Illinois Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your Illinois learner's permit — age, fees, required documents, supervised-hours rules, and what happens after — summarized from the official SOS pages and linked to the 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.
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)
Illinois GDL restrictions for new drivers
- 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)
Documents you'll need
- Parent or legal guardian consent
- Proof of enrollment in an approved driver education course
The details
- Permit eligibility: 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
- Permit fee details: Original instruction permit for first-time holders (625 ILCS 5/6-118)
- License fee: $0 — No additional fee when the initial license is issued to the holder of an Illinois instruction permit of the same classification (625 ILCS 5/6-118); an original license at 18–20 without a permit history is $5
- Permit validity: 24 months
- Practice hour details: 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)
- Knowledge test: 35 questions; 80% to pass; Web search: 20 traffic-law + 15 sign-ID questions, 28/35 (80%) to pass
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, including 10 at night.
Where can I practice for the Illinois permit test?
Right here — take a free Illinois practice test in your browser, or get the free DMV Prep app for the full SOS-format experience with a readiness score.
