Lincolnshire

All drivers who are residents of the state of Illinois are required to carry a valid driver’s license in order to operate a motor vehicle.

• 16 and 17-year-olds may receive their license by successfully completing a state-approved Driver Education Course through a high school or a commercial driving school, complete 50 hours of practice driving and pass the driver’s license exam. 
• As of July 1, 2014, first-time driver’s license applicants aged 18-20 who have not completed driver education must successfully complete a six-hour adult driver education course through a certified adult-driver-education provider before obtaining a license.
• If you have permanently moved to Illinois from another state or country, your non-Illinois driver’s license is valid for 90 days. You must obtain an Illinois license within that 90-day period or when the driver’s license expires, whichever comes first.

Any new driver who is 15 to 17.25 years of age must do the following to get a Driver’s License in the state of Illinois:

• Enroll in an approved Driver Education Course offered through a high school or a commercial driving school.  
• Obtain an Instruction Permit that legally allows behind-the-wheel practice driving with a certified instructor or parent.  You must be 15-years-old and pass a vision and written test to receive a Permit.
• Complete the Driver Education Course.
• Hold the Permit for a minimum of nine months.
• Complete a minimum of 50 hours of driving, including 10 hours of driving at night, supervised by a parent, certified instructor or other licensed adult.  (Driving restricted to the hours of 6 AM to 10 PM, Sunday through Thursday, and 6 AM to 11 PM, Friday and Saturday.)
• Not acquire any driving convictions.
• Take the Driving Exam. 

In order to enroll in an approved course offered through a high school or commercial driving school, you must:

• Be 15 years old by the last day of class, and
• Achieve eight passing grades within the previous two semesters of school.

An approved Driver Education Course offered by an Illinois high school or commercial driving school must include 30-hours of classroom instruction and one of the following:

• Alternative One:  Six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with six additional hours of in-car observation (of another student driver), or
• Alternative Two:  Eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with no additional hours of in-car observation.

If you are at least 15-years-old, are enrolled in a Driver Education Course, you are eligible to take the written Permit Test at an Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) Driver Services Facility within 30 days of the start of your classes.  (Click here for locations.)   The written test asks you to:

• Identify traffic signs by shape, color or symbol.
• Identify signals and pavement markings.
• Answer multiple choice and true/false questions about traffic laws, safety rules, crash prevention and vehicle equipment.
  
  If you pass the written test and a Vision Test, you will be issued an Instruction Permit, which legally allows you to drive with a certified instructor, parent or adult who is at least the age of 21 who has held a valid license for at least one year.  The Permit is valid for two years.

In order to test, you will need to bring the following:

• $20 in cash or check made out to the Secretary of State, 
• Driver Education Verification Form that has been signed and stamped by the school providing your Driver Education Course and signed by your parent, 
• A valid Passport or certified Birth Certificate (not a copy)
• Proof of residency – School ID with address included, Report Card, mail with postal cancellation or a bank statement
• Proof of signature – Social Security Card with signature, canceled check, charge card, ID card or High School ID

There are special restrictions in place when driving with an Instruction Permit, including:

Nighttime driving restrictions:

• Sunday - Thursday, 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.
• Friday and Saturday, 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.  (Local curfews may differ).
  
  Number of passengers limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat.  All occupants must wear safety belts.
  
  Any wireless/cellphone use while driving, including a hands-free device, is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health-care provider or emergency services agency.
  
  Texting while driving is prohibited.

You can apply for your Driver’s License and take your Driving Exam when you have met the following requirements:

• You are at least 16 years-old.
• You have held an Instruction Permit for at least nine months.
• You have a Certificate of Completion (“Blue Form/Slip”) issued by the Illinois Secretary of State confirming your completion of an approved Driver Education Course.
• You have completed at least 50 hours of supervised driving within the past nine months, with at least 10 of those hours driving at night.
• You have written consent from a parent/guardian to obtain a license.

