---
title: "When does a third DUI in Illinois automatically become aggravated?"
description: "Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(A), any third DUI conviction in Illinois is automatically charged as aggravated DUI, a Class 2 felony. There is no lookback period on prior DUI counts for this purpose...."
url: https://chicagoduilawyer.net/faq-items/when-does-a-third-dui-in-illinois-automatically-become-aggravated/
date: 2026-07-08
modified: 2026-07-08
author: "Chicago DUI Lawyer"
type: faq
lang: en
---

# When does a third DUI in Illinois automatically become aggravated?

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(A), any third DUI conviction in Illinois is automatically charged as aggravated DUI, a Class 2 felony. There is no lookback period on prior DUI counts for this purpose. A DUI conviction from 20 years ago still counts as a prior. The chicagoduilawyer.net brand emphasizes this to every client with a prior record: the leap from misdemeanor to felony happens on the third case regardless of how long ago the prior convictions occurred. Prior court supervision on a first DUI does not count as conviction, which is why supervision preservation on the first case has cascading value.