How Old to Get a Motorcycle License in Illinois?

In Illinois, you can start the motorcycle licensing process at age 16, but a full license at that age comes with conditions that adults don’t face. The minimum age to get a motorcycle license in Illinois is 16, and applicants under 18 must complete driver education, finish an Illinois Department of Transportation motorcycle training course, hold an instruction permit, and have a parent or legal guardian sign a consent form before the Secretary of State will issue motorcycle privileges. At 18 and older, the requirements loosen: the permit period is shorter, and the IDOT course becomes optional rather than mandatory.¹

If You Are 16 or 17

A minor cannot receive a motorcycle classification in Illinois without completing an approved IDOT training course.² That training sits on top of the standard driver education program every teen driver has to finish, which covers classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel time in a car. The motorcycle course, called the Cycle Rider Safety Training Course, handles the skills a car-based program never touches: low-speed control, emergency braking, swerving, and cornering. IDOT courses are free for Illinois residents 16 or older who hold a valid driver’s license or permit.³

The order you do things in depends on the size of bike you want to ride. For a motor-driven cycle under 150cc (Class L), a 16- or 17-year-old can apply for a 24-month instruction permit after finishing driver education and passing the motorcycle written test. For a motorcycle at 150cc or above (Class M), you have to complete the IDOT motorcycle training course first, and then get the permit.¹

A parent or legal guardian also has to sign a consent form before the application can go through. The form requires the guardian’s printed name, signature, driver’s license number, and the date. Without that signature, the Secretary of State’s office won’t process the paperwork.

If You Are 18 or Older

At 18, the mandatory training requirement goes away, and the instruction permit shortens to 12 months for either Class L or Class M.⁴ You still need to pass the motorcycle written exam to get a permit, and you still need to pass an on-cycle skills test to get a full license — unless you take the IDOT course voluntarily, which many adult riders do.

Permit Rules That Apply at Every Age

No matter when you start, an instruction permit in Illinois carries two restrictions. You can only ride during daylight hours, and you must be supervised by a licensed motorcycle operator who is at least 21 and has at least one year of riding experience.¹ Riding at night or without a qualified supervisor on a permit can jeopardize your ability to move up to a full license.

Class L vs. Class M

Illinois splits motorcycle privileges by engine size. Class L covers motor-driven cycles under 150cc. Class M covers motorcycles with 150cc or larger engines, and it also includes everything Class L allows.¹ For a 16- or 17-year-old, the practical difference matters: a Class L permit is available after driver ed and the written test, but a Class M permit requires finishing the IDOT training course first.

How the IDOT Course Changes the Final Visit

Finishing the Basic Rider Course or the Basic Rider Course 2 waives both the written knowledge exam and the on-cycle driving test at the Secretary of State’s office.⁵ You hand over the completion card instead. The card is only valid for one year from the date you finish the course, so don’t let it sit in a drawer.¹ The Advanced Rider Course does not waive any Secretary of State testing; it’s built for experienced riders, not for initial licensing.

What to Bring and What Happens at the Facility

Bring originals or certified copies of the following to a Driver Services facility:

A valid Illinois driver’s license or government-issued photo ID.
Your Social Security card or an official document showing the full number.
Two residency documents showing your current Illinois address, such as a utility bill and a bank statement.
Your IDOT course completion card, if you took one.
A signed parental consent form if you are under 18.

Photocopies and screenshots are typically rejected. At the facility, you’ll take a vision screening. Without a valid course completion card, you’ll then take the written exam and an on-cycle skills test. With a valid card, you skip both. After paying the fee, you leave with a temporary paper license, and the permanent card with the Class L or Class M designation arrives by mail within 15 business days.¹

1
Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Motorcycle Operator Manual
2
FindLaw. Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/6-103
3
Illinois Department of Transportation. Motorcycle Training
4
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/6-105
5
Illinois Department of Transportation. Rider Courses