The Illinois Secretary of State issues four driving abstracts types: (1) the non-exempt public driving abstract; (2) the public record driving abstract; (3) the court purposes driving abstract; and (4) the internal driving abstract. Each of the different types of driving abstracts contains different information regarding your driving record. Knowing the different driving abstract types, what each type contains, and who can obtain each type, is the first step in protecting your publicly available information.

Non-Exempt Public Driving Abstract Type

A non-exempt public driving abstract contains the driver’s name, the driver’s license number, and the driving record, which includes convictions and current and past driver’s license and driving privilege revocations, suspensions, and cancellations. This driving abstract type is available for purchase by anyone.

Public Record Driving Abstract Type

A public record driving abstract contains all information contained in a non-exempt public driving abstract. In addition, a public record driving abstract contains restrictions or endorsements and classification codes of the driver’s license, the county of the circuit court that imposed any convictions on the abstract, and the driver’s personal identification information, which includes the driver’s address, date of birth, height, weight, sex, hair color, and eye color.  This driving abstract type may be obtained by:

“law enforcement officials, government agencies, financial institutions, attorneys, insurers, employers, automobile associated businesses, persons licensed as a private detective or firms licensed as a private detective agency under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, who are employed by or are acting on behalf of law enforcement officials, government agencies, financial institutions, attorneys, insurers, employers, automobile associated businesses, and other business entities for purposes consistent with the Illinois Vehicle Code, the vehicle owner or registrant or other entities as the Secretary may exempt by rule and regulation.” 625 ILCS 5/2-123(f).

Court Purposes Driving Abstract Type

A court purposes driving abstract contains all information contained in a public record driving abstract. In addition, a court purposes driving abstract contains information of court supervisions for traffic violations and traffic accidents. This driving abstract type is available to courts, police, state’s attorneys, the driver, and the driver’s attorney. 625 ILCS 5/6-204(d).

Internal Driving Abstract Type

An internal driving abstract is the most complete record available and contains a complete history of all transactions done with or reported to the Secretary of State regarding a person’s driving record. An internal driving abstract contains, among other things, information regarding changes of name, surrender of an Illinois driver’s license to another state, and rescissions of suspensions and revocations. This driving abstract type is not available to the public, but is used internally by the Secretary of State’s Office, Department of Administrative Hearings, and Driver Services Department.