How to get a first time drivers license in illinois

The Learners Permit Process

As soon as you turn 15, you can start on your way to getting your Illinois drivers license! The first step is getting your Illinois instruction permit. Here’s what you need to do to make that happen:

Table of Contents Show

The Learners Permit Process
What Happens After I Get My Permit?
What Are the Driving Restrictions?
Instruction Permit (15-17 years old)
Illinois Initial Driver’s License (Ages 16-17)
Initial License Requirements
The Steps to Getting Your Initial License
What are the Initial License Restrictions?
Class D Adult Driver’s License (18+)
Adult Driver’s License Requirements
The Steps to Getting Your Full Illinois Driver’s License
How much is a first time drivers license in Illinois?
Can I get my license at 18 without a permit in Illinois?
What is the first step you should take towards getting a driver's license?
How do I get my license at 16 in Illinois?

Get parental consent.
Enroll in an approved driver education course.
- To get your permit, you will either need to be enrolled or no more than 30 days from taking a course.
- If you are age 17 and 3 months or older, you are not required to take a driver education course to apply for your permit.
Visit your local Secretary of State facility.
Present proper identification documents.
Pass a written exam and a vision screening.
Pay the required fee.

What Happens After I Get My Permit?

Once you have your Illinois instruction permit, you get to begin practicing behind the wheel! But before you climb into the driver’s seat, you need to know the rules:

You must have your permit with you at all times when you are behind the wheel, whether you’re with a driving instructor or a supervising driver.
You must log at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, 10 of which must occur at night.
Your supervising driver must be at least 21 years old, hold a 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.
- If you receive your license before your instruction permit expires, you may not be required to pay an additional fee.

What Are the Driving Restrictions?

While you hold an instruction permit, the hours you may drive at night are limited. Local curfews may differ, but generally, you may not drive:

10 p.m.-6 a.m. Sunday-Thursday
11 p.m.-6 a.m. Friday-Saturday

There are a few other things you need to keep in mind while you’re the proud owner of an Illinois learner’s permit. We’ve created the Illinois learners permit guide – which you can read on below:

To move forward and get your license, you must not get any driving convictions during the 9-month period that you hold your instruction permit.
You may only have 1 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.

After the minimum 9-month period, you can work on getting your drivers license! The state of Illinois requires both an initial licensing phase and a full license phase for drivers under the age of 18–but don’t worry, we’ll help you navigate that process too.

All drivers in Illinois are required by law to have a valid driver’s license or permit. The requirements can be a hassle to read through and figure out.

Don’t worry – we’ll break the entire process down for you so you know exactly what to expect, whether you’re a teen or adult looking to get your license!

Instruction Permit (15-17 years old)

The first step to your license starts with the Illinois instruction permit, also known as a learner’s permit.

You need to be at least 15 years old to apply.
You must be enrolled, or have recently completed, a driver’s education course.
A parent or guardian must sign consent and accept financial responsibility.
You must pass the written knowledge test.
You will need to hold your permit for a minimum of 9 months before you can progress.

If you would like to know more about the process of getting a learner’s permit, the requirements, and the restrictions – see our in-depth guide.

Illinois Initial Driver’s License (Ages 16-17)

The Illinois initial driver’s license is a more restricted version of the adult driver’s license. It allows you to drive unsupervised, except for a specific curfew. It also limits the number of non-family members you can have in the vehicle with you as you gain driving experience.

Initial License Requirements

Successfully complete a state-approved driver’s education course.
Complete and verify 50 hours of practice driving
Pass all three parts of the Driver’s License Exam.
A parent or guardian signs consent for you to drive and accepts financial responsibility.
Can submit proof of identity, residency, and authorized presence. You can find a list of state-approved documents here.

