Category: Illinois

Photo: Guohua Song, Pexels

To get a driver’s license in Illinois as a teen, you take driver education, get an instruction permit from 15, hold it for at least 9 months while logging 50 supervised hours (10 at night), then pass the road test at 16 or older. This guide is for Illinois learners and their parents and covers every step from permit to full license, with links to the detailed posts.

Key facts (Illinois Secretary of State)

• Agency: the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS), Driver Services. The handbook is the 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road.
• Earliest permit: 15, if you are enrolled in an approved driver education course (or within 30 days of starting one).
• Permit: valid 24 months; hold it at least 9 months if you are 15 to 17.
• Practice: 50 hours, including 10 at night, with a parent or licensed adult 21 or older.
• Driver education: at least 30 classroom hours and 6 behind-the-wheel hours.
• First license: 16 at the earliest, with passenger and nighttime limits until 18.
• Ages 18 to 20 with no driver ed: a 6-hour adult driver education course before the license.

How to get a driver’s license in Illinois: the three GDL phases

Phase	Ages	Main rules
Permit phase	15 to 17	Drive only with a supervisor; hold 9 months; log 50 hours (10 at night); night limits apply
Initial licensing phase	16 to 17	One passenger under 20 for the first 12 months (family exempt), then one in front and no more in back than seat belts; night limits; no phone use
Full licensing phase	18 to 20	No age-related limits, unless they were extended for violations

The full rules, including extensions for violations, are in Illinois GDL rules for teen drivers explained.

Step by step: Illinois permit to license for under 18s

1. Enroll in driver education. High schools that teach grades 9 to 12 must offer it; licensed commercial driving schools also teach it. See Illinois driver education requirements.
2. Apply for the instruction permit. Bring identity documents, a parent or guardian’s consent and the $20 fee (as of November 2026). Pass the vision screening and the written test. See getting an Illinois instruction permit at 15 and the Illinois permit test.
3. Practice for at least 9 months. Log 50 hours, 10 at night, on top of driver ed lessons. Use the Illinois 50-hour driving log.
4. Finish driver education. High schools report completion to the Secretary of State, and it must show on your driving record before a license is issued. You or a parent can check with your permit number on the SOS website.
5. Take the road test at 16 or older. Bring an insured, registered vehicle, your permit, your signed 50-hour log and your documents. See the Illinois road test guide.
6. Drive under initial licensing limits until 18, keeping your record conviction-free.

Getting a first Illinois license at 18, 19 or 20

If you are 18 to 20, applying for your first Illinois license, and have never taken driver education, you must complete a 6-hour Adult Driver Education Course from a Secretary of State certified provider. You still pass the vision, written and road tests. Details: Illinois 6-hour adult driver education course.

Illinois driver’s license fees (as of November 2026)

Item	Fee
Class D instruction permit (original)	$20
Driver’s license, ages 18 to 20	$5
Driver’s license, ages 21 to 68	$30

The 2026 Rules of the Road says there is no additional fee if you get your license before your permit expires. Its fee table has no separate line for ages 16 and 17, so if your permit has run out, ask the SOS what you owe. Fees can change by law. More: Illinois license fees and test booking.

Documents and REAL ID

First-time applicants must visit a Secretary of State DMV facility in person with the identity and residency documents on the Secretary of State’s checklist. You can choose a standard license or a REAL ID. A standard card still lets you drive, but after May 7, 2025 it does not get you onto a domestic flight, a military base or a secure federal facility; a valid US passport or passport card can do that instead. What to bring: Illinois permit documents checklist and REAL ID and your first US driver’s license.

Moving to Illinois or coming from abroad

New residents can drive on a valid out-of-state license for 90 days, or until it expires if that comes first, then must swap it at a full-service DMV facility. Illinois stopped issuing the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL) on July 1, 2024. Former TVDL applicants can apply for a standard license marked “Federal Limits Apply.” See Illinois TVDL and moving from abroad.

Illinois rules of the road, in separate guides

Once you hold a permit, the Illinois Rules of the Road is what the knowledge test and the road test draw on. We split it into short guides so you can read the part you need:

• Illinois speed limits, work zones and school zones
• Illinois right of way, passing and signaling rules
• Illinois parking, school bus and railroad crossing rules
• Illinois Seat Belt, Child Restraint and Other Traffic Laws
• Sharing the Road in Illinois and What to Do After a Crash
• Illinois Traffic Signals, Pavement Markings and Road Signs
• Illinois safe driving rules, emergencies and required car equipment
• Owning a car, keeping and losing your license in Illinois

For teen phone rules, Scott’s Law and tickets, see the teen phone ban, Scott’s Law and traffic tickets and suspension.

Common questions

Can I get my license at 16 in Illinois?

Yes, if you are 16, have held your permit for 9 months, finished driver education and the 50 practice hours, and pass the road test.

Do I need driver’s ed in Illinois?

Under 18, yes: you must complete an approved course to get a license. At 18 to 20 with no driver ed, you need the 6-hour adult course instead.

How many passengers can a new Illinois driver carry?

For the first 12 months, or until 18 if that comes sooner, one passenger under 20. Siblings, stepsiblings, children and stepchildren don’t count toward the limit.

What time do Illinois teen drivers have to be off the road?

Sunday to Thursday, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. These limits apply in the permit and initial licensing phases. Local curfews may differ.

Can I practice driving in another state with my Illinois permit?

That depends on the other state’s rules. See driving with a learner’s permit in another state.

Where can I compare Illinois with other states?

Use learning to drive in the USA, GDL laws compared, supervised hours by state, permit tests by state and road tests by state.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapters 1 to 13 (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Graduated Driver’s License” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Instruction Permit Requirements” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Fees” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Adult Driver Education FAQs” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Temporary Visitor Driver’s License” and July 1, 2024 news release (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “New Residents: How Do I?” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois State Board of Education, “Driver Education Frequently Asked Questions” (isbe.net)
• Illinois State Police, news release on school bus enforcement, August 14, 2023 (isp.illinois.gov)

Photo: Raymond Wambsgans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

For Illinois drivers under 21, a traffic ticket costs more than the fine. Two moving violation convictions within 24 months lead to a license suspension of at least 30 days, court supervision is limited, and a ticket in the permit phase or first year of licensing delays your next GDL step. This guide is for teens, young adults and parents who want to know what a ticket really means.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Under 21: two moving violation convictions in 24 months means a suspension of at least 30 days.
• Drivers under 21 are limited to one court supervision for serious traffic violations.
• Court supervision means attending traffic safety school, and under 18 you must appear in court with a parent or guardian.
• A moving violation conviction in the first year of licensing extends the passenger limit by 6 months.
• Zero tolerance: any alcohol (BAC above 0.00) under 21 means a suspension of at least 3 months.

What is court supervision in Illinois?

Court supervision is a sentence a judge can give for a traffic offense instead of a conviction. If you meet the conditions the court sets, the case is dismissed without a conviction. It is not automatic, and for young drivers the Illinois Secretary of State puts extra limits on it:

• Once only for serious violations. Drivers under 21 are limited to one court supervision for serious traffic violations. A second ticket of that kind is likely to end in a conviction.
• Parent in court. Anyone under 18 seeking court supervision must appear in court with a parent or guardian.
• Traffic safety school. You must also complete traffic safety school.
• Alcohol cases. Under 18, court supervision for certain alcohol-related violations means being denied a full graduated license for nine months.

Which offenses count as serious, and what the judge decides, depends on the case. Ask the court clerk on your ticket what applies to you.

When does an Illinois driver under 21 get suspended?

What happens	Result for drivers under 21
Two moving violation convictions within 24 months	Suspension of at least 30 days; longer depending on the offenses and your record. You may have to finish a remedial course to get reinstated, and a Restricted Driving Permit is possible but not guaranteed
Any alcohol in your system (BAC above 0.00), first offense	Suspension of at least 3 months
Any alcohol, second offense	1-year suspension
Refusing a chemical test under zero tolerance	Longer suspension (the Secretary of State lists 6 or 24 months)
Court supervision for underage alcohol possession or consumption while in a vehicle	3-month suspension
Conviction for that alcohol offense	Suspension of at least 6 months
Driving during GDL night restricted hours (under 18, permit or initial licensing phase)	Possible suspension and further restrictions
DUI conviction under 21, first time	Revocation of at least 2 years
Under 18 and charged after a crash causing serious injury or death, with or without alcohol	License may be denied or not renewed

Any license suspended before 21 means a driver remedial education course, and you may have to retake the full exam. Zero tolerance suspensions apply even if you were not drunk. For more on the 0.00 rule, see zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21.

