, you can apply for your instruction permit as early as 15 years old. Before you can submit your application, you’ll need to enroll in or be 30 days away from participating in an approved driver’s education course.

You can begin driver’s education when you’re 14, but you’ll need to be 15 on at least the last day of your course.
You’ll need to complete 30 hours of in-class instruction, six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, and six hours of in-vehicle observation to complete driver’s ed.
You’ll have to pass a vision test and a 35-question exam to get your instruction permit.

We’ll cover everything you need to apply for your instruction permit in Illinois, the restrictions you’ll need to comply with while you have this type of license, and how you can progress to your initial license in Illinois.

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How to get an Illinois learner’s permit

To qualify for a learner’s permit (or instruction permit), you have to be at least 15 years old. As soon as that monumental birthday comes and goes, you can finally apply for your first driver’s license.

But don’t race to the DMV yet—first, you’ll need to enroll in or be 30 days away from actively participating in an approved driver’s education course if you’re between 15 and 18 years old. In Illinois, you can begin driver’s education when you’re 14, but you’ll need to be 15 on at least the last day of your course or you’ll have to take the entire program again.

You can head to the DMV once you’ve fulfilled the driver’s education

driving age

enrollment requirement, but you’ll need to complete 30 hours of in-class instruction, six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, and six hours of in-vehicle observation to graduate from a state-approved driver’s education program.

What to bring to the DMV

Begin this process by finding the

closest Secretary of State facility

and checking out their hours so you give yourself plenty of time to submit your documents and write the required tests.

First, you’ll be required to submit a Secretary of State application. Your driving instructor can submit it ahead of time, or you can do it when you visit the facility. Either way, the application must be signed by your instructor.

You’ll also need to bring

identification documents from four distinct groups

to show proof of signature, date of birth, SSN (social security number), and residency. Here are a few examples of acceptable documents for each group:

Group A – signature:

Court Order

Credit Card/Debit Card (major brand)

Illinois ID Card (current or expired less than one year)

Medicare Card

Passport (valid U.S. or foreign)*

Social Security Card

Group B – date of birth:

Adoption Records

Birth Certificate

Citizenship Certificate

Illinois ID Card

Group C – SSN:

Illinois ID Card Record (verified)

Pay stub or printed electronic deposit receipt bearing the applicant’s name and SSN

Social Security Card

Group D – residency:

Bank Statement (dated within 90 days prior to application)

Certified Grade/High School/College/University Transcript

Letter on Official School Letterhead (dated within 90 days prior to application)

Pay Stub or Electronic Deposit Receipt

You’ll also need to pay a $20

fee to apply

for your instruction permit. Once you submit the required documents and show proof of enrollment in an approved driver’s education program, you’ll need to pass a vision test and 35-question exam.

15 of these questions will be about traffic sign identification, and the remaining 25 will be multiple-choice questions. You’ll need to receive at least 80% on your exam to pass and obtain your instruction permit.

Most driver’s education courses provide practice exams so you can brush up on your driving knowledge skills before heading into the final exam.

MORE:

Can you buy a car with a learner’s permit?

Illinois learner’s permit regulations

Once you’ve passed the exam, had your photo taken for your new license, and had all of your documents approved, you’re ready to hit the road with your new permit.

However,

teenage driving laws

regulate each phase of the GDL program, and your Illinois instruction permit comes with some restrictions:

You must drive supervised at all times.

Your supervising driver must be at least 21 years old, hold a full

driver's license

for the type of vehicle you are driving, and have a minimum of 1 year of driving experience.

Your permit is valid for 2 years, and you must hold your permit for at least 9 months before you may get an Illinois driver’s license.

If you are 18 or older, your permit will be valid for 1 year.

You may only have one passenger in the front seat, and only as many passengers in the back as there are seat belts; all passengers must wear seat belts.

If you are under 19, you may not use a cell phone while driving, even a hands-free device, unless it is an emergency.

Texting while driving

is prohibited for drivers of all ages.

Nighttime driving restrictions: Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may differ).

Before you can progress to your initial license—the step before a full driver’s license in Illinois—you’ll need to do the following:

You must

log at least 50 hours

of supervised driving practice, 10 of which must occur at night.

For the first twelve months, you may only have one other passenger under 20 unless they are your sibling, stepsibling, or child.

You must complete a state-approved driver’s education course.

You must not get any driving convictions before applying for your initial driver’s license.

Once you’ve fulfilled all of the requirements listed above, you’re ready to schedule your road test and get your

initial license

! You’ll have to wait at least nine months after getting your instruction permit to do this.

While you’re only required to take one state-approved driver’s education course to graduate to this licensing level, taking extra courses, such as defensive driving courses, can further improve your driving skills and even help lower your

car insurance costs

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