The Steps to Getting Your Initial License

Practice under your permit for nine months before you can apply
Visit your local Illinois SOS office. You may need to schedule an appointment in advance, depending on the location.
Bring the following documents with you:
- Your Illinois learner’s permit
- Acceptable forms of identification
- If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign their consent for you to drive with an initial driver’s license. Because they are financially liable for what you do on the road, they reserve the right to also revoke that privilege at any time.
- Cooperative Driver Testing Certificate, if applicable.
- 50-hour driving log with proper signatures
- You must also have a notation of successful completion of driver’s ed on your driving record. Check your Illinois driving record status here.
Be prepared to pay the appropriate fees.
Pass a vision test
Pass your driving exam, unless you are exempt due to completion of the cooperative driver testing program requirements. This exemption is not guaranteed, so you should bring a roadworthy vehicle for the test and sharpen your road knowledge just in case.
Take your picture
Receive a temporary paper license. Your actual license will come in the mail in approximately 15 days.

What are the Initial License Restrictions?

An initial driver’s license will let you drive unsupervised in Illinois, but you still have several restrictions to uphold. In general, you will not be allowed to drive:

between 10 PM and 6 AM (Sunday-Thursday)
Between 11 PM and 6 AM (Friday-Saturday)

You are also limited in the number of passengers you can carry. For the first year or until you turn 18 (whichever comes first), you can not carry more than one non-family member under the age of 20 with you in the vehicle. After the time period ends, you can carry one person under the age of 20 in the front seat, and as many as there are seatbelts in the back seat.

If you are under 18, you are NOT allowed to drive commercial vehicles or for-hire vehicles used to transport property (like delivery vans and moving trucks). Nor any other vehicle that requires a commercial license to drive.If you are under 21, you are not allowed to drive any vehicle for hire that transports more than ten people, like a church bus or commuter van. This also applies if you have an adult driver’s license.

Class D Adult Driver’s License (18+)

If you are over 18 years of age, you can go straight to your full Illinois driver’s license. You still have to complete a six-hour Adult Driver’s Ed course if you did not complete the graduated driver’s license program.

If you are over 21, the course is optional, but still highly recommended.

Adult Driver’s License Requirements

Submit proof of identity, residency, and authorized presence. You can find a list of state-approved documents here.
Pass the required tests
Turn in any other permits or licenses you own, including out-of-state
Have not been found by the court to be mentally incompetent, alcoholic, or a habitual user of illegal drugs
If you are age 18-20, you must complete a six hour state-approved Adult Driver Education Course if:
- you are a first-time applicant AND
- you have never been licensed AND
- you never completed an approved drivers education program

The Steps to Getting Your Full Illinois Driver’s License

Visit your local Illinois SOS office. You may need to schedule an appointment in advance, depending on the location.
Bring the following documents with you:
- Your IL instruction permit
- Acceptable forms of identification
- If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign their consent for you to drive with an initial driver’s license. Because they are financially liable for what you do on the road, they reserve the right to also revoke that privilege at any time.
- Cooperative Driver Testing Certificate, if applicable.
- 50-hour driving log with proper signatures
- You must also have a notation of successful completion of driver’s ed on your driving record. Check your Illinois driving record status here.
Be prepared to pay the appropriate fees.
Pass a vision test
Pass your driving exam, unless you are exempt due to completion of the cooperative driver testing program requirements.
- This exemption is not guaranteed, so you should bring a roadworthy vehicle for the test and sharpen your road knowledge just in case.
Take your picture
Receive a temporary paper license. Your actual Illinois driver’s license will come in the mail in approximately 15 days.

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How much is a first time drivers license in Illinois?

Driver's License.

Can I get my license at 18 without a permit in Illinois?

Do I need an Instruction Permit? An Illinois Instruction Permit (or learner's permit) is not required for adults 18 and older to apply for their license, but it is the only way to receive behind-the-wheel practice before taking the Illinois driving test.

What is the first step you should take towards getting a driver's license?

Step 1: Driver Education. First you will have to sign up for Driver Education if you are under 17 1/2. ... .

Step 2: Permit Test. You have successfully completed your Driver Education class and you have all your materials prepared for the DMV. ... .

Step 3: Driver Training. ... .

Step 4: Drivers License Behind the Wheel Exam. ... .

Step 5: Passed..

How do I get my license at 16 in Illinois?

To apply for a driver's license at age 16, a student who has held an instruction permit for nine months must visit a Driver Services facility and provide the following: 50 hour certificate verifying practice driving time; written parental consent; acceptable identification verifying full legal name, written signature, ...