What is a Remedial Driving Course?
Top Driver is an approved Illinois Secretary of State Driver Remedial Course provider. We offer more classes and driving lessons than any other driving school—giving you the flexibility to choose the class that best fits your schedule. Learn more about remedial driving courses and in what situations your teen could be required to take one.
What is a Remedial Driving Course?
As a condition for reinstatement of your driver’s license or permit following a suspension is your participation in an approved Graduate to Safety Driver Remedial Education Course. Drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 who have received two violations within 24 months, or who received a violation under the Zero Tolerance Law and received a suspension of their driver’s license, are required by the State of Illinois to complete the Driver Remedial Education course.
How Much Does a Remedial Driving Course Cost?
The Top Driver remedial driving course costs $80 (paid in advance) for drivers needing the course to fulfill the State-ordered Graduate to Safety Remedial Education Course requirement. A student can pay at the first day of class, but the course will cost $90 same day (cash only accepted day of class).
Top Driver is not responsible for drivers taking the incorrect class. Drivers will not be given a refund if the class has been completed. Please be sure you know exactly what class is required before you continue the registration process.
Am I Required to Take the Remedial Driving Course?
All drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 must complete this course IF they have received two violations within 24 months, or received a violation under the Zero Tolerance Law and received a suspension of their driver’s license.
If you are being required by the State to complete the course, a notification letter will be mailed to you from the Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Department.
What is the Illinois Zero Tolerance Law?
The State of Illinois’ Zero Tolerance Law pertains to drivers under age 21 who are caught with any trace of alcohol in his or her system. A police officer may request a chemical test after a traffic stop and issuance of a citation for any offense if officer has probable cause to believe an underage driver is under the influence. After administering such tests, the police officer submits a sworn statement to the Secretary of State’s office and the offender’s driver’s license is suspended. More severe punishments for such violations can occur.
Penalties Under the Illinois Zero Tolerance Law
Examples include:
- If an under age driver (under 21) is convicted of a DUI, he or she will face revocation of their driving privileges for a minimum of two years for the first conviction.
- If an under age driver is stopped and issued a ticket for a traffic violation and found to have alcohol in their system while operating a vehicle, his or her driving privileges will be suspended. If the driver refuses to submit to testing, their driving privileges will be suspended automatically.
- If a driver’s license was suspended previously, the driver will be required to successfully complete a driver remedial education course to make their driving privileges valid again. In addition, they may be required to submit to a complete driver’s license examination to be re-issued a driver’s license.
When Are Top Driver Remedial Driving Courses Offered?
Classes are available at many of our Top Driver locations throughout Chicagoland. Contact for additional location details or any other related questions. You can enroll in an upcoming class by calling the office at (800) 374-8373.
Upcoming Top Driver Remedial Driving Courses:
We currently host remedial driving classes once a month at our Lombard Classroom.
Lombard Classroom, 1125 S. Main Street, Lombard, IL (next to Enchanted Castle)
- Lombard, IL – March 16, 2019 – 8:00 a.m. – noon
Interested in learning more with Top Driver? Click here to view our online driving courses. Our refresher courses are only $15 and self-paced. You’ll learn about driving safety considerations in adverse weather, defensive driving and much more.
Frequently asked questions
What is a remedial driving course in Illinois?
A remedial driving course, formally called the Graduate to Safety Driver Remedial Education Course, is a state-approved program required by the Illinois Secretary of State as a condition for reinstating a driver's license or permit after certain suspensions. Top Driver is an approved provider. It targets newer drivers who have built up a pattern of violations and uses classroom instruction to reinforce safe driving practices, traffic law, and decision-making. Completing the course is not optional when the state requires it; the license stays suspended until the course is done.
Who is required to take the Illinois remedial driving course?
Drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 must complete the Graduate to Safety Driver Remedial Education Course if they have received two traffic violations within a 24-month period, or if they received a violation under the Illinois Zero Tolerance Law that resulted in a license suspension. The Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Department mails a notification letter to drivers who are required to take the course. If you received that letter, the course is mandatory before your driving privileges can be restored.
How much does the Top Driver remedial driving course cost?
The Top Driver remedial course is $80 when paid in advance to reserve your seat. If a student pays on the first day of class, the cost is $90, and it must be paid in cash. The course is non-refundable once completed, so Top Driver advises students to confirm exactly which class the state is requiring before registering. Taking the wrong class will not satisfy the Secretary of State's requirement, and Top Driver is not responsible for that mistake.
What is the Illinois Zero Tolerance Law?
The Illinois Zero Tolerance Law applies to drivers under age 21 and prohibits any trace of alcohol in their system while operating a vehicle. After a traffic stop, a police officer with probable cause may request a chemical test. If alcohol is detected, the officer submits a sworn statement to the Secretary of State and the driver's license is suspended. Refusing the test also results in an automatic suspension. A first DUI conviction for an under-21 driver carries a minimum two-year revocation of driving privileges, and reinstatement may require completing the remedial course and a full driver's license exam.
Where can I take a Top Driver remedial driving course?
Top Driver offers remedial driving classes at locations throughout Chicagoland. The Lombard Classroom, at 1125 S. Main Street in Lombard (next to Enchanted Castle), regularly hosts remedial courses about once a month. Class sizes and schedules can vary, so call Top Driver at (800) 374-8373 to confirm the next available date at a location near you and to enroll. Spots are limited and need to be booked in advance to lock in the $80 pricing.
Is the remedial course the same as a refresher driving course?
No. The remedial course is a specific state-mandated program for drivers ages 15 to 24 whose license has been suspended or who have accumulated violations, and it is the only course that satisfies the Illinois Secretary of State's reinstatement requirement. A refresher course, which Top Driver offers online for $15 and at a self-paced format, is a voluntary brush-up covering adverse weather, defensive driving, and general best practices. Refresher courses are great for any driver who wants to stay sharp, but they do not satisfy a remedial requirement.
