Your Guide to Illinois Licensing Procedures and Online Driver Education

On behalf of the State of Illinois, we welcome you to the world of driving! The process of applying for your Illinois learner’s permit or first Illinois driver license can be as daunting as it is exciting, and so we have put together this short guide to help you through the process

Illinois has a “Graduated Driver License Program()”:http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/rules_of_the_road/rr_chap01.html for Illinois teen drivers, and there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure that applying for your Illinois driving license goes as smoothly as possible. So let’s not waste anymore time!

Illinois Instructional Permit or Illinois Learner Permit

When you turn 15, you can finally apply for an Illinois learner’s permit, otherwise known as an Illinois supervised instruction permit. You must have your Illinois learner’s license on your person at all times and a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age must be sitting in the front passenger seat at all times. In order to apply for your Illinois learner’s permit, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Be 15-17 years old
• Enroll in a State of Illinois approved “Driver Education Program()”:http://www.isbe.net/funding/html/driver_ed.htm
• Study the Illinois driver handbook thoroughly
• Take the “required personal information()”:http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/facilities/home.html to your local Illinois Driver Service Center

Once you arrive at the Illinois “Driver Service Center()”:http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/facilities/home.html, you’ll have to:

pay a $20 processing fee
take a vision test
pass a written exam

If you survived, then give yourself a pat on the back: you just earned your Illinois learner’s permit, which is valid for 2 years. After you’ve had your Illinois learner’s permit for 9 months, you can apply for your Illinois driver’s license.

Your First Illinois Driver’s License or Illinois Provisional License

If you’ve gotten this far, you’re well on your way to becoming a full-fledged Illinois driver. In order to apply for your first Illinois provisional driver license, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• keep your Illinois learner’s permit for 9 months in good standing
• complete the mandatory Illinois driver education program
• maintain 8 passing grades in the two most recent school semesters
• written certification from your parent that you completed the required 50 driving hours
• these 50 hours must include 10 hours at night

At the Illinois Driver Service Center, you’ll present your Illinois learner’s license and the required personal information. Then comes a three-part driver license exam, which includes the dreaded road test (which should be no problem if you’ve done well up to this point). If you survive, then a second pat on the back is in order: you’ve just earned your Illinois driver license!

Once you turn 17 and have held your Illinois provisional without any traffic violations, you will earn your Illinois full license. Congratulations!

Illinois Teen Driver License Restrictions and Penalties

Driving is a privilege, not a right. The Graduated Driver License Program gives you a chance to “earn” your way to full driving privileges. Until then, there are several restrictions you need to keep in mind regarding your Illinois learner’s license or Illinois driver’s license.

Illinois Learner’s Permit Restrictions: With an Illinois learner’s permit, you must always be supervised by a licensed driver who is at least 21 and in the front passenger seat. Furthermore:

• Always keep your Illinois provisional license on hand
• All passengers must wear seat belts
• Observe all of the alcohol and intoxicating substance laws
• You are allowed to drive with your permit until 10 p.m. on weeknights, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Illinois Provisional License Restrictions:

• Always have your Illinois provisional license on hand
• All occupants must wear seat belts
• Observe all of the alcohol and intoxicating substance laws
• Also, no driving between 10PM to 6 AM Sunday through Thursday or 11PM to 6AM Friday through Saturday unless you’re accompanied by your parent or guardian is present

If you’re caught driving outside the restricted hours, your Illinois driver license could be suspended. Drivers under 18 should also be aware that you may face Illinois driver’s license suspension for insufficient high school attendance.But cheer up: as soon as you turn 18, these restrictions are lifted!

Illinois Auto Insurance Illinois Financial Responsibility Laws

Once you receive your Illinois driver’s license, you’re ready to drive, right? Not quite: traffic accidents—minor and major—can happen to even the most seasoned drivers. Thus, any vehicle registered in Illinois must be covered by liability insurance. The minimum coverage is:

$20,000 for personal injury
$40,000 per person
$15,000 for property damage.

If you are ever caught driving without Illinois mandatory liability insurance, you could be fined $500 for a first time offense. For subsequent offenses, you will receive a four month vehicle registration suspension. And, if you’re involved in an accident and cannot provide proof of insurance, your Illinois learner’s permit or Illinois provisional license could be suspended. Do NOT get on Illinois roads in an uninsured vehicle!

Illinois Drunk Driving, Cell Phone, and Text Messaging Laws

As you’re probably aware, a drunk and/or distracted driver is a dangerous driver. As a new Illinois driver, it’s vital that you learn the Illinois drunk driving, cell phone, and text messaging laws.

Upon your first conviction of a Illinois DUI (0.08 blood alcohol level), you will face the following penalties:

• Jail sentence of up to 1 year
• Illinois license suspension of at least 1 year
• Breath alcohol ignition interlock device installation
• Up to a $2500 fine
• Community service—100 hour minimum (if BAC above 0.16)

Clearly, getting behind the wheel drunk is not a game you want to play. And of course, further Illinois DUI convictions will result in increased jail time, community service, fines, and Illinois license suspension or even Illinois license revocation.

Currently, Illinois prohibits texting while driving, and fines begin at $75. You are also prohibited from using cell phones while driving through school zones. In all other instances, be VERY careful while using your cell phone, even if it’s within the rules.

Illinois Online Driver Education

Anyone applying for a Illinois provisional license must take an Illinois approved driver education course. The Illinois State Board of Education website has complete information on “approved Illinois online driver education programs()”:http://www.isbe.net/funding/html/driver_ed.htm.