How tickets delay your GDL steps

Permit phase

You must hold your instruction permit for 9 months with no driving infractions, underage alcohol convictions or court supervisions before you can get a license at 16. A problem during the permit phase pushes that date back. Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/6-107(i)) says no graduated license is issued to an applicant under 18 who has a traffic citation with no court disposition at the time of application, so clear any ticket first. See getting an Illinois instruction permit at 15.

Initial licensing phase (16 and 17)

During your first 12 months of licensing, or until you turn 18, you may carry only one passenger under 20 who is not a sibling, step-sibling, child or stepchild. A moving violation conviction in that first year extends the passenger limit by 6 months.

Moving to the full licensing phase at 18

The Secretary of State requires a conviction-free record for the 6 months before your 18th birthday. A late ticket can keep restrictions in place after 18.

All the phase rules are in Illinois GDL rules for teen drivers.

What to do if you get a ticket

1. Read the ticket. Note the court date and whether you must appear in person.
2. Tell a parent or guardian. If you are a teen seeking court supervision, one of them has to come to court with you.
3. Do not just pay and forget. Paying a ticket can mean pleading guilty, which is a conviction. Ask the court clerk what each option means for your record before you choose.
4. Complete every condition. If you get supervision, finish traffic safety school and any other conditions on time, or the supervision can be revoked.
5. Check your record. The Secretary of State publishes a guide on how to read your Illinois driving record.
6. Watch the 24-month window. After one conviction, a second within 24 months triggers the under-21 suspension.

If police pull you over in Illinois

• Slow down, signal and pull onto the right shoulder, or the next safe place if the shoulder is missing or too narrow. Do not brake hard or stop in a traffic lane, on a bridge or curve, or beside a wall or guardrail.
• Stay in the car with both hands on the wheel until told otherwise. The officer may come to either side. At night you may turn on the interior light.
• Show your license and proof of insurance when asked. If they are in the glove box or under a seat, or your insurance card is on your phone, say so and follow the officer’s directions before you reach for them.
• Not sure an unmarked car is police? Slow down, put your hazards on, and either stop somewhere well lit and busy, drive to the nearest police station, or call 911.
• Sign any ticket. Your signature only shows you received it and is not an admission of guilt. Argue your case in traffic court, not at the roadside, and do not resist arrest. Refusing a breath, urine, blood or performance test when suspected of drunk driving can cost you your license.
• Officers must give their name and badge number if you ask. Report misconduct to the officer’s superiors, or in writing to the agency’s internal affairs division or civilian complaint board.

More: pulled over by police as a new driver.

Going to court on an Illinois ticket

• A minor ticket shows a court date. If you do not pay or appear, a second date may be set at least 30 days later, with notice sent to your last known address, or by text or email if your county offers it.
• Miss the second date and a conviction is entered without you, reported to the Secretary of State like any other conviction.
• Suspensions for failure to appear between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024 are cleared. Older ones stay until you resolve the ticket with the court and pay a reinstatement fee.
• If you are under 18 and must appear in court, a parent or guardian has to be there with you.
• Ticketed in a state that belongs to the Non-Resident Violator Compact? You can stay and argue it, pay the fine, or promise to comply and deal with it from home. Breaking that promise can suspend your Illinois license.

How you can lose Illinois driving privileges: Chapter 8

Some of these actions can stay on your driving record permanently. Driving while suspended or revoked extends the period and can mean jail. These lists come from the 2026 Rules of the Road and are examples, not every possible offense; the Illinois Vehicle Code has the rest.

Action	What it is	Getting privileges back
Revocation	Indefinite withdrawal by the Secretary of State	You may be able to reapply after at least 1 year, unless stated otherwise
Suspension	Temporary loss of privileges	After the period ends and you pay a reinstatement fee; some cases have other requirements
Cancellation	Formal end of a license with an error or defect, or that you are no longer entitled to	Reapply once the terms of the cancellation are met
Denial	Temporary refusal of the right to apply, for someone under 18	Depends on the reason (see below)

Revocation

The Secretary of State immediately revokes after a moving violation conviction for a crash that killed someone, and can revoke the license of a repeat offender. Your vehicle registration may also be suspended during a revocation. Other reasons include:

• DUI and aggravated DUI: aggravated cases include injury or death, a third or later conviction, a past reckless homicide or fatal aggravated DUI, no valid license, permit or insurance, or children on a school bus.
• Reckless driving: three convictions in 12 months, or driving that causes great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement (aggravated reckless driving covers that harm too).
• Reckless conduct and reckless homicide: reckless behavior with a vehicle that injures or endangers someone; reckless driving that kills, or a fatal crash while driving on a license suspended or revoked for aggravated DUI.
• Aggravated fleeing: driving away when police direct you to stop.
• Drag or street racing.
• Leaving the scene of a crash that killed or injured someone.
• School bus: a conviction for passing a school bus in a crash where someone died.
• Vehicle crimes: stealing a vehicle or its parts, using a vehicle in a serious crime, or a gang-related offense involving a vehicle or an Illinois license.
• False identity: making or possessing equipment to make, or selling or using, an unauthorized ID or license; giving false information to the Secretary of State.

Suspension

• Tickets: three traffic convictions in 12 months, or two in any 24 months if you were under 21 at arrest; five or more unpaid camera violations for red lights or speeding; failing to appear in court before January 1, 2020.
• Alcohol and drugs: failing a chemical test after a DUI arrest (BAC of .08 or more, THC of 5 nanograms per milliliter of whole blood or 10 of another bodily substance, or any trace of a controlled substance or intoxicating compound); refusing a test in Illinois or elsewhere; a drug or sex crime while in control of a car.
• Under 21: zero tolerance (alcohol above 0.00 but below 0.08); illegal possession, drinking, buying or accepting alcohol while in a vehicle; illegally transporting alcohol.
• 21 or older: illegally transporting alcohol twice in 12 months.
• Work zones and emergency scenes: a crash caused by not slowing or changing lanes in a construction zone; a second speeding violation with workers present within two years; failing to slow and move away from a stationary emergency vehicle, causing damage or injury.
• School buses and railroads: failing to stop for a school bus; five or more unpaid school bus camera violations; a second failure to obey a railroad crossing signal; five or more unpaid railroad crossing violations.
• Insurance and crashes: a conviction for driving without insurance; not filing SR-22 after court supervision or three no-insurance tickets; an at-fault uninsured crash with damages owed; not reporting a crash.
• Documents: possessing, showing or trying to use an altered license or ID, using someone else’s or letting them use yours, or a fraudulent application.
• Other: unpaid child support, a child visitation order violation, and unauthorized parking in a disability space.

Cancellation

• Medical: being medically or visually unfit to drive safely, not sending in a required report, or not reporting a condition that may affect your driving.
• Re-examination: not showing up for a required re-exam, or failing part of a mandatory one.
• Fraud or ineligibility: a fraudulent application, or not being entitled to the license or permit.
• Under 18: the parent or guardian who consented can cancel your license at any time, for any reason. See Illinois GDL rules.

Denial (under 18)

Reason	Effect
Conviction for an offense on the revocation list above	No license or permit application until you turn 18
Driving without a valid license or permit	No license application until 18, though you can apply for a permit. An existing license drops to instruction permit privileges
Serious moving violation	No license application for 9 months or until 18, whichever is shorter, though you can apply for a permit. An existing license drops to instruction permit privileges
Charged over a crash causing serious injury or death, alcohol or not	The Secretary of State may refuse to issue or renew your license

Special driving permits

Not every suspended or revoked driver can get one.

