Most adults pay $30 for a four-year driver’s license in Illinois, but the full cost to get a driver’s license in Illinois usually runs higher once you add the instruction permit, any driving lessons, and the documents you need to bring to the Secretary of State’s office. Teens and older drivers pay less, and drivers 87 and up pay nothing.
License Fees by Age
Illinois sets license fees on a sliding scale. If you’re between 21 and 68, a four-year license is $30, or you can pay $60 for an eight-year license. Both expire on your birthday. Fees drop sharply outside that middle range.1Justia. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
- Ages 18–20: $5
- Ages 21–68: $30 for four years, $60 for eight years
- Ages 69–80: $5
- Ages 81–86: $2
- Ages 87 and older: free
Renewal fees match the original license fee at each age tier. A 21-to-68-year-old renewing pays another $30.1Justia. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
Instruction Permit
You need an instruction permit before you can take the road test. What you pay depends on your history:
- First-time permit, under 69, no prior Illinois license: $20
- Under 69, previously held an Illinois license or permit: $10
- Classification change permit (you already hold a valid license): $5
- Any permit for someone 69 or older: $5
Restricted driving permits and monitoring device driving permits are each $8.1Justia. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
Driving School and Road Test Prep
The Secretary of State doesn’t charge for your first written test or road test; they’re part of the permit and license process. The bigger money goes to getting ready.
A basic driving school program typically runs $200 to $800. Individual behind-the-wheel lessons cost $50 to $150 per hour. If you’re 18 or older and need driver education, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office offers an approved six-hour adult online course for around $40.2ILSOS.gov. Adult Driver Education That’s far cheaper than a full school program, but it doesn’t include time behind the wheel.
One expense that catches new drivers off guard: you have to bring a properly insured vehicle to your road test. If you can’t, some driving schools rent one for the exam. Expect around $90 for the rental, often paired with a required lesson.
Documents You May Need to Buy
You’ll need to prove your identity, your Social Security number, and Illinois residency. Documents commonly used include a U.S. birth certificate, passport, or permanent resident card; a Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub; and a utility bill, bank statement, lease, or mortgage statement.3USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel If you already have these, gathering them costs nothing. Replacing them adds real money.
A certified Illinois birth certificate from the Illinois Department of Public Health is $15 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. A standard non-certified version is $10 for the first copy.4Illinois Department of Public Health. Obtain Birth Certificate If you were born in another state, prices and processing times depend on that state’s vital records office.
If any of your documents are in a language other than English, a certified translation generally runs $25 to $150 depending on the language and how fast you need it.
REAL ID Costs the Same, but Skipping It Doesn’t
Illinois issues REAL ID-compliant licenses at the same price as standard licenses. The fee statute makes no distinction, so REAL ID or not, you pay the age-based fee.1Justia. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
What can cost you is going without one. Federal REAL ID enforcement began in May 2025, and starting February 1, 2026, TSA charges $45 to travelers who arrive at airport security without an acceptable ID such as a REAL ID or passport. The fee rises to $90 for trips longer than ten days.5Transportation Security Administration. TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1 A temporary paper REAL ID won’t get you through the checkpoint; TSA only accepts the permanent card.6ILSOS.gov. REAL ID
Motorcycle Endorsements and CDLs
Adding motorcycle privileges to an existing driver’s license costs $5, whether you want an M endorsement (any motorcycle) or an L endorsement (motor-driven cycle under 150cc). If you don’t already hold a license and need a classification change permit to practice, that’s another $5, so about $10 all in.1Justia. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
A commercial driver’s license costs $60 for original issuance or renewal. A Commercial Learner’s Permit is $50.1Justia. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees CDL holders adding a hazardous materials endorsement pay roughly $86.50 for the TSA security threat assessment, paid to TSA’s fingerprinting vendor.
State ID Instead of, or Alongside, a License
If you need a state ID rather than a driver’s license, or both, the fees are $20 for ages 18 to 64, $10 for anyone under 18, and free at 65 and older. These are set by the same statute that governs license fees.1Justia. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
Duplicates, Waivers, and Reinstatement
A duplicate or corrected license is $5. That fee is waived if your license was stolen and you file a police report, or if you’re 60 or older and it was lost or stolen.1Justia. 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
Active-duty U.S. Armed Forces members get free duplicate licenses, instruction permits, and ID cards. The benefit also covers the service member’s spouse and dependent children living in the household.7ILSOS.gov. Illinois Veterans Brochure
Getting a license back after a suspension or revocation costs more. The reinstatement fee for a mandatory insurance conviction is $100 per suspension.8ILSOS.gov. Driver’s License Reinstatement Fees Fees for DUI, excessive tickets, or failure to appear in court vary and can run higher. Reinstatement fees are separate from any court fines, and you still pay the standard license issuance fee on top. The Secretary of State’s reinstatement page lists the full schedule.
How You Can Pay
The Secretary of State’s office accepts cash, personal checks, and money orders in person. Credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) work too, as do Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Credit card payments may carry a convenience fee from the processor.9ILSOS.gov. Payment Information Some services, including certain renewals, can be paid online with a card or a direct checking account withdrawal. Not everything qualifies for online processing, so confirm on the Secretary of State’s site or by phone before you plan on it.