To get a full Illinois driver’s license, adults over the age of 18 must provide proof of identification and payment for a driver’s license fee. The process to receive a license involves taking an adult driver education course, completing the application form, and passing the appropriate exams—vision, written, and driving.

Illinois
requires residents to bring proof of signature, proof of birthdate, proof of Social Security Number, and proof of residency to get a driver’s license.
Driver’s will also need to pass a vision test, written exam, and driving exam.
Drivers between 18-20 and 69-80 years of age must pay a fee of $5, while drivers between 21-68 years of age pay $30.

Requirements for a driver’s license in Illinois

You must be 18 years old to get a full Illinois driver’s license. Before heading down to a Secretary of State facility or your local DMV, you’ll need to gather all your acceptable identification documents.

Please note that one document may satisfy more than one group. Here are the requirements:

Proof of name and verification of written signature: an Illinois ID card, canceled check (within 90 days prior to application), your Social Security card, U.S. passport, or a credit card/debit card

Proof of birth date: a U.S. birth certificate, adoption records, an Illinois ID card, a citizenship certificate, or U.S. passport

Proof of Social Security Number: your Social Security card, Illinois ID card record, W-2 form, a non-SSA-1099 form, or a pay stub bearing the applicant’s name and SSN

Proof of residency: a mortgage or rental agreement, utility bill (issued within 90 days of application), bank statement, credit report, or Illinois voter registration card in your name

Please visit the

Illinois Secretary of State website

for a complete list of all acceptable identification documents you can use.

Keep in mind: Identification requirements for commercial driver licenses (CDL), and Illinois REAL IDs may differ from those required for a basic driver license and identification card or state ID.

How to get a driver’s license in Illinois

For new drivers: complete an adult driver’s education course

If it’s your first time getting a license and you’re under the age of 21, you’ll need to complete a driver’s ed course (if you haven’t already). You can find a list of

approved providers

from the Illinois Secretary of State.

Vision screening

In order to drive in Illinois, you must have at least 20/40 vision with or without corrective lenses. Drivers whose vision is between 20/41 and 20/70 are limited to daytime driving only.

Take the written exam

Once you’ve completed your approved adult driver’s ed course and vision test, it’s time to take the written exam! The written portion requires you to:

Identify traffic signs based on shape, color, or symbol

Identify signals and pavement markings

Answer multiple-choice and true-or-false questions about traffic laws and safety rules

Study for your exam by using the latest

Illinois Rules of the Road handbook

, which provides all the vital information you’ll need to pass the written test. You will have three chances to pass the test within the year after paying the application fee for your driver’s license.

Take the driving exam

The final step in your journey to a full Illinois driver’s license is passing the driving exam, which must be completed at a

Secretary of State Driver Services facility

Bring your own motor vehicle, and make sure that the vehicle:

Is properly licensed and insured (

proof of insurance

must be provided at the exam)

Is in the same weight class listed on your driver’s license application

Displays valid Illinois license plates and a valid registration sticker

Jerry Tip If you took a high school driver’s education course and passed with an A or B followed by the school’s state-approved driving exam, bring your
Cooperative Driver Testing Certificate
—they might let you skip the driving exam!

During your driving exam, you will automatically fail if you commit any traffic violations.

So first things first: put on your seat belt! You will be graded on your ability to perform several driving tasks, including:

Checking vehicle controls

Backing the vehicle in reverse about 50 feet

Performing a turnabout using an alley

Parking uphill and downhill on the side of the road

Obeying all traffic signs, control devices, rights of way, lane markings, and properly using turn signals

Once you pass your driving test, pay your driver’s license fee of $5 (18-20 and 69-80 years of age) or $30 (21-68 years of age). Don’t forget your temporary driver’s license while you wait 15 business days for your permanent license to come in the mail.

Key Takeaway: Bring all acceptable identification documents and come prepared to pass your vision, written, and driving exams.

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Driver’s license requirements for teenage drivers

Illinois applicants under the age of 18 must adhere to the

Graduated Drivers License program

, which restricts young drivers in phases as they work their way toward a full driver’s license.

Permit phase—age 15

The

learner’s permit

phase typically begins at the age of 15. Receiving a permit requires the following steps:

Receive parent/legal guardian consent for an instruction permit

Verify your approved driver’s education course

Pass your vision test and written exam

Then, the teen driver must log at least 50 supervised hours of practice driving (including 10 hours at night) with their learner’s permit before applying for their initial driver’s license.

Initial driver’s license phase

After the permit phase, drivers between the ages of 16-17 may start the initial driver’s license phase. Here are the steps:

Parent/legal guardian must certify that you completed a minimum of 50 hours of practiced supervised driving, including 10 hours at night

Must have completed state-approved driver’s education course

Pass your driving exam

After passing the road test, congrats! You’ve just got your first official driver’s license. To smoothly transition to the full license phase, make sure to maintain a conviction-free record for six months prior to turning 18

What are the requirements for out-of-state drivers?

If your out-of-state driver’s license is valid, you are still required to pass a vision test and written exam in the State of Illinois.

If your driver’s license is expired, you may have to pass a driving exam as well. You must convert your license to an Illinois noncommercial license within 90 days of becoming a resident.

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