Permit	What it allows
Restricted Driving Permit	Set times and routes for work, school, a child’s day care or schooling, medical care or drug treatment. Not issued under 16
Monitoring Device Driving Permit	For a first-time DUI offender on a statutory summary suspension, driving at any hour in a vehicle with a breath alcohol ignition interlock (BAIID). Not issued under 18
Occupational Driving Permit	For someone who drives for a living and was suspended for three moving violations, while working. Not for commercial drivers
Probationary license	For a driver 21 or older suspended for three moving violations in 12 months, tied to a driver improvement course. Full privileges, for up to three months
Family Financial Responsibility Driving Permit	For a suspension over child support or visitation abuse. Only after a circuit judge’s order or direction from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services

DUI in Illinois: limits and penalties

• Limits: BAC of .08 or more is illegal, and you can be convicted below that if your driving is impaired. THC of 5 nanograms per milliliter of whole blood, or 10 of another bodily substance, is illegal, as is any trace of a controlled drug or intoxicating compound. Only time clears alcohol; food, coffee and showers do not.
• Cannabis: legal use at 21 does not allow impaired driving. Nobody may use it in a vehicle, and it must travel in a sealed, odor-proof, child-resistant container. An officer with reasonable suspicion can require roadside tests, and refusing or failing means a suspension.
• Other drugs: many prescription and over-the-counter medicines impair driving too, and mixing them with alcohol is very dangerous.
• Implied consent: driving on Illinois roads means you agree to testing. After an injury or fatal crash, if an officer has probable cause, a test must be requested. You can have additional tests at your own cost. If you are found guilty of DUI after refusing a breath test, or after an officer believed a blood test might show drugs, you can owe up to $500 for blood test costs.
• Open containers: nobody may drink in a vehicle, and alcohol may not be in the passenger area once opened. Chartered buses for nonschool trips, motor homes and limousines are exempt for passengers.
• Letting others: you may not let someone under the influence drive your car. Parents and guardians can face criminal penalties for allowing under-21 drinking on property or in a vehicle they control.

DUI outcome	Result
Fail a chemical test (statutory summary suspension)	6 months; 1 year if you are a repeat offender within 5 years
Refuse a chemical test	1 year; 3 years if you are a repeat offender within 5 years. A refusal after a crash with serious injury or death means revocation of at least 1 year
First DUI conviction	Revocation of at least 1 year (at least 2 years under 21)
Second conviction within 20 years	Revocation of at least 5 years
Third conviction	Revocation of at least 10 years
Fourth or later conviction	Lifetime revocation
BAC of .16 or more, or a child under 16 in the car	Possible enhanced penalties

After an arrest the officer takes your license and, if it is valid, gives you a receipt to drive for 45 days. The suspension starts on the 46th day and lasts until you pay the reinstatement fee and your record is updated. To get privileges back after a conviction you may need an alcohol and drug evaluation, a rehabilitation or education program, a Secretary of State hearing and a fee, plus three years of Financial Responsibility Insurance. A first-time offender may choose a Monitoring Device Driving Permit, and driving during the suspension without one is a felony. DUI convictions stay on your record for good. Driving on a license suspended or revoked for DUI, reckless homicide or leaving an injury or fatal crash can mean jail, a longer period and losing the vehicle, and you may not drive in any state. An arrest or conviction out of state is treated as if it happened in Illinois.

Illinois insurance violations

• A mandatory insurance conviction means a suspension of at least 3 months, a $100 reinstatement fee and no driving permit.
• You must file proof of financial responsibility (an SR-22 certificate, a bond or securities) after an unsatisfied crash judgment, a suspension for an uninsured crash, court supervision for no insurance, or three or more no-insurance convictions. If that insurance lapses or is canceled, your license is suspended.

Why phone and move over tickets matter

Two common tickets for new drivers carry serious costs. Under-19 phone use is banned outright (see the Illinois teen phone ban). A Scott’s Law violation starts at $250 and can bring a suspension (see Scott’s Law explained).

Common questions

Does court supervision go on my Illinois driving record?

Supervision is not a conviction, but the Secretary of State still knows about it, which is how it enforces the one-supervision limit for drivers under 21. Check your own record to see how it is shown.

I’m 17 and got a speeding ticket. Will I lose my license?

Not automatically for one ticket. A conviction in your first year extends the passenger limit by 6 months, and a second conviction within 24 months brings a suspension of at least 30 days.

Can I get court supervision twice before I turn 21?

For serious traffic violations, drivers under 21 are limited to one. Ask the court about your specific offense.

Does a ticket on my permit delay my license?

Yes. You need 9 months on the permit with no infractions, underage alcohol convictions or court supervisions, so a ticket can push back your license date.

How long is the suspension for two tickets?

At least 30 days. It can be longer depending on how serious the offenses were and your previous record.

What happens if I refuse a breath test at 19?

Under zero tolerance, refusing brings a longer suspension than failing. The Secretary of State lists 6 or 24 months.

Related: learning to drive in Illinois, points systems and suspensions in the US and car insurance for new drivers.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “Graduated Driver’s License” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Key points for newly licensed 16-17 years old” fact sheet (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapters 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Remedial Education Program” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Zero Tolerance/Underage Drinking” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Drivers Frequently Asked Questions” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois General Assembly, “625 ILCS 5/6-206 Discretionary authority to suspend or revoke” (ilga.gov)
• Illinois General Assembly, “625 ILCS 5/6-107 Graduated license”, subsection (i) (ilga.gov)

Photo: formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If an Illinois traffic signal is not working, treat the intersection as an all-way stop unless police direct you otherwise. Beyond that, the Illinois written exam asks you to identify signs, signals and pavement markings, so it pays to learn the Illinois-specific rules for arrows, lane signals, lines and the signs below. This guide uses Chapters 9 and 10 of the 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road.

Key facts (Illinois Secretary of State)

• Signal out: treat it as an all-way stop unless police direct you otherwise.
• Red arrow: wait for the green arrow, with two exceptions after a complete stop and yielding (a right turn, and a left turn from a one-way street onto a one-way street moving left).
• Never drive under a red X over an expressway lane.
• Crossing a double solid white line is prohibited.
• The written exam asks you to identify signs.

Illinois signals and pavement markings

• Signal not working: treat it as an all-way stop unless police direct you otherwise. Never leave the road to get around a signal.
• Red arrow: wait for the green arrow, with two Illinois exceptions after a complete stop and yielding: a right turn, and a left turn from a one-way street onto a one-way street moving left.
• Flashing yellow arrow: turn after yielding to pedestrians and vehicles. A steady yellow arrow means the green arrow is ending or the light is about to turn red.
• Green arrow: up means straight ahead only; left or right means you may turn that way.
• Lane signals over expressways: never drive under a red X. A yellow X means leave the lane safely before it turns red. A flashing yellow arrow means the lane may be used to approach and make a left turn. A green arrow means you may use the lane, obeying other signs and signals.
• Pedestrian signals: a walking person means cross; a flashing orange hand means do not start, but finish if already crossing; a steady orange hand means do not enter.
• White lines: cross a broken line only to change lanes or turn. Crossing a solid line takes special care and is discouraged. Crossing a double solid line is prohibited. A stop line is usually 4 feet before the crosswalk in an urban area, and no part of your car may cross it.
• Yellow lines: you may cross a double solid center line to turn left into or out of an alley, private road, driveway or street. A solid yellow no-passing line on your side may be crossed to finish a pass you began before the zone, or to turn left into or out of an alley, private road or driveway.
• Other markings: diagonal stripes mark fixed obstructions; solid lines may steer traffic around a hazard; local authorities may mark curbs and fire lanes as no parking.

For the national basics, see traffic signals in the US, US pavement markings and right on red.

