Illinois Permit Application: Eligibility, Testing, and Fees

To apply for an Illinois instruction permit, you need to visit a Secretary of State Driver Services Facility in person with proof of identity, your Social Security number, residency documents, and — if you’re under 18 — written parental consent. Most first-time applicants pay $20, pass a vision screening and a 35-question written test, and leave the same day with a temporary paper permit. Understanding the Illinois permit application requirements and fees before you go saves a second trip, because the entire process happens at the counter and missing paperwork sends you home.

Who Can Apply

Illinois opens three age windows for a permit, and which one applies to you decides what else you need.

At 15, you can apply only if you’re enrolled in a state-approved driver education course. Enrollment is a hard requirement at that age — without it, you cannot get a permit.¹

At 15 years and 3 months, teens enrolled in school who meet the educational requirements of the Driver Education Act can apply even if they haven’t started a formal driver ed course, provided they pass whatever exams the Secretary of State prescribes.¹

At 17 years and 3 months, you can apply without having taken driver education at all.¹ Adults 18 and older apply without driver education or parental consent, and the state checks that no revocation or disqualifying medical condition is on your record.

Any applicant under 18 who isn’t legally emancipated needs written consent from a parent, legal guardian, or another responsible adult if neither is available. That signed consent has to come with the application each time, even if a parent signed off on a previous permit.²

If you’re under 18, there is also an education piece: you need to be enrolled in or have graduated from a secondary school, be enrolled in college, be receiving home instruction, or have obtained a GED. Chronic truancy can block the permit.²

Documents To Bring

Illinois wants originals, and every name on them has to match. Bring:

Proof of your full legal name and date of birth.
Proof of your Social Security number, typically an original Social Security card or a federal tax document like a W-2.
Two separate documents proving Illinois residency if you want a Real ID compliant permit.³

Acceptable residency documents include bank statements, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies, and official government mail. Bank statements and most government mail have to be dated within 90 days of your application.³ If your name changed through marriage or a court order, bring the marriage certificate or court decree so your documents line up.

Applicants without a Social Security number who hold documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security authorizing their presence in the country can provide that instead. Applicants without either must show proof of residing in Illinois for more than one year plus a valid passport or consular identification document from their country of citizenship.⁴

You’ll also be asked for your height, weight, hair color, and eye color on the application form. Those details go on the permit itself.

What Happens at the Facility

The whole application is handled during one in-person visit. There is no online option for a first-time permit. A clerk hands you the application, which asks about your medical history and any driving records from other states. False statements can lead to denial or legal consequences, so answer carefully.

Vision Screening

The vision screen checks whether you meet 20/40 acuity with or without corrective lenses. Bring your glasses or contacts if you need them — a corrective-lens restriction will go on your permit. If your acuity falls between 20/41 and 20/70, you’ll be sent to an eye specialist for a Vision Specialist Report before you can continue.⁵

Written Test

The written exam has 35 questions: 15 on traffic sign identification and 20 that are either multiple-choice or true-false, covering traffic laws, pavement markings, and safe driving practices.⁶ Passing takes 28 correct answers, or 80 percent. The Illinois Rules of the Road manual is the study resource and is free on the Secretary of State’s website. Illinois-specific rules — right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections is a common example — tend to trip up people who skip the manual.

Fees

What you pay depends on the permit class and whether you’ve held an Illinois credential before. These fees are set by statute.⁷

First-time Class D permit (standard): $20. This is what most teen and adult applicants pay.
Class B or C non-CDL permit: $5.
Class M or L motorcycle permit: $10.
Returning applicant under 69 who previously held an Illinois license or permit but doesn’t currently hold one: $10.
Applicants 69 and older: $5.

Once you pay and pass both tests, you walk out with a temporary paper permit. The permanent card is mailed to the address on file within about 15 business days, and you can track delivery through the Secretary of State’s online portal.⁸

Restrictions Once You Have the Permit

A permit is not a license. If you’re under 18, you can only drive with a supervising adult in the front passenger seat. That person must be at least 21, hold a valid license for the type of vehicle, and have at least one year of driving experience. A parent, legal guardian, family member, or another responsible adult qualifies, and during driver education sessions the instructor fills that role.⁹

Permit holders under 18 cannot drive during nighttime curfew hours:

Sunday through Thursday: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Exceptions apply when you’re accompanied by a parent or guardian, responding to an emergency, traveling directly to or from work, going to or from a school or religious activity, or involved in interstate travel.⁹ Local municipalities can set stricter curfews, so check your city.

Electronics are tightly limited. Hands-free devices and Bluetooth are only legal for drivers 19 and older, so a permit holder cannot use any electronic communication device behind the wheel — hands-free included — unless reporting an emergency.¹⁰

How Long the Permit Lasts

A permit issued to someone under 18 is valid for 24 months from the date of issuance.⁹ For adults 18 and older, it lasts 12 months. If the permit expires before you’ve met the requirements for a license, you have to reapply, pay the fee again, and retake both the written test and vision screening.

1
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/6-103 – What Persons Shall Not Be Licensed as Drivers or Granted Permits
2
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/6-107 – Examination of Applicants
3
Illinois Secretary of State. Document Requirements to Obtain a Drivers License/State ID Card
4
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/6-106 – Application for License or Instruction Permit
5
Illinois Secretary of State. Medical and Vision Conditions
6
Illinois Secretary of State. A Practical Guide for Illinois Drivers
7
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/6-118 – Fees
8
Illinois Secretary of State. Drivers License/State ID Card and CLP Card Mailing Status
9
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/6-107.1 – Instruction Permit for a Minor
10
Illinois State Police. Distracted Driving