How licensing works in Illinois
In Illinois, driver licenses are issued by the Secretary of State, not a DMV. Drivers under 18 follow the graduated driver licensing (GDL) program in three phases.
| Phase | Minimum age | Main rules |
|---|---|---|
| Permit phase | 15 | Enroll in driver education. Hold the permit at least 9 months. Log 50 supervised hours, 10 at night. |
| Initial licensing phase | 16 | Night limits until 18. First 12 months: one passenger under 20, not counting family. |
| Full licensing phase | 18 | Night limits end. The passenger limit can end at 17 after 12 months of licensing. |
New drivers are most likely to crash in their first months of driving alone, and night driving and carrying friends make that risk higher. Graduated licensing rules give you time to build skill in safer conditions, so you gain experience before the limits come off.
Night limits for drivers under 18
| Nights | No driving |
|---|---|
| Sunday to Thursday | 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Friday and Saturday | 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
Adults aged 18 to 20
If you are 18, 19 or 20 and did not take driver education in high school, you must finish a 6-hour adult driver education course before you get your first license.
The Illinois written exam
You take the written exam and a vision screening at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility. The questions come from the Illinois Rules of the Road booklet and include road signs and traffic laws.
- Check the Secretary of State website for the documents you must bring.
- Teens bring proof of enrollment in driver education.
- A Rules of the Road workbook is available from the Secretary of State to help you study.
Rules specific to Illinois
Phones
- All drivers: no handheld phone use and no texting. Police can stop you for it.
- Drivers under 19: no cell phone use at all, even hands-free.
- School bus drivers: no cell phone use.
Child passengers
Children under 2 who weigh under 40 pounds and are under 40 inches tall must ride rear-facing. All children under 8 must use a child restraint.
DUI
- A first offense brings a 6-month administrative license suspension.
- Limited driving privileges may be available after 30 days.
- Ignition interlocks are required for DUI convictions.
- Penalties increase at a BAC of 0.16% or higher.
Speed limits
| Road | Maximum for cars |
|---|---|
| Rural interstates | 70 mph |
| Other limited-access highways | 65 mph |
| Urban interstates | 55 mph |
Illinois allows speed cameras in safety zones within 1/8 mile of a school or park district, and in work zones when workers are present.
Older drivers
Drivers 75 and older must pass a road test to renew. Drivers 81 to 86 renew every 2 years, and drivers 87 and older renew every year.
Key numbers to remember
Many test questions ask for an exact age, time or number. Use this table as a quick review before you practice.
| Rule | Number |
|---|---|
| Permit age | 15 |
| Permit holding period | 9 months |
| Practice hours | 50, including 10 at night |
| Weeknight limit (under 18) | 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Weekend limit (under 18) | 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Passengers in first 12 months | 1 under 20 (family excepted) |
| Full phone ban | Drivers under 19 |
| Rural interstate limit | 70 mph |
Test tips
- Get the latest Illinois Rules of the Road and read it all.
- Learn the GDL numbers: 15, 9 months, 50 and 10 hours, under 20, under 19, 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
- Practice road signs every day for a week before the exam.
- Take these practice tests until you score 90% or more.
On test day
Give yourself plenty of time on the day of your test. Get a good night's sleep, eat something before you go, and arrive early so you do not feel rushed.
- Bring every document on the official checklist, plus your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see.
- Turn off your phone and put it away before the test starts.
- Read each question all the way through, then read every answer before you choose.
- If you are not sure, first rule out the answers you know are wrong.
- Change an answer only if you are sure you misread the question.
If you do not pass, do not give up. Look at the topics you missed, study those parts of the handbook again, and take more practice tests before you try again.
Keep studying
This guide covers rules that are special to Illinois. The general rules of the road, such as right-of-way, turns, lane markings, parking and sharing the road, are in the national US driving study guide. Study both before your exam.