Roadway signs (Chapter 9)

Chapter 9 covers roadway signs, and you will be asked to identify them on the written exam. Shapes and colors are in US road signs by shape and color. The handbook also shows the signs below, which that guide does not spell out. This table describes them in words only, so compare each one with its picture in Chapter 9 of the official Rules of the Road before your test:

Sign	What it tells you
ALL-WAY, 3-WAY or 5-WAY under a STOP sign	Every approach stops. First to stop goes first.
Handheld or temporary STOP sign	Treat a temporary one like a permanent STOP sign. For a handheld one, wait for the guard or flagger to signal you.
SPEED ZONE AHEAD	The limit is about to change, so be ready to adjust.
Minimum speed on a speed limit sign	Going slower than the minimum is illegal unless safety requires it.
No U-turn, no right turn, no left turn	That move is banned. Median openings on divided roads are for police, ambulances, plows and other authorized vehicles.
No turn on red	No right on red, and no left on red between one-way streets. It may show a red circle instead of the word.
Two-way left turn lane signs	The center lane is shared for left turns in both directions.
Approaching a divided highway	A median splits the road you are about to cross or join.
KEEP RIGHT; SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT	Pass an island or median on the side of the arrow; if you are slower than traffic on a multilane road, use the right lane.
STOP HERE ON RED	Shows where to stop when the signal’s stopping point is not clear.
ROAD CLOSED	Closed to all traffic. You may not go on.
DO NOT PASS; PASS WITH CARE	The no-passing stretch and where it ends. After that, pass only when safe.
Bike lane	A lane for bicyclists, marked by a solid white line that turns dotted before the corner, sometimes painted bright green.
Pedestrian crosswalk, sometimes with a flashing beacon	A crossing that may be away from an intersection. Watch both sides of the street.
Truck, bicycle, wheelchair and snowmobile crossings	Those users may cross ahead.
School signs with AHEAD or a downward arrow; SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT 20	A school crossing ahead or right here; the speed sign applies when children are present or when its light flashes.
STOP AHEAD, YIELD AHEAD, SIGNAL AHEAD	Start slowing now, even if you cannot see it yet.
Crossroad, side road, T and Y intersection	A junction is ahead, and a turn may be required.
Turn, curve and winding road arrows, with a speed plaque; exit ramp speed	The arrow shows the road’s shape. The plaque gives the maximum safe speed.
Downgrade; narrow bridge; road narrows	Slow before a long or steep hill; expect a bridge narrower than the road, or a two-lane road that suddenly narrows.
Lane reduction	Merge early in light traffic. In dense, slow traffic, use both lanes up to the merge point and take turns (a zipper merge).
Merge	Two lanes become one: change lanes or let others in. On an expressway, slow to let the driver on the ramp merge.
Change in direction (large arrow signs)	A sharp curve or a narrowing, such as the approach to a narrow bridge.
Divided highway begins, divided highway ends, two-way roadway	A median starts or stops. Take care at the end, where traffic comes toward you with nothing between.
Workers ahead; cones, drums, barricades, vertical panels	Follow the marked path, keep to the posted work zone limit and stay clear of barriers.
Warning lights, arrow boards, flagger	A lane closes or a merge is coming. Slow down, and stop if the flagger signals.
Portable changeable message signs	Live traffic, closures, detours or lane instructions. Follow them.
Slow-moving vehicle triangle; reserved disability parking	Slow down and pass only when safe and legal; the parking space needs a disability plate or placard, or a qualifying Veteran plate.
Route markers and other guide signs	Interstate, US and Illinois route markers with direction, junction and TO plaques; green exit, mile and community signs; brown recreation signs; blue rest area signs; an orange detour sign.
Hazardous materials placards on trucks	They show what is being carried. At a crash, follow responders’ directions. If none are there, avoid the area and report it from somewhere safe, and get medical help if you feel ill later.

Common questions

What do I do at a broken traffic light in Illinois?

Treat it as an all-way stop unless police direct you otherwise. Never leave the road to get around a signal.

Can I turn on a red arrow in Illinois?

Wait for the green arrow, with two Illinois exceptions after a complete stop and yielding: a right turn, and a left turn from a one-way street onto a one-way street moving left.

What does a red X over a lane mean?

Never drive under a red X. A yellow X means leave the lane safely before it turns red.

What does a flashing orange hand mean?

Do not start crossing, but finish if you are already crossing. A steady orange hand means do not enter.

Are there sign questions on the Illinois written test?

Yes. You will be asked to identify signs on the written exam. Practice with the Illinois permit test guide and the Illinois permit practice test.

Back to the main guide: how to get a driver’s license in Illinois. Related reading: the Illinois permit test, the Illinois road test and four-way stops explained.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapter 9 (roadway signs) and Chapter 10 (traffic signals, arrows, pedestrian and lane signals, pavement markings) (ilsos.gov)

Photo: Chris Duan, Pexels

Illinois no longer issues the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL). From July 1, 2024, people who used to qualify for a TVDL can apply for a standard four-year Illinois driver’s license marked “Federal Limits Apply.” This guide is for people moving to Illinois from abroad or from another state: which license to apply for, the tests and the deadlines.

Key facts

• TVDLs stopped being issued on July 1, 2024, under a 2023 law (HB 3882).
• Replacement: a four-year standard license printed with “Federal Limits Apply.”
• Existing TVDL holders can renew or replace online or at a DMV facility.
• Moving from another state or country: you can drive on your valid license for 90 days, or until it expires if that comes first.
• Vehicles: new residents have 30 days to transfer title and registration.

What replaced the Illinois TVDL?

The TVDL was for non-citizens with temporary legal entry, living in Illinois and not eligible for a Social Security number. It carried a purple TVDL marker and the words “Not Valid for Identification.” The new standard license drops both, and carries “Federal Limits Apply” instead.

Who can apply for a standard license under the new rules

The Secretary of State says applicants who would have qualified for a TVDL must:

• have lived in Illinois for more than a year
• provide a passport or consular card (the SOS accepts consular cards only from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico)
• provide proof of residency and proof of insurance
• pass the vision, written and behind-the-wheel tests

The SOS document chart says a Visa/Non-Visa license applicant does not present a Group C Social Security document, and signs a declaration of not being eligible for a number instead.

First-time applicants must go to a DMV facility in person with their documents. Holders of an employment authorization document, DACA documents or a green card may qualify under different document rules. Check the SOS non-citizen guidance before your visit.

Moving to Illinois from another state

1. Drive on your valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days after becoming a resident, or until it expires if that comes first.
2. Visit a full-service Secretary of State DMV facility. Express facilities do not process out-of-state transfers.
3. Surrender all out-of-state licenses and ID cards.
4. Pass a vision screening and the written exam. A driving exam may also be required.
5. Bring identity and residency documents from the SOS checklist. Choose standard or REAL ID: REAL ID guide.
6. Transfer your vehicle’s title and registration within 30 days.

If you are 18 to 20 and moving from another state, you don’t need the adult driver education course. More on swapping licenses: transferring your license to a new state.

Moving to Illinois from another country

Plan on taking the full set of tests (vision, written and road), as for a first Illinois license, and confirm with the SOS whether any test can be waived for your license. Visitors who keep a home-country license should read driving in the US on a foreign license. Then prepare with the Illinois permit test and road test guides.

Who can drive on a license from elsewhere?

• Visitors and people driving through, with a valid license from their home state or country.
• Out-of-state students at an Illinois college or university, plus their spouse and children, with a valid home license.
• Active-duty US Armed Forces members, plus their spouse and dependent children living with them, with a valid home-state license.
• Illinois residents returning from service abroad, as military or as civilian Armed Forces or Department of Defense staff, plus their spouse and dependent children: for the first 120 days back, if they got a license deferral beforehand.

Under 18 and new to Illinois?

Illinois GDL rules apply to you: driver education, the instruction permit and 50 practice hours. See Illinois GDL rules.

Common questions

Can I still get a TVDL in Illinois?

No. New TVDLs have not been issued since July 1, 2024. Apply for a standard license instead.

Can I use the “Federal Limits Apply” license as ID to board a plane?

A license marked “Federal Limits Apply” is not a REAL ID. For federal purposes such as domestic flights you need a REAL ID or another accepted document such as a passport.

How long is the new license valid?

Four years. The old TVDL was valid for 4 years or until your authorized stay ended, whichever came first.

I have an expired TVDL. What do I do?

The SOS says TVDL holders can renew or replace online through its TVDL page, or at a DMV facility.

Do I need insurance to apply?

