How to Get Your Driver's License in Illinois
Last verified: 2026-03
Here is how to get your driver's license in Illinois. Illinois uses a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system with 3 stages. You can get a full unrestricted license at age 18.
GDL Stages in Illinois
Learner's Permit
Requirements
- Pass written knowledge test
- Pass vision screening
- Parental consent if under 18
Restrictions
- Must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older
Intermediate License
Requirements
- Hold learner's permit for at least 9 months
- Complete 50 hours supervised driving including 10 at night
- Pass road skills test
Restrictions
- No driving between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (Sun-Thu) or 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. (Fri-Sat)
- No more than 1 passenger under 20 for the first 12 months
Full Unrestricted License
Requirements
- Turn 18 or hold intermediate license for 24 months with clean record (eligible at 17 with 12 months clean)
Restricted License Rules
- No driving between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
- For the first 12 months, only 1 passenger under 20 who is not a family member or required for school is permitted.
How restrictions lift: Restrictions can lift at age 17 if the driver has held the intermediate license for 12 months with a clean record. Otherwise, they lift at 18.
Road Test Overview
What Is Tested
- Vehicle control
- Turning and lane changes
- Parking
- Obeying traffic signals and signs
- Speed management
- Yielding right of way
Adult Licensing Pathway
If you are 18 or older, you do not need to complete the full GDL process. Drivers 18 and older are exempt from GDL restrictions. They must still pass both the written and road tests.
Illinois-Specific Information
Illinois is one of the few states with different nighttime curfew hours for weekdays versus weekends, giving teens an extra hour on Friday and Saturday nights. The passenger restriction specifically targets those under 20, which is a slightly younger cutoff than the under-21 standard used in most states.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must be at least 18 years old to get an unrestricted full driver's license in Illinois.
Illinois uses a 3-stage Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system: Learner's Permit, Intermediate License, Full Unrestricted License.
- No driving between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
- For the first 12 months, only 1 passenger under 20 who is not a family member or required for school is permitted.
Adults age 18 and older in Illinois can apply for a license directly without going through the GDL stages. Drivers 18 and older are exempt from GDL restrictions. They must still pass both the written and road tests.
Need your permit first?
Start with the learner's permit before your full license.
Illinois learner's permit guideCheck drivers ed requirements
Find out if drivers ed is required in Illinois.
Illinois drivers ed requirementsPrefer to learn online?
Complete a state-approved driving course from home on your own schedule. Same certifications, same insurance discounts.
View Online CoursesThis information is based on Illinois Secretary of State guidelines. Requirements can change. Visit the official Illinois Secretary of State website for the most current information.