Illinois Teen Driving Laws, Insurance Requirements & Drivers License

Teen Driving in Illinois - The Instruction Permit

In the State of Illinois you are eligible for an Instruction Permit if you are between the ages of 15 and 17.

To qualify for the instruction permit you must be enrolled in an approved State of Illinois driver education course.

Prior to receiving an instruction permit, the permit applicant must pass a vision test and a written exam.

If the applicant is 17 years and 3 months or older, the driver education course is optional.

The instruction permit is good for 2 years and teen drivers must hold their permit for a minimum of 9 months before applying for a driver license when they are a minimum of 16 years of age.

Teen drivers with instruction permits are allowed to drive with a parent, legal guardian or a responsible adult 21 years of age or older with a minimum of 1 year of driving experience.

Once the permit holder has completed the driver education course, they may continue to drive with a responsible adult as outlined above.

If a teen driver has completed the on-the-road driver training and the class was taken at their high school, the Illinois State Board of Education will automatically notify the Office of Secretary of State that this training has been completed.

To have your driver's license record updated by the Secretary of State you must have 8 passing grades in the two most recent semesters in school.

Under 18 Driver License in Illinois

Although you must be 18 years of age to receive a valid Illinois driver license there are exceptions and restrictions.

Prior to application for a driver license, the under 18 driver must present the written consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Any teen driver under the age of 18 must hold their learner permit for a minimum of 9 months, in good standing prior to applying for a driver license.

In addition, the applicant must also pass a three part driver license exam.

Teen drivers under the age of 18 must present written verification from a parent, guardian or responsible adult 21 years of age or older that they have had at least 50 hours of driving practice.

10 of the 50 hours must be nighttime driving.

Notification of your completion of a state approved behind the wheel training course must appear on your license record at the time of application.

Driver license holders under the age of 18 are under the following nighttime driving restrictions:

Sunday through Thursday 10:00 PM 6 AM

Friday through Saturday 11:00 PM 6 AM

These restrictions apply unless a parent or legal guardian is present while driving.

If a teen driver receives a ticket for driving outside of the restricted hours their driver license may be suspended. Drivers under the age of 18 may have their driver license suspended for failing to maintain high school attendance.

Mandatory Minimum Liability Insurance

All drivers in the State of Illinois must be covered by minimum liability insurance. All vehicle owners are required to show proof of coverage during the vehicle registration process. The State of Illinois minimum liability insurance limits are listed below.