Yes. Proof of insurance is listed for applicants under the former TVDL route, and every vehicle registered and driven in Illinois must have liability insurance. See car insurance for new drivers. Main guide: learning to drive in Illinois.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapter 1 and Acceptable Identification Documents (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Temporary Visitor Driver’s License” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, news release, July 1, 2024 (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, news release, June 21, 2023 (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Non-Citizen and TVDL Illinois Driver’s License Information” DSD TVDL 22 (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “New Residents: How Do I?” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Adult Driver Education FAQs” (ilsos.gov)

Photo: Raymond Wambsgans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you are under 19 and driving in Illinois, you cannot use a cellphone at all while driving, not even hands-free or with Bluetooth, except to call for help in an emergency. Once you turn 19, the rule that covers every Illinois driver applies: hands-free only, no holding the phone. This guide covers both rules, the exceptions, and the fines.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Under 19: no phone use in any form while driving, hands-free included. Emergency calls only.
• 19 and over: hand-held use, texting and other electronic communication are banned. Hands-free and Bluetooth are allowed.
• Holding the phone on speaker does not count as hands-free.
• Fines under 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2 (electronic communication devices): up to $75 for a first offense, $100 second, $125 third, $150 fourth or later.

What is the Illinois cell phone law for drivers under 19?

The Illinois Secretary of State says drivers under 19 may not use a cellphone or other wireless phone while driving, including a hands-free device. The only exception is an emergency call to:

• a law enforcement agency
• a health care provider
• a fire department or other emergency services agency

That means no Bluetooth calls through the car, no earpiece, and no voice-command calls to friends or parents. If you need to talk, pull over and park first.

This rule follows your age, not your license stage. It applies during the permit phase, the initial licensing phase at 16 and 17, and the first year of the full licensing phase until your 19th birthday. For the rest of the teen rules, see Illinois GDL rules for teen drivers.

What the hands-free law means once you turn 19

The Illinois State Police summary of the law says it bans hand-held cellphones, texting and other electronic communication while driving. Hands-free devices and Bluetooth are allowed for drivers 19 and older.

Situation	Under 19	19 and over
Holding the phone to talk	Banned	Banned
Holding the phone on speaker	Banned	Banned (not hands-free)
Texting, email, apps	Banned	Banned
Bluetooth, single earpiece or voice commands	Banned	Allowed
Emergency call	Allowed	Allowed

The 2026 Rules of the Road also names watching or streaming live video, video calls on apps such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Webex, and social media as violations on a cellphone. It adds that even hands-free calling is a distraction, and recommends pulling off the road before you call.

When any Illinois driver may use a phone that is not hands-free

The Illinois State Police list three situations:

1. To report an emergency.
2. While parked on the shoulder of the road.
3. While stopped because normal traffic is obstructed and the vehicle is in neutral or park.

Stopping at a red light is not on that list. Waiting at a light with the car in drive and picking up your phone is still a violation.

Headsets

Illinois also bans headsets while driving, meaning any device other than a hearing aid that lets you hear electronic communications. A single-sided headset or earpiece used with a phone is permitted for drivers allowed to use hands-free. If you are under 19, the earpiece does not help you: any phone use is banned.

Work zones, school zones and emergency scenes

In a highway construction or maintenance area, and in a marked school zone when children are present, you must stop using your phone unless it is hands-free. Within 500 feet of an emergency scene, phone use and taking photos are banned, except in certain circumstances.

What are the fines?

Under 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, the fine for using an electronic communication device while driving is capped by offense number:

Offense	Maximum fine
First	$75
Second	$100
Third	$125
Fourth or later	$150

Court costs can be added on top. The under-19 ban is a separate section of the Vehicle Code (12-610.1); check the current penalty for that section with the court on your ticket or the Illinois Secretary of State. A driver who causes a crash while distracted may also face criminal charges and jail.

Why a phone ticket matters more for a teen

A phone ticket is a traffic conviction like any other on your record. For drivers under 21, two moving violation convictions within 24 months lead to a license suspension, and a conviction in your first year of driving extends the passenger limit. Court supervision is also limited for young drivers. The details are in Illinois traffic tickets, court supervision and suspension for young drivers.

Practical setup before you drive

• Turn on your phone’s driving focus or do-not-disturb mode so calls and texts wait.
• Set the navigation route before you put the car in gear.
• Under 19: if you must call someone, park somewhere safe and legal first. Calling from the shoulder is meant for emergencies and breakdowns, not routine calls.
• Parents: put your own no-phone rule in writing. The Secretary of State publishes a Parent-Teen Driving Contract you can use.

Common questions

Can I use Bluetooth in my car if I’m 17 in Illinois?

No. Drivers under 19 may not use a phone in any capacity while driving, hands-free and Bluetooth included. Only emergency calls are allowed.

Can I use my phone for GPS if I’m under 19?

The ban covers using a wireless phone while driving. Set your route before you move off and do not touch the phone while driving. If you are unsure whether a mounted map counts as use, check the current wording with the Illinois Secretary of State.

Can I text at a red light in Illinois?

No. The stopped-traffic exception only covers traffic that is obstructed with the car in neutral or park. A normal red light does not qualify.

What happens on my 19th birthday?

You move to the same rule as every adult driver: hands-free use is allowed, hand-held use and texting are not.

Does the under-19 ban apply to permit drivers too?

Yes. It is based on age, so it covers instruction permit holders under 19 as well as licensed drivers.

Can I call my parents hands-free if I’m lost?

Not while driving if you are under 19. Pull into a parking lot, park, then call.

Related: learning to drive in Illinois, the Illinois permit test and hands-free and texting laws by state.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapters 3, 4 and 12 (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Graduated Driver’s License” (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Key points for newly licensed 16-17 years old” fact sheet (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois State Police, “Distracted Driving” leaflet ISP 1-230 (isp.illinois.gov)
• Illinois General Assembly, “625 ILCS 5/12-610.2 Electronic communication devices” (ilga.gov)

Photo: Raymond Wambsgans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Unless a sign says otherwise, Illinois speed limits are 70 mph on interstates and tollways, 65 mph on four-lane highways, 55 mph on other highways and rural areas, 30 mph in cities and towns, 15 mph in alleys and 20 mph in a school zone on school days. This guide sets out those numbers and the rules for work zones, emergency vehicles, school zones and funeral processions that appear on the Illinois permit test.

Key facts (Illinois Secretary of State)

• Interstates and tollways: 70 mph. Four-lane highways: 65 mph. Other highways and rural areas: 55 mph.
• Cities and towns: 30 mph. Alleys: 15 mph.
• School zones: 20 mph on school days, 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., when children are present and signs are posted.
• In a construction zone the posted limit applies around the clock, whether or not workers are there.
• In a work zone or marked school zone, stop using your phone unless it is hands-free.

Illinois speed limits

Where	Limit unless posted otherwise
Interstates and tollways	70 mph
Highways with four lanes	65 mph
Other highways and rural areas	55 mph
Cities and towns	30 mph
Alleys	15 mph
School zones	20 mph on school days, 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., when children are present and signs are posted. The handbook’s sign chapter adds that hours may vary and some school signs apply when a light is flashing.

Towns may post different limits. Some roads have a posted minimum; where none is posted, do not go so slowly that you hold up normal traffic. Slow down at intersections, curves, hill crests and narrow, winding roads. In a construction zone the posted limit applies around the clock, whether or not workers are there. For the idea behind all speed limits, including the rule to drive at a speed that suits conditions, see speed limits and the basic speed law in the US.

Work zones, emergency vehicles, school zones and funerals

• Work zones: slow down, stop using your phone unless hands-free, yield to workers and authorized vehicles, move to a lane away from the workers when you can, and keep your speed down until you are past them.
• Siren and lights coming toward you: pull to the right straight away and stop if needed. If you are stopped at an intersection with two-way traffic, stay stopped until the vehicle has gone through. Never drive over a fire hose unless the fire official in charge allows it.
• Stopped emergency or maintenance vehicles: yield, move away and slow down under Scott’s Law. Within 500 feet of an emergency scene, taking photos or using a phone is banned, with limited exceptions.
• Marked school zones: stop phone use unless hands-free, slow to 20 mph, and stop and yield to anyone in the crosswalk.
• Funeral processions: yield to every vehicle in the line. Do not drive between them, join them to get the right of way, or pass them unless a passing lane is provided.

