Illinois Driver Education & Licensing Resources
Find Your ILLINOIS Driving Course
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Why Choose DOT Driving School in Illinois?
DOT Driving School is your trusted source for Illinois driving courses, driver education, and free study tools designed to help Illinois drivers become safer and more confident behind the wheel. Tap any topic to learn more.
We offer a complete selection of online Illinois teen drivers education, Illinois adult driver education, defensive driving / traffic school, and other driver improvement courses. Our online courses are recommended for additional practice, skill development, and driver knowledge.
Getting licensed doesn't have to be stressful or expensive. We combine high-quality online education with powerful free study tools. Practice as much as you'd like with our Free Illinois Permit Practice Test, designed to closely match the Illinois Secretary of State knowledge exam. Build real-world confidence with our Free Driver's License Simulator, where you can practice driving scenarios in a fun, interactive environment. Study Illinois road signs, review Illinois traffic laws, and strengthen your driving skills before ever getting behind the wheel.
From teens earning their first learner's permit and adults obtaining a Illinois driver's license to drivers completing defensive driving or traffic school requirements — or anyone who simply wants to become a safer, more knowledgeable driver — DOT Driving School provides everything you need in one convenient place. Our courses are 100% online, self-paced, affordable, and supported by free study tools that help Illinois drivers succeed.
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How to Get a Illinois Driver's License
From your first learner's permit to a full Illinois driver's license, here's the general path most Illinois drivers follow. Always verify the latest requirements with Illinois Secretary of State. Tap any step to expand the details.
You must be at least 15 years old to apply for an Illinois instruction permit. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must provide written consent and accept financial responsibility.
Teens must be enrolled in an approved driver education course to receive a permit at 15. Study the Illinois Rules of the Road and pass the written permit test covering traffic laws and road signs, plus a vision test.
Complete the approved driver education course — classroom instruction plus behind-the-wheel driving — required to move from the instruction permit to a provisional license.
Hold your instruction permit for at least 9 months and log 50 hours of supervised driving — including 10 hours at night — with a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old.
After holding your permit for 9 months and completing driver education, pass the Illinois behind-the-wheel driving test covering vehicle control, turns, parking, and traffic maneuvers.
Receive your initial provisional license at 16. For the first 12 months (or until age 18), driving is restricted late at night and you may carry no more than one passenger under 20.
Your full, unrestricted Illinois driver license is issued at 18 — or at 17 if you have held a license for 12 months with a clean record.
Illinois Driver's Education Requirements
Illinois has specific driver education requirements for new drivers. Tap any topic to expand the details.
Illinois requires teens under 18 to complete an approved driver education course — classroom instruction plus behind-the-wheel driving — and to be enrolled in the course to receive an instruction permit at 15.
Adults 18, 19, and 20 applying for a first license must complete a 6-hour adult driver education course (effective July 1, 2014). Adults 21 and older are not required to take driver education but must pass the written and driving tests.
DOT Driving School connects you with recommended Illinois driver education and behind-the-wheel training courses that help you meet the Secretary of State's requirements.
Illinois Permit Test Requirements
The Illinois permit test covers road signs, traffic laws, and safe driving practices. Tap any topic to expand the details.
The Illinois instruction permit test has 35 questions in two sections — traffic laws and sign identification — and you must answer at least 28 correctly (80%) to pass, based on the Illinois Rules of the Road.
You must also pass a vision test. Teens hold the instruction permit for at least 9 months before the driving test.
Before your Secretary of State exam, practice with our free Illinois permit practice test — questions modeled on the Illinois knowledge exam covering road signs, traffic laws, and right-of-way rules. Take it as many times as you'd like to build confidence before test day.
Start the free practice test →Illinois Traffic School & Driver Improvement
Illinois offers court-supervised traffic safety school and defensive driving courses for ticket dismissal, court orders, and insurance discounts.
A court-supervised course drivers can attend once every 12 months to keep a minor traffic citation off the Illinois driving record.
A course many Illinois insurers accept for a defensive-driving insurance discount while reinforcing safe-driving habits.
Illinois Licensing Agency
Illinois driver licensing is administered by Illinois Secretary of State. Tap any topic to expand the details.
Illinois driver licensing is administered by the Illinois Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's office issues instruction permits, driver's licenses, and ID cards and maintains driving records statewide.
Learn about the Illinois Secretary of State →Illinois Driver's License FAQs
Quick answers to the most common questions about Illinois learner's permits, driver education, and getting licensed.
You must be at least 15 years old to apply for an Illinois instruction permit, and you must be enrolled in an approved driver education course. A parent or guardian must consent if you are under 18.
Yes for teens under 18, who must complete an approved driver education course (classroom plus behind-the-wheel). Adults 18–20 must complete a 6-hour adult driver education course; adults 21+ are not required to.
The permit test has 35 questions covering traffic laws and signs, and you must answer at least 28 correctly (80%) to pass.
Teens must hold the instruction permit for at least 9 months and complete 50 hours of supervised driving — including 10 hours at night — before the driving test.
For the first 12 months (or until age 18), nighttime driving is restricted (starting at 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday–Saturday until 6 a.m.) and you may carry no more than one passenger under 20.
Yes. Court-supervised Traffic Safety School can be attended once every 12 months to keep a minor citation off your record, and a defensive driving course may earn an insurance discount.
Disclaimer
Courses identified as “State Approved” are licensed, approved, or accepted by the applicable state agency, as specifically stated on the individual course listing. Not all courses offered through this website are state approved or state required.
DOT Driving School is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the DMV, DOT, FLHSMV, any state driver licensing agency, or any federal, state, county, or local governmental agency, except where a specific course approval or authorization is expressly stated.