Take the following items with you to a SOS Driver Services Facility:

• Your Certificate of Completion (“Blue Form/Slip”), 
• a completed Driving Log (certifying you have completed 50 hours of practice driving),  
• eye glasses or contacts (if you wear them), 
• your original Instruction  Permit (not a copy),
• Affidavit/Consent For Minor To Drive (if applicable);
• proof of vehicle registration,
• proof of vehicle insurance, and 

Group A (Proof of Signature) – One of the following:

• Passport (valid U.S. or foreign)
• Social Security Card with signature

Group B (Proof of Date of Birth) – One of the following:

• Adoption Records
• Birth Certificate
• Certified Grade/High School/College/University Transcript
• Passport (valid with complete date of birth)
  
  Birth Certificates must be original or certified by a Board of Health or Bureau of Vital Statistics within the U.S. or by the U.S. State Department, U.S. territories or Canada. A certified copy is a document produced by the issuing jurisdiction which has an embossed seal or an original stamped impression.  Foreign passports and foreign birth certificates are accepted as proof if accompanied by any other item in Group B.

Group C (Proof of Social Security Number) – One of the following:

• Social Security Card (issued by SSA)

Group D (Proof of Residency) – Two of the following:

• 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)
• Medical Claim or Statement of Benefits (from private insurance company or public (government) agency, dated within 90 days of application)
• Official mail received from a State, County, City or Village or a Federal Government agency (must include first and last name of applicant and complete current address)
• Pay Stub or Electronic Deposit Receipt
• Report Card from Grade/High School or College/University
  
  Documents in Groups A, B or C that contain the full residence address also may be used for Group D.
• Click here for a full list of acceptable documents.
  
  If you take your Driving Exam prior to the expiration of your Instruction Permit, you may not be required to pay an additional fee.

To take a driving exam, the vehicle you provide must:

• Be a properly licensed vehicle equipped for the driver’s license classification you are seeking.
• Comply with Secretary of State vehicle condition standards.
• Be properly insured.  Proof of insurance must be provided prior to the exam.
• Display valid front and rear Illinois license plates and a valid registration sticker. If the vehicle is registered outside of Illinois, it must meet the registration requirements of the respective state.
• Be driven to the facility by a driver who has a valid driver’s license/permit.
• Only the examiner is allowed to be with you during the exam. 
• During the driving exam, the driver and the examiner must wear safety belts, as required by law. You will automatically fail the exam if you violate any traffic law or commit any dangerous action while taking the exam.

You will be graded on your ability to perform several driving tasks and maneuvers, including the following:

• Start the vehicle by checking the vehicle controls, including the parking brake and mirrors. Make all adjustments to seats, safety belts, mirrors and other equipment before you move your vehicle. 
• Back the vehicle approximately 50 feet at a slow speed, straight and smoothly. Turn your head to the right and watch to the rear as you back.
• Turn-about using an alley on the left side of the street. Turn your left signal on before turning into the alley. Back the car out of the alley and stay on your side of the street.
• Park uphill on the side of the road.
• Start uphill from a parked position.
• Park downhill on the side of the road.
• Start downhill from a parked position.
• Control your vehicle by obeying all traffic signs, controls devices, right-of-ways, lane markings and proper use of turn signals.

Illinois has Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws in place that restrict certain driving behaviors and condition that create greater risk for new teen drivers.  If a teen driver adheres to these laws, they receive an unrestricted license at age 18.

Restrictions for 16 and 17 year-old drivers include:

• Nighttime driving restrictions (Sunday - Thursday, 10 p.m. - 6 a.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.  (Local curfews may differ.))
• Must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months prior to turning 18.  (A traffic conviction during the Initial Licensing Phase may extend restrictions beyond age 18.)
• All occupants must wear safety belts.
• For the first 12 months of licensing, or until the driver turns 18, whichever occurs first, the number of passengers is limited to one person under age 20, unless the passenger(s) is a sibling, stepsibling, child or stepchild of the driver. After this period, the number of passengers is limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat.
• Any wireless/cellphone use while driving, including a hands-free device, is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health-care provider or emergency services agency.
• Texting while driving is prohibited.