Passing is not allowed in any construction zone or school zone, and you must stop for a stopped school bus. The passing rules are in Illinois right of way, passing and signaling rules and the school bus rules are in Illinois parking, school bus and railroad crossing rules. For the phone rules that apply to everyone and to teens in particular, see Illinois teen phone ban and hands-free law.

Common questions

What is the speed limit in an Illinois school zone?

It is 20 mph on school days, from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., when children are present and signs are posted. The handbook’s sign chapter adds that hours may vary and some school signs apply when a light is flashing, so follow the sign.

Does the work zone speed limit apply when no one is working?

Yes. In a construction zone the posted limit applies around the clock, whether or not workers are there.

What do I do when an ambulance or fire truck comes toward me?

Pull to the right straight away and stop if needed. If you are stopped at an intersection with two-way traffic, stay stopped until the vehicle has gone through.

Should I drive over a fire hose?

No. Never drive over a fire hose unless the fire official in charge allows it.

Where to go next

This guide is part of the Learning to drive in Illinois: complete guide. Related reading: Illinois Scott’s Law explained for new drivers, school bus and railroad crossing rules, right of way, passing and signaling and the Illinois permit test guide.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapter 4, traffic laws, speed limits, work zones and school zones (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapter 9, roadway signs (ilsos.gov)

Photo: artistmac, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Illinois you must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists, give a bicyclist 3 feet when passing, and keep clear of motorcycles, trucks and slow-moving vehicles. After a crash, stop, help anyone hurt, call 911 and notify police straight away by the fastest means you have. This guide covers both topics from the 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road.

Key facts (Illinois Secretary of State)

• Bicycles: pass slowly with 3 feet from your side mirror, or wait.
• Motorcycles: leave three to four seconds behind and never share the lane.
• Crash report: required for a death, bodily injury or property damage over $1,500 ($500 if any vehicle is uninsured).
• Telling police: immediately, by the fastest means available. A driver who failed to stop at an injury or fatal crash must report it to a police station or sheriff’s office within half an hour.
• Not reporting: a fine of up to $2,500 and up to one year in jail.

Sharing the road in Illinois

• Pedestrians: the law counts skaters and skateboarders as pedestrians. Be ready to yield, and do not drive close to them. More on crossings is in pedestrians and crosswalks.
• Children: watch for signs marking school zones, bus stops and playgrounds, slow down in residential areas, and take special care when backing out of a driveway.
• Motorcycles: leave three to four seconds behind one and do not share its lane. More than half of motorcycle crashes happen at intersections, often when a car turns left in front of the rider, so check before you turn. A rider may go through a red light that has not changed after 120 seconds, after yielding. Hold your lane and speed when one passes you.
• Bicycles: bicyclists, including those on electric or gas bikes up to 20 mph, generally have the same rights as drivers, and you must yield to them as you would to a vehicle. Pass slowly with 3 feet from your side mirror, or wait. You may not drive, park, idle or drop off in a bike lane, even when it is empty. Riders may ride two abreast if traffic is not impeded, and may need to leave the bike lane.
• Turning near bicycles: turning left, wait for an oncoming bicyclist to pass, and stay behind one sharing your turn lane. Turning right, let a bicyclist on your right go through first. Do not use high beams toward an oncoming rider.
• Trucks and buses: stay out of their no-zones, leave extra room for wide right turns, and dim your lights when following at night. The handbook suggests blinking your headlights as you pass a truck, then finishing the pass quickly.
• Disabled vehicles: on a four-lane highway, change lanes away from a vehicle with hazards on if it is safe. If not, slow down and do not speed up until you are well past. Police may have a vehicle towed at the owner’s cost after 2 hours on an interstate, expressway or toll highway, 10 hours on an urban highway, or 24 hours on a non-urban highway. Clear glass and debris when a wrecked car is removed, and tow only with a drawbar, normally no more than 15 feet long, with two chains or cables.
• Low-speed vehicles and autocycles: a low-speed vehicle has a top speed of 25 mph and may use streets posted at 30 mph or less, unless the town bans it. An autocycle needs title, registration and a driver with a valid license.
• Slow-moving vehicles: farm, construction and animal-drawn vehicles usually travel at 5 to 20 mph and carry an orange emblem. You close on them fast. They may turn wide or into unmarked entrances, so hang back and pass only when it is safe and the operator knows you are there.
• Snowmobiles and horses: take care in areas with snowmobile warning signs. Riders on horseback may use public roads, except controlled-access highways and most expressways. Never sound your horn near a horse, and be ready to stop.

For general advice on other road users, see sharing the road with motorcycles, bicycles and trucks and driving through roundabouts.

After a crash in Illinois

1. Stop in a safe, well-lit public place that does not block traffic, if you can.
2. Help anyone who is hurt if needed or asked, and call 911 at once.
3. Warn other drivers with your flashers, and flares if you have them.
4. Get names, addresses, phone numbers, license numbers and plate numbers from everyone involved.

Item	Illinois rule
Crash report required	Whoever was at fault, the driver files if there is a death, a bodily injury or property damage over $1,500. If any vehicle involved is uninsured, the figure is $500. A crash involving a school bus also needs a report, as does one within 50 feet of a school bus that hurts someone waiting to board or just off the bus.
Telling police	Notify them immediately, by the fastest means available (625 ILCS 5/11-407). A driver who failed to stop at a crash that hurt or killed someone must report it at a police station or sheriff’s office near the crash within half an hour (625 ILCS 5/11-401(b)). If no officer is at the scene, go to the nearest police station as soon as possible; in a rural area, tell the county sheriff or the State Police. If the driver cannot report, a passenger must.
Not reporting	A fine of up to $2,500 and up to one year in jail.
Leaving the scene	Criminal charges. The SOS must revoke your license if someone was killed or hurt; damage over $1,000 means a suspension.
Unattended vehicle or property	Stop away from traffic, leave your name, address, phone and plate number if you cannot find the owner, notify police and complete any reports.
At fault with no liability insurance	You must post security for the damage. If you do not, your license can be suspended and the owner’s plates and registration too, until you provide proof of financial responsibility and keep insurance for three years.

The general steps are in what to do after a crash; insurance penalties and SR-22 filing are in Illinois traffic tickets, court supervision and suspension. Many towns also require their own report. Drivers 55 or over may get an insurance reduction after an eight-hour defensive driving course; ask your insurer.

Common questions

How close can I pass a bicycle in Illinois?

Pass slowly with 3 feet from your side mirror, or wait until you can. You must also yield to a bicyclist as you would to a vehicle.

Can I drive in a bike lane in Illinois?

No. You may not drive, park, idle or drop off in a bike lane, even when it is empty.

Do I have to report a minor crash in Illinois?

The driver files a report if there is a death, a bodily injury or property damage over $1,500, or over $500 if any vehicle involved is uninsured. Notify police immediately, by the fastest means available.

What happens if I leave the scene of a crash?

It means criminal charges. The Secretary of State must revoke your license if someone was killed or hurt, and damage over $1,000 means a suspension.

What if I cause a crash and have no insurance?

You must post security for the damage. If you do not, your license can be suspended, and the owner’s plates and registration too, until you provide proof of financial responsibility and keep insurance for three years.

Back to the main guide: how to get a driver’s license in Illinois. Related reading: Illinois Scott’s Law explained, Illinois traffic tickets, court supervision and suspension and car insurance for new drivers.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapter 5 (sharing the road) and Chapter 7 (crashes, crash reports, leaving the scene, safety responsibility) (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois General Assembly, “625 ILCS 5/11-401 Motor vehicle crashes involving death or personal injuries” and “625 ILCS 5/11-407 Immediate notice of crash” (ilga.gov)

Photo: Asher Heimermann, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Illinois, everyone 8 or older must wear a seat belt in every seat, front and back, and children under 8 must ride in a suitable child restraint, such as a booster used with a lap and shoulder belt. The driver is responsible for every passenger obeying these laws. This guide covers those rules, a few other Illinois traffic laws, and how the 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road is organized for your written test.

