We review your Illinois driving record, identify the specific basis for the hold, and explain exactly what needs to happen to clear it. No cost, no obligation.
Step 2 — Document Preparation: We ensure your alcohol evaluation, treatment records, and supporting documents meet Illinois Secretary of State standards. Pennsylvania treatment providers can complete these — we will tell you exactly what is required.
Step 3 — Hearing Preparation: We prepare you for testimony at either a formal or informal hearing, depending on your case classification. This preparation is critical and is conducted entirely by video.
Step 4 — WebEx Hearing: We appear with you at your Secretary of State hearing via WebEx from wherever you are in Pennsylvania. There is no need to travel to Illinois.
Step 5 — License Restoration: Once the Illinois hold is cleared, you take the clearance documentation to your local PennDOT Driver License Center and complete your license transfer or renewal.
Common Questions from Pennsylvania Residents
Can I resolve an Illinois license hold without traveling to Illinois from Pennsylvania?
Yes. Attorney Jack Zaremba handles the entire reinstatement process remotely through video consultation and WebEx hearings. Our Pennsylvania clients never need to travel to Illinois.
What happens if my Pennsylvania license expires for more than six months because of an Illinois hold?
If your license has been expired for more than six months, PennDOT requires you to apply for a Learner's Permit and pass vision, knowledge, and road skills tests — essentially starting the licensing process from scratch. This is why resolving an Illinois hold quickly is critical.
Can a Pennsylvania attorney clear my Illinois license hold?
No. An Illinois hold can only be resolved through the Illinois Secretary of State's administrative hearing process. You need an Illinois attorney who regularly appears at these hearings and understands the specific standards that apply.
How long does it take to clear an Illinois hold for a Pennsylvania resident?
Most cases are resolved within 2 to 4 months from start to finish, depending on whether a formal or informal hearing is required and how quickly treatment documentation can be completed. The WebEx hearing process eliminates travel delays entirely.
I got a DUI in Illinois while attending college years ago. Can that still affect my Pennsylvania license?
Yes. Illinois holds do not expire and remain on the national driving database indefinitely. Even a DUI from decades ago can surface during a PennDOT renewal or background check and block your driving privileges until it is resolved.
Serving Pennsylvania Residents Statewide
We represent clients from across Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and every community in between. Because the entire process is handled remotely, your location within Pennsylvania does not affect our ability to represent you.
Don't Let an Illinois Hold Force You Back to Square One at PennDOT
The longer you wait, the greater the risk that your license expires beyond the six-month window — turning a manageable problem into a much bigger one.
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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