How to Get Your License in Illinois
How to Get your Driver’s License in Illinois
If you’re confused on how to get your license in Illinois Top Driver can help. Driver’s License requirements vary from state to state so it can be a very confusing process for a teen to navigate. Some states have mandatory driver education, while others simply require a teen to be of a certain age.
What to Expect at Your Driver Education Class?
Once you are 15 you can begin your journey to getting a license.
To legally start to practice driving you’ll need an Instruction Permit. To get this document, you must be enrolled in an approved driver education course and must pass vision and written tests.
With an Instruction Permit, students are allowed to drive with a parent or adult age 21 or older with a valid driver’s license. Permits last a maximum of 2 years before they need to be renewed. New drivers are required to have a minimum of 50 supervised driving hours, including 10 at night and must hold their permit for a minimum of 9 months.
During this phase of obtaining a license, new drivers must not incur any driving infractions. Cellphone and hands-free wireless phone usage is prohibited for drivers under 19 except in the case of an emergency (to contact law enforcement or other emergency services).
What to Expect at Your Driver Education Class?
At any of Top Driver’s 40+ Driver Education Centers teens will experience a modern, uniform, state-of-the-art facility that stimulates learning.
Our program meets state requirements for offering 30 hours of class time and a minimum of 6 hours of drive time with our passionate instructors. Our instructors are fully licensed by the state of Illinois, and all have prior experience teaching or coaching how to get your license in Illinois.
Top Driver offers a large variety of accommodations to make driver education accessible to as many people as possible. We offer specialized programs for student with unique needs, home pick-up in select zip codes, and much more.
Driving is a lifetime activity, with the average person spending about 4.5 years of their life behind the wheel. Take the time to learn to drive properly by choosing the driver education school that will instill lifelong good driving habits.
Licensing
After passing a state- approved driver education course and a road test to acquire a license, the process isn’t over yet.
- A Parent/guardian must accompany the student to the Secretary of State facility to provide consent to obtain the license OR complete and notarize an Affidavit/Consent for Minor(
- A Parent/guardian certification must be provided which confirms a minimum of 50 driving hours including at least 10 hours at night has been completed.
From the ages of 16-17 teens can be licensed to drive legally but will have to adhere to strict restrictions to keep you and other drivers safe.
- Passengers are limited to one person under the age of 20 unless the passenger is a sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild of the driver.
- The teen driver must maintain a conviction-free driving record for 6 months prior to turning 18.
From the age 18 and onward age restrictions no longer apply (except for cellphone and wireless phone use) if the driver has fulfilled all mandated requirements.
About Top Driver
With over 40 locations and over 320,000 students taught, Top Driver offers more driver education classes and driving lessons than any other driving school in the Midwest! Enroll now at www.topdriver.com or call us at 1-800-374-8373.
Frequently asked questions
How old do I have to be to start driver's ed in Illinois?
You can begin driver's education in Illinois at age 15. To legally practice driving on public roads, you'll need an Illinois Instruction Permit, which requires enrollment in an approved driver education course and passing both vision and written tests. With an Instruction Permit, you can drive only when accompanied by a parent or an adult age 21 or older who holds a valid driver's license. Permits last a maximum of two years before they need to be renewed.
How many practice driving hours are required to get a license in Illinois?
Illinois requires a minimum of 50 supervised driving hours during the permit phase, and at least 10 of those hours must be at night. You also have to hold your permit for at least nine months and stay free of any driving infractions during that time. A parent or guardian must certify that the practice hours were completed when you go to the Secretary of State facility to apply for your license. Keeping an accurate driving log throughout the permit period makes that step easy.
What are the cell phone rules for teen drivers in Illinois?
Drivers under 19 in Illinois cannot use a cell phone or hands-free wireless device while driving, except to contact law enforcement or other emergency services. That ban applies whether you have a permit or a graduated license. Adult drivers can use hands-free Bluetooth, but hand-held cell phones have been illegal for everyone behind the wheel in Illinois since 2014. Set your phone to Do Not Disturb While Driving before you start the car.
What are the passenger restrictions for a new licensed driver age 16 or 17 in Illinois?
Drivers ages 16 and 17 are limited to one passenger under age 20 in the vehicle. The exception is when the passenger is a sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild of the driver. To move past these restrictions, the teen must maintain a conviction-free driving record for at least six months before turning 18. Most graduated-license rules drop away at 18, though the hands-free cell phone law still applies to everyone.
What does Top Driver's Illinois program include?
Top Driver's Illinois driver education program meets state requirements with 30 hours of classroom instruction and at least six hours of behind-the-wheel time with a licensed instructor. All instructors are fully licensed by the state of Illinois and have prior teaching or coaching experience. Programs run at more than 40 Driver Education Centers across the state, and Top Driver offers accommodations including specialized programs for students with unique needs and home pick-up in select zip codes. Top Driver has taught more than 320,000 students.
What paperwork does a parent need to bring to the Secretary of State for licensing?
A parent or guardian must accompany the student to the Illinois Secretary of State facility to provide consent for the license, or complete and notarize an Affidavit/Consent for Minor in advance. The parent or guardian also has to certify that the student completed the required 50 driving hours, including at least 10 hours at night. Bring the student's Instruction Permit, proof of completion of driver education, and identification. Without the parent certification, the license cannot be issued.