Key facts (Illinois Secretary of State)

• Age 8 or older: seat belt in every seat, with or without air bags.
• Under 8: a suitable child restraint, including a booster used with a lap and shoulder belt.
• Under 2: rear-facing unless the child weighs more than 40 pounds or is taller than 40 inches.
• Children 12 and younger: the back seat is recommended.
• Sound systems must not be audible from 75 feet or more.
• The handbook is the 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road (DSD A 112, July 2026).

Seat belts and child restraints

Who	Illinois rule
Everyone 8 or older	Seat belt in every seat, front and back, air bags or not
Children under 8	A suitable child restraint, including a booster used with a lap and shoulder belt. If the back seat has only lap belts, a child over 40 pounds may ride there on a lap belt without a booster
Children under 2	Rear-facing unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are taller than 40 inches
Children 12 and younger	The back seat is recommended. A rear-facing seat never goes in front of an active air bag
The driver	Responsible for every passenger obeying these laws, and for buckling a passenger whose disability or condition prevents it

Wear the lap belt across your hip bones, never your stomach, and never put the shoulder strap behind your back or under your arm. A gap of 10 to 12 inches between you and the air bag is best. Do not carry more people than the car has seat belts. For the general rules that apply in every state, see seat belt and child car seat laws.

Other Illinois traffic laws

You may not drive on a sidewalk except across a driveway, ride in a house trailer being towed, overload a car so your view is blocked, or drop an object from an overpass at a moving vehicle. A sound system must not be audible from 75 feet or more. Local laws can add more. For traffic stops and tickets, see Illinois traffic tickets, court supervision and suspension. For phone use behind the wheel, see the Illinois teen phone ban and hands-free law.

What the Illinois Rules of the Road covers

The written test is drawn from the Rules of the Road. The 2026 edition runs from Chapter 1 (the Illinois driver’s license), Chapter 2 (license exams) and Chapter 3 (drivers under 21) through traffic laws, sharing the road, DUI, and violations and crashes (Chapters 4 to 7), then license revocation, suspension, denial and cancellation (Chapter 8) and roadway signs (Chapter 9), to signals and pavement markings, safe driving tips and required equipment (Chapters 10 to 12) and owning a vehicle (Chapter 13). Seat belts, child restraints and the other laws above come from Chapter 4. Illinois requires liability insurance on every vehicle driven in the state, and car insurance for new drivers explains the basics.

Common questions

Do back seat passengers have to wear a seat belt in Illinois?

Yes. Everyone 8 or older must wear a seat belt in every seat, front and back, whether or not the seat has an air bag.

When can a child stop using a car seat or booster in Illinois?

Children under 8 need a suitable child restraint, including a booster used with a lap and shoulder belt. From age 8 a child must wear a seat belt. Check with the Illinois Secretary of State if you are unsure which restraint suits your child.

Can a baby face forward in Illinois?

Children under 2 must ride rear-facing unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are taller than 40 inches.

Who is responsible if a passenger is not buckled?

The driver is responsible for every passenger obeying the seat belt and child restraint laws, and for buckling a passenger whose disability or condition prevents it.

Is it illegal to play loud music in Illinois?

A sound system must not be audible from 75 feet or more. Local laws can add more rules.

Back to the main guide: how to get a driver’s license in Illinois. Related reading: Illinois GDL rules for teen drivers, the Illinois permit test and Illinois traffic tickets, court supervision and suspension.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapter 4 (safety belt law, Child Passenger Protection Act, additional laws) and the chapter overview (ilsos.gov)

Photo: artistmac, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Scott’s Law is Illinois’s move over law. When you approach an emergency or roadside work vehicle with flashing lights, you must slow down and, where it is safe, change lanes away from it. Since January 1, 2026 you must also yield to these vehicles whether they are stopped or moving. This guide explains which vehicles count, what to do, and why the penalties are some of the toughest a new Illinois driver can face.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Law: 625 ILCS 5/11-907(c) and (c-5) of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
• Covers any vehicle authorized to show oscillating, rotating or flashing lights while on duty: police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks, construction and highway maintenance vehicles.
• Fine: $250 to $10,000 for a first violation; $750 to $10,000 for a second or later one.
• License suspension if a violation damages another vehicle, injures someone or kills someone.

What does Scott’s Law require?

When you approach a stationary authorized emergency vehicle or emergency scene with its lights flashing:

1. Reduce your speed. Ease off early so you are not braking hard next to the scene.
2. Change lanes away from it if you can do so safely. On a highway with at least four lanes, two of them going your way, move into a lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle.
3. If you cannot change lanes, slow down further and proceed with due caution. Do not force a lane change into traffic.

The Illinois State Police sum it up as: if it’s flashing, move over. The 2026 Rules of the Road describes the lights as blue, red, amber, white or green, oscillating, rotating or flashing. It says to keep your speed down until you are safely past. Within 500 feet of an emergency scene you may not take photos or use a phone, except in certain circumstances, and you may not drive over a fire hose unless the fire official in charge permits it.

The 2026 change: stationary or not

Under subsection (c-5), from January 1, 2026, you must yield the right-of-way to any authorized emergency vehicle that is actually working on a highway and displaying flashing lights, whether it is stationary or moving. You must also yield to any pedestrian directly involved in an emergency scene, such as a firefighter or crash victim on foot.

Which vehicles does Scott’s Law cover?

An authorized emergency vehicle under Scott’s Law is any vehicle allowed by Section 12-215 of the Vehicle Code to carry oscillating, rotating or flashing lights, while its driver is on official duty. The Illinois State Police list examples:

• Police vehicles
• Ambulances
• Fire trucks
• Tow trucks
• Construction and road repair vehicles
• Highway maintenance vehicles

The list is not complete, so treat any vehicle working at the roadside with flashing lights the same way.

What about an ordinary car with hazard lights on?

A separate section, 625 ILCS 5/11-907.5, deals with disabled vehicles showing hazard lights on highways with at least four lanes. It follows the same pattern: change lanes away if it is safe, otherwise slow down when approaching and passing, and do not speed up again until you are well past.

What are the penalties for violating Scott’s Law?

Outcome	Penalty
First violation	$250 to $10,000 fine
Second or later violation	$750 to $10,000 fine
Damage to another vehicle	License suspended 90 days to 1 year; Class A misdemeanor
Another person injured	License suspended 180 days to 2 years; Class 4 felony
A death	License suspended 2 years; Class 4 felony

For a teen driver, a Scott’s Law conviction also counts toward the under-21 rules on repeat moving violations. See Illinois traffic tickets, court supervision and suspension for young drivers.

Why it is called Scott’s Law

The law is named after Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department, who was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while helping at a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Scenario: a squad car on the shoulder

You are in the right lane of a four-lane expressway. Ahead, a police car with flashing lights is stopped on the right shoulder behind another car.

• Check your mirror and blind spot early.
• If the left lane is clear, signal and move over well before you reach the scene.
• If the left lane is busy, stay in your lane, slow down clearly and pass with extra care.
• Do not stop in the lane or swerve late. Do not look at the scene for long; keep your eyes on the road ahead.

How Scott’s Law fits into your Illinois tests

Emergency vehicles and right-of-way rules are part of the Illinois Rules of the Road, so expect questions on them in the Illinois permit test. On the Illinois road test, failing to yield to or slow for an emergency vehicle is a traffic violation, which is the kind of error that ends a test.

Common questions

Do I have to move over for a tow truck in Illinois?

Yes. Tow trucks are among the vehicles the Illinois State Police list as covered when they are working with flashing lights.

What if I can’t move over safely?

Slow down and proceed with due caution. The law does not require an unsafe lane change.

Does Scott’s Law apply on two-lane roads?

The lane-change option applies on highways with at least four lanes, two in your direction. On any road, you must still slow down and proceed with caution, and since 2026 you must yield to working emergency vehicles with flashing lights.

How much is a Scott’s Law ticket?

At least $250 for a first violation and up to $10,000. A second or later violation starts at $750.

Can I lose my license for a Scott’s Law violation?

Yes, if the violation damages another vehicle (90 days to 1 year), injures someone (180 days to 2 years) or kills someone (2 years).

