Illinois DMV Guide: Permit, License, and Road Test
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Illinois ties its instruction permit tightly to driver education, and the Illinois Secretary of State, which handles licensing in the state, expects teens to be enrolled in an approved course before they can begin practicing on public roads. The state also asks for a substantial block of supervised driving and a notable holding period before a new driver moves forward. Lining these requirements up early prevents the frustration of discovering, months in, that you started the clock later than you needed to.
This guide walks through the Illinois instruction permit process: the minimum age and the enrollment condition attached to it, the documents that prove your identity and residency, how to begin online and finish at a facility, what the knowledge test covers, and the supervised practice and holding period that follow. The goal is to give you a clear sequence so each step builds toward your eventual Illinois license without surprises.
15 (enrolled in driver education)
Permit age
35
Test questions
28 (80%)
To pass
$20
Permit fee
Step by step: getting your Illinois permit
Step 1: Confirm you meet the age requirement
A teen can obtain an instruction permit in Illinois at age 15, but only if enrolled in an approved driver education course. The age and enrollment conditions are linked on purpose: Illinois wants new drivers learning the rules in a structured course at the same time they begin supervised practice. If you are older or not in a teen driver education program, a different path may apply, so verify your situation first.
Step 2: Enroll in approved driver education
Enrollment in a state-approved driver education program is the key that unlocks the permit for 15-year-olds. The program combines classroom instruction with behind-the-wheel training and is offered through high schools and approved commercial schools.
- Enroll in an approved driver education course through your school or a licensed provider
- Keep documentation of your enrollment to present when applying
- Track your progress, since later licensing stages depend on completion
Step 3: Gather your documents
Illinois requires proof of your identity and date of birth, your Social Security record, your written signature, and your Illinois residency. Bring documents from the acceptable list and make sure your name appears consistently across them to avoid hold-ups at the facility.
- Proof of identity and date of birth
- Your Social Security number on record
- Proof of Illinois residency
- Documentation of driver education enrollment
Step 4: Begin the application online
Illinois offers online tools to start the application and, where available, to schedule a visit to a Secretary of State facility. Completing what you can in advance trims your wait time. A fee applies for the instruction permit, so be ready to handle payment when you complete the application.
Step 5: Visit a Secretary of State facility
Because the permit involves verifying identity, capturing a photo, and screening vision, you finish the process in person at a Secretary of State facility, often called a Driver Services facility. Staff confirm your documents and driver education enrollment, take your photo, and screen your vision before testing.
Step 6: Pass the vision screening and knowledge test
A vision screening confirms you can see well enough to drive. The Illinois knowledge test has 35 questions covering traffic laws, signs, and safe-driving practices, and you must answer at least 28 correctly to pass. The questions are based on the Illinois Rules of the Road handbook.
Step 7: Receive your instruction permit
Once you pass, you receive your instruction permit. With it you may drive only while accompanied by a licensed adult who meets the supervision requirements, and you must observe the time-of-day rules that apply to teen drivers. The permit is the supervised practice phase, so keep it with you and begin logging hours right away.
After you pass the knowledge test
The instruction permit starts two clocks at once. Illinois requires teens to hold the permit for at least 9 months and to complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including a set amount at night, before they can advance to the next license stage. Because both the time and the hours must be satisfied, it pays to start logging practice early and to spread it across varied conditions rather than cramming it near the end. Keep a careful driving log and your enrollment records together, since you will rely on them when you move toward your license.
Tips for Illinois new drivers
The nine-month holding period is easy to underestimate, so the single best thing you can do is begin practicing the day you get the permit. Use the 50 required hours intentionally: include highway merging, parking, bad weather, and the nighttime hours Illinois specifically requires. When you advance to a graduated license, you will still face passenger and late-night restrictions that loosen with time and age. Treating the permit period as genuine training, rather than a waiting room, means the restrictions feel less like obstacles and more like a natural reflection of the experience you have already built.
Illinois permit and test fees
$20
Original Class D instruction permit. Knowledge testing is done as part of the application with no separately listed fee.
Renewing a Class D permit costs $10. The fee page notes that if you receive your license before your instruction permit expires, you may not need to pay an additional fee for the license.
Illinois permit restrictions and supervised driving
While you hold the permit
Supervised practice: 50 hours of practice driving, including 10 hours at night, certified by a parent or guardian
Hold period: Instruction permit must be held for at least 9 months before the under-18 applicant can apply for a license
- Must be supervised by a parent or an adult at least 21 with a valid driver's license while practicing
- Number of passengers is limited to one in the front seat plus the number of usable safety belts in the back seat
- Must be enrolled in an approved driver education course and pass vision and written tests to qualify
After you upgrade (provisional/intermediate)
- Nighttime driving restriction applies Sunday through Thursday from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (local curfews may differ)
- For the first 12 months of licensing or until age 18, passengers are limited to one person under age 20 unless they are a sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild of the driver
- These restrictions apply during the initial licensing period for drivers under 18
Restriction details change. Confirm current rules with the Illinois Office of the Secretary of State.
Illinois road test requirements
A teen who has held the instruction permit for nine months visits a Driver Services facility to complete the licensing process, which includes the behind-the-wheel driving exam.
What to bring
- A 50-hour certificate verifying practice driving time and written parental consent
- Acceptable identification verifying full legal name, signature, date of birth, Social Security number, and Illinois residency
- The required fee, brought to a Driver Services facility
Vehicle requirements
- A safe, properly registered vehicle for the driving test
- Valid insurance as required by Illinois law
Illinois driver handbook summary
Illinois treats the GDL program as a structured path that pairs supervised practice with phased privileges to protect new teen drivers. The Secretary of State materials emphasize the 50 hours of certified practice, the nine-month permit period, and the night and passenger limits during the initial license phase. Parents are positioned as central to certifying practice time and modeling safe habits.
Practice for the Illinois test
The fastest way to pass is to rehearse real test format. Our Illinois questions are balanced across the categories the Secretary of State tests.
Find a Secretary of State office in Illinois
Most permits are issued in person. Find your nearest Secretary of State location before you go, and check whether you need an appointment.
Map results come from Google and may include third-party services. Always confirm the office location, hours, and whether an appointment is required on the official Secretary of State website before visiting.
Official Illinois sources
Illinois licensing FAQ
How much does the Illinois permit cost?
$20. Original Class D instruction permit. Knowledge testing is done as part of the application with no separately listed fee. Renewing a Class D permit costs $10. The fee page notes that if you receive your license before your instruction permit expires, you may not need to pay an additional fee for the license. See the full Illinois fee breakdown and official source on our permit cost page.
What score do I need to pass the Illinois written test?
The Illinois knowledge test has 35 questions and you must answer 28 correctly (80%) to pass.
How many supervised driving hours does Illinois require?
50 hours of practice driving, including 10 hours at night, certified by a parent or guardian. Confirm the current requirement and any logging rules with the Illinois Office of the Secretary of State.
How old do I have to be for an Illinois instruction permit?
You can apply at age 15 if you are enrolled in an approved driver education course. Confirm the current requirements with the Illinois Secretary of State.
How long must I hold the permit?
Teens must hold the instruction permit for at least 9 months before advancing to the next license stage, while also completing the required supervised practice.
How much supervised practice does Illinois require?
Teens must complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including a required amount of nighttime driving, before moving on.
How many questions are on the knowledge test?
The knowledge test has 35 questions, and you need at least 28 correct to pass. The material comes from the Illinois Rules of the Road handbook.
Is there a fee for the permit?
Yes, a fee applies. Verify the current amount with the Secretary of State or when you complete your application.