Getting Your First Illinois Driver's License

Adults over the age of 18 can apply for their driver's license in the State of Illinois very easily and with very limited restrictions from Graduated Drivers License laws. Here's how to apply for your first Illinois driver's license if you are over 18 years old.

Driver License Requirements For Illinois Adults

  1. Complete an approved Adult Driver Education 6-hour course.
    1. You are able to take our convenient online course if you have not yet taken any driver education and will be applying for your license over the age of 18.
    2. Adults ages 18 to 20 are not required to take any official behind-the-wheel training before applying for their license.
    3. Applicants ages 18-20 are required to have completed this adult driver education program. Students can complete the course as early as age 17 and 3 months so they are completed and ready to apply when they turn 18.
  2. Visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility with First Time Issuance services for Drivers Licenses. You can use the handy Facility Finder on the Secretary of State website to find the SOS Driver Services location closest to you.
  3. Show the required identification documentation and have your photo taken.
  4. Pay the appropriate fees.
  5. Pass the required exams:
    1. Vision Screening
    2. Written Exam
    3. Behind-The-Wheel Driving Test

Driver License Requirements For Illinois Teens

Teens under the age of 18 will need to be enrolled in a state-approved teen driver education course in order to apply for their first instruction permit (also known as a learner's permit).

These teen driver ed courses consist of 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of in-car driving instruction. Teen driver education in Illinois is not currently available online. Teens also follow guidelines of the Illinois graduated driver licensing (GDL) program.

Teens applying for an Instruction Permit will need to:

  1. Visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility with First Time Issuance services for Drivers Licenses. You can use the handy Facility Finder on the Secretary of State website to find the SOS Driver Services location closest to you.
  2. Provide roof of enrollment in a Driver Ed program.
  3. Show the required identification documentation and have your photo taken.
  4. Pay the appropriate fees.
  5. Pass the required exams:
    1. Vision Screening
    2. Written Exam

Once the Instruction Permit has been received, the student can start with the behind-the-wheel portion of their driver education course and can begin logging practice hours with a parent or guardian. Please note the Graduated Driver License restrictions to review the rules for each tier of license.

Learner's Permit Age Requirements: 15 years old and above.

Provisional License Age Requirements: 16 years old and above.

Full Driver's License Age Requirements: 18 years old and above.