Is this the same as pulling over for a siren?

No. Pulling to the right and stopping for an approaching emergency vehicle with a siren is a separate rule. See pulling over for ambulances, fire engines and police.

Related: learning to drive in Illinois and move over laws across the US.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapters 4, 5 and 8 (ilsos.gov)
• Illinois State Police, “Move Over Law” (isp.illinois.gov)
• Illinois State Police, “Scott’s Law: The Move Over Law” leaflet ISP 1-163, 12/25 (isp.illinois.gov)
• Illinois General Assembly, “625 ILCS 5/11-907 Operation of vehicles and streetcars on approach of authorized emergency vehicles” (ilga.gov)
• Illinois General Assembly, “625 ILCS 5/11-907.5” (ilga.gov)

Photo: Meagan Davis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Illinois safe driving comes down to a few habits: keep a three-second gap, turn your headlights on from sunset to sunrise and whenever your wipers are on, and know what to do the moment something fails. Your car must also carry the equipment the law lists, from two working brake systems to a horn heard from 200 feet. This guide sets out the Illinois Secretary of State’s rules for safe driving, emergencies and required car equipment.

Key facts (Illinois Secretary of State)

• Three-second following distance on a good road in good weather; at 55 mph that is about 243 feet.
• Headlights on from sunset to sunrise, whenever you cannot see objects 1,000 feet away, and whenever your wipers are on.
• Dim high beams 500 feet before meeting a vehicle and 300 feet before passing one.
• Brakes: from 20 mph, the foot brake must stop you within 30 feet and the parking brake within 55 feet.
• Smoke or fire: pull off, turn off the engine, move away and call 911.

Safe driving rules and emergencies

• Following distance: use the three-second rule on a good road in good weather, and more in anything worse. At 55 mph, three seconds is about 243 feet. Doubling your speed quadruples your stopping distance. If you are tailgated, change lanes or ease off the road.
• Drowsiness: be rested, stop often on long trips, and keep your eyes moving by reading signs and shifting focus.
• Fog: cruise control off, more distance, dim headlights or fog lights, early signals and early braking. If it is too dense, pull off and stop.
• Rain: Illinois law requires headlights when your wipers are on. Slow down to avoid hydroplaning. If you start to skid, release the gas and ride it out. Turn around at any flooded road or viaduct.
• High winds: slow down and correct your steering when moving into the open or meeting trucks and buses.
• Winter: clear all snow and ice before you drive, turn off cruise control, brake gently in slow strokes and approach bridges and shaded spots slowly. Carry a blanket, food and a shovel. If stranded, stay in the car, run the engine only briefly with a window open and keep the tailpipe clear. Snow tires and chains do not make normal speed safe.
• Night and headlights: headlights on from sunset to sunrise and whenever you cannot see objects 1,000 feet away. Dim high beams 500 feet before meeting a vehicle and 300 feet before passing one. Do not outdrive your lights.
• Expressways: match traffic in the speed-change lane, then merge. Do not stop on the expressway; pull off if you have a problem. If you miss an exit, go on to the next one. Exits can be on either side.
• Curves and rural intersections: slow before a curve rather than braking hard in it. Slow and look both ways at any rural intersection, signed or not.
• Vehicle coming at you in your lane: slow down, pull right and sound the horn.
• Skid: ease off the gas or brakes and steer into the direction of the skid until the tires grip, then straighten.
• Wheels off the pavement: grip the wheel, ease off the gas, brake gently, check behind you and steer back gently. Do not jerk the wheel.
• Blowout or lost wheel: ease off the gas, hold the wheel firmly and do not brake suddenly. Then pull off.
• Steering failure: ease off the gas, turn on your flashers and brake very gently. Leave the ignition on so you keep what steering you have.
• Brake failure: pump the pedal. If that fails, use the parking brake and a lower gear.
• Headlight failure: try your flashers, parking lights or turn signals and pull off. If they are only dimming, drive to a service station or pull off.
• Stuck gas pedal: hook your toe under it. If it stays stuck, shift to neutral and brake gently.
• Blocked view: roll down your side window, turn on your flashers and pull off.
• Smoke or fire: pull off, turn off the engine, move away and call 911. Do not fight it yourself.
• Car in water: escape through a window if it has not sunk, because the doors may not open. If it sinks, go to the back seat, where air usually collects, then leave by a rear window.
• Power lines on your car: stay inside until help comes. If fire forces you out, jump clear without touching the car and the ground together, land on both feet, and hop or shuffle 50 feet away.
• Carbon monoxide: symptoms feel like flu, and people asleep in a running car can die without any. Have the exhaust checked every year and never run a car in a garage attached to a house.
• Refueling: engine off, no smoking, and stay with the pump.
• Aggressive drivers: speeding, running lights, tailgating, shoulder passing, cutting off, brake checks, gestures, yelling, and repeated honking or flashing all count. Do not respond or make eye contact. Keep doors locked and windows up, and leave room to pull out from behind the car ahead.

Stranded on	What to do after pulling as far right as you can
A high-capacity road, such as a highway or major urban arterial	Stay in the car with your seat belt on, hazards on, call 911 and wait for a responder
A low-capacity road, such as a residential or rural road	If it is necessary and safe, get out on the side away from traffic and move away from the car. If not, stay in, belted. Hazards on and call 911
The Illinois Tollway	Stay in the car with your seat belt on, hazards on, call *999 or 911 and wait for Tollway Maintenance or a responder

The handbook’s expressway section also says to raise your hood and turn on your flashers, and never to walk along the expressway.

Equipment your Illinois car must have

Item	Illinois requirement
Brakes	Two systems, with brakes on all wheels. From 20 mph, the foot brake must stop you within 30 feet and the parking brake within 55 feet; the parking brake must also hold on a hill
Headlights	Two, with no tinted or smoked lenses. On from sunset to sunrise and in rain, snow or fog that needs wipers
Taillights and plate light	Two red taillights visible from 500 feet; a white plate light, readable from 50 feet, on when headlights are on
Turn signals	Front and rear, visible from 300 feet
Parking lights	Front and rear, for a vehicle stopped on a highway at night (some towns allow unlit night parking)
Safety belts	Two sets in the front seat. Cars made in 1965 or later may not be sold or driven in Illinois without belts
Mirror	A rearview mirror showing at least 200 feet behind
Windows	Safety glass; windshield clear of snow, ice, moisture and distorting defects. No tint on the windshield except a 6-inch strip along the top
Wipers, horn, muffler	Wipers that clear ice, snow and moisture; a horn heard from 200 feet; a muffler with no cutouts, bypasses or changes that add noise
Bumpers and suspension	Front and rear bumpers on vehicles of 9,000 pounds or less. Do not lift the body more than 3 inches above the chassis frame

Restricted: flashing or moving lights other than signals and hazards; red lights visible from the front; more than one spotlight; backup lights when moving forward; loads 4 feet or more past the rear without a red flag by day or a red light at night; a TV or video screen the driver can see while moving; radar jammers; and studded tires, apart from narrow exceptions such as rural mail carriers from November 15 to April 1. Running board, cowl and fender lights and antique vehicles have their own limits.

Common questions

When must I use headlights in Illinois?

From sunset to sunrise, whenever you cannot see objects 1,000 feet away, and whenever your wipers are on in rain, snow or fog.

What is the three-second rule?

Pick a fixed object and count three seconds after the car ahead passes it. At 55 mph, three seconds is about 243 feet. Use more time in bad weather.

What should I do if my brakes fail?

Pump the pedal. If that fails, use the parking brake and a lower gear.

What should I do if I am stranded on an Illinois highway?

Pull as far right as you can, then stay in the car with your seat belt on and hazards on, call 911 and wait for a responder. On the Illinois Tollway, call *999 or 911.

Can I have tinted headlights in Illinois?

No. Illinois requires two headlights with no tinted or smoked lenses.

Back to the full licensing path in Learning to drive in Illinois: complete guide. Related reading: Illinois Scott’s Law explained for new drivers for stopped emergency vehicles, vehicle emergencies for US drivers and the Illinois road test.

Sources

• Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapter 11 (safe driving and emergencies) and Chapter 12 (equipment)