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An Illinois Class D instruction permit costs $20. A driver’s license costs $5 at ages 18 to 20 and $30 at ages 21 to 68. If you get your license before your permit expires, the 2026 Rules of the Road from the Secretary of State (SOS) says there is no additional fee. Since September 2023, the busiest Illinois DMVs require appointments for in-car driving tests under the Skip the Line program. This guide covers the fees, how to book and what to expect if you fail. Fees change, so confirm them with the SOS before you go.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Original Class D instruction permit: $20. Permit renewal: $10.
- Driver’s license, ages 18 to 20: $5. Ages 21 to 68: $30.
- Under 18: no additional license fee if you are licensed before your permit expires. The SOS fee table has no separate line for ages 16 and 17.
- Road tests: appointment required at 44 of the busiest DMVs, including all Chicago and suburban locations.
- Book through the “Make a DMV Appointment” option on ilsos.gov.
How much does a license cost in Illinois?
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original Class D instruction permit | $20 | Paid when you apply |
| Instruction permit renewal | $10 | If your permit runs out before you’re licensed |
| Driver’s license, ages 18 to 20 | $5 | No additional fee if you’re licensed before the permit expires |
| Driver’s license, ages 21 to 68 | $30 | Same note as above |
| Driver’s license, ages 16 and 17 | No additional fee before the permit expires | The handbook’s fee table has no separate line for this age. If your permit has run out, ask the SOS what you owe |
| Driver’s license, ages 69 to 80 | $5 | |
| Driver’s license, ages 81 to 86 | $2 | |
| Driver’s license, 87 and older | Free | |
| Duplicate or corrected license or permit | $5 | $2 at ages 81 to 86; free at 87 and older. A duplicate is free if your license was stolen and you have a full police report, or if you are 60 or older and it was lost or stolen. Free for active Armed Services members and their spouse and children at home |
| Adding a new classification (not at renewal) | $5 | $5 extra to add or renew a motorcycle class |
| State ID card | $5 under 18; $20 ages 18 to 64 | Free at 65 and older and for persons with disabilities |
The SOS fee schedule is on its “Fees” page and in its fee leaflet (DSD A 229). The 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road also points readers to ilsos.gov for current fees. Use those as the final word on the day.
Other costs
- Driver education (under 18): required for teens. High school programs and commercial driving schools set their own charges. See Illinois driver education requirements.
- Adult driver education (18 to 20): the 6-hour course, priced by the provider. See the 6-hour adult course.
- Retests: you get three attempts at each exam within one year of paying the application fee. After that, expect to pay again.
Booking Illinois DMV tests: the Skip the Line system
Skip the Line started on September 1, 2023. At 44 of the busiest DMVs, including all Chicago and suburban locations and some central and downstate ones, you need an appointment for in-person visits. That includes REAL ID, license and ID card services, and in-car driving tests.
Step by step
- Go to ilsos.gov and choose “Make a DMV Appointment”.
- Pick the service (for example, a driving test) and a facility.
- Check that facility’s page in the SOS Facility Finder. Each page lists which services are appointment-only and which are walk-in.
- Bring everything on your checklist: Illinois permit documents checklist for the permit visit, and the road test items below for the drive.
Walk-in options
- Smaller facilities outside the Skip the Line list may still take walk-ins. Check the Facility Finder page.
- Some facility pages say road tests are generally given until 30 minutes before closing, depending on customer volume.
- Seniors-only walk-in DMVs offer driver services, including driving tests, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. These are for seniors, not new teen drivers.
The written test: where to take it
First-time permit applicants apply in person at a DMV facility. SOS material for new residents says Express facilities don’t offer written testing, so choose a full-service facility. At busy facilities, book an appointment for the permit visit too. Test guide: Illinois permit test. Practice: Illinois permit practice test.
Road test options
| Route | Who | What you bring to the DMV |
|---|---|---|
| SOS examiner at a DMV facility | Anyone eligible | Permit, test vehicle with plates, sticker and insurance, and the items below |
| Cooperative Driver Testing Program | High school students with a combined A or B whose approved driver education program gives the test. Students on spot-check birthdays still test at a DMV | The Cooperative Driver Testing Certificate |
Under the Cooperative Driver Testing Program, approved driver education instructors give the road test on an SOS route form. You then take the certificate to a DMV facility.
What to bring for the road test (under 18)
- Your instruction permit, held at least 9 months.
- Your 50-hour driving log (10 at night) with the proper signature. See the 50-hour log guide.
- Parent or guardian consent, in person or by notarized affidavit.
- A car with valid plates, a current registration sticker and proof of insurance, brought by a driver with a valid license or permit.
What the examiner grades: Illinois road test.
If you fail or need to cancel
- You can retest. The SOS allows three attempts at each exam within one year of paying the application fee. Ask the examiner when you can come back.
- To cancel or change a Skip the Line appointment, use the appointment system on ilsos.gov. Rebook promptly, because slots at busy facilities go fast.
- Other states compared: retake waiting periods by state.
Common questions
How much is an Illinois learner’s permit?
$20 for an original Class D instruction permit, as of November 2026.
Do I pay again when I get my license?
No, not if you get your license before your permit expires. The 2026 Rules of the Road says there is no additional fee.
Do I need an appointment for the Illinois road test?
At the 44 Skip the Line facilities, yes. Elsewhