Illinois Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your Illinois learner's permit — age, fees, documents for the written test, supervised-hours rules, and what the road test itself checks — summarized from the official SOS pages and linked to the source.
IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Driver License FeesChecked 2026-08-12Official source
IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
Last verified 2026-07-16 · Source: Illinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's License ↗
Fees and rules change — always confirm current requirements on the official page above before you go.
The Illinois licensing timeline
Each stage below carries what SOS itself publishes, the people it applies to, the page it came from, and the date we last checked it. Where SOS publishes no figure, the card says so instead of guessing one.
1Eligibility
Minimum permit age15IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
Instruction permit at 15 with enrollment in an approved driver education course (625 ILCS 5/6-103); alternate statutory paths: 15 years 3 months if enrolled in school and meeting Driver Education Act requirements, or 17 years 3 months without driver ed
2Documents
SOS lists these for the knowledge-test visit:
- Parent or legal guardian consent
- Proof of enrollment in an approved driver education course
The knowledge test and the permit itself are handled in the same visit.
IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
3Required education
Illinois's own published steps name a training requirement:
- Enroll in an approved driver education course (permit at 15 with driver ed)
IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
4Application
Permit fee$20IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Driver License FeesChecked 2026-08-12Official source
Original instruction permit for first-time holders (625 ILCS 5/6-118)
5Knowledge test
Questions on the official testSOS does not publish thisIllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
Official passing scoreSOS does not publish thisIllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
Wait before a retakeSOS does not publish a verified retake waitIllinoisSOSIL official knowledge-test sourceChecked 2026-07-28Official source
6Permit restrictions
Permit validity24 monthsIllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
Restrictions Illinois puts on a new driver:
- Curfew: Night driving restricted Sun–Thu 10 p.m.–6 a.m. and Fri–Sat 11 p.m.–6 a.m. (625 ILCS 5/6-107.1; local curfews may differ)
- Passenger rule: Max one passenger in the front seat and no more back-seat passengers than seat belts; for the first 12 months of the license (or until 18), max one passenger under age 20 unless they are siblings/step-siblings or children/stepchildren of the driver (625 ILCS 5/6-107)
IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
7Supervised driving
Supervised driving for applicants under 1850 hours (10 at night)IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
Certified by a parent/guardian; practice supervised by a parent, legal guardian, family member, or person in loco parentis age 21+ with at least one year of driving experience, seated beside the driver (625 ILCS 5/6-107.1). That is a graduated-licensing rule — an applicant who is already 18 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
8Road test
Minimum permit hold9 monthsIllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
9Full licence
Unrestricted driving age16IllinoisSOSIllinois Secretary of State — Graduated Driver's LicenseChecked 2026-07-16Official source
Initial licensing phase with GDL restrictions (625 ILCS 5/6-107)
How to get your permit in Illinois
- Enroll in an approved driver education course (permit at 15 with driver ed)
- Pass the vision and written tests with a parent/guardian consenting, and pay the $20 permit fee
- Hold the instruction permit at least 9 months while logging 50 supervised hours, 10 at night
- Pass the road test at 16+ for the initial license (GDL night and passenger limits apply)
What is different about Illinois
Rules that are set by Illinois rather than nationally, and where they depart from what most states do. Compared against DMV Prep's verified rules for all 51 jurisdictions — unverified figures are left out of both sides of every comparison.
- Minimum permit hold: 9 months here. The most common minimum permit hold is 6 months (33 of 46 states we have verified).
- Permit validity: 24 months here. The most common permit validity is 12 months (9 of 19 states we have verified).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in Illinois?
You can get a learner's permit in Illinois at 15. Instruction permit at 15 with enrollment in an approved driver education course (625 ILCS 5/6-103); alternate statutory paths: 15 years 3 months if enrolled in school and meeting Driver Education Act requirements, or 17 years 3 months without driver ed.
How much does an Illinois permit cost?
The Illinois permit fee is $20. Original instruction permit for first-time holders (625 ILCS 5/6-118).
How long do you have to hold your permit in Illinois?
You must hold your Illinois permit for at least 9 months before the driving test.
How many practice driving hours does Illinois require?
Illinois requires 50 hours of supervised practice driving for applicants under 18, including 10 at night. That is a graduated-licensing rule — an applicant who is already 18 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
Where can I practice for the Illinois permit test?
Right here — take a free Illinois practice test, review every answer, and build readiness in your browser. The free DMV Prep app adds offline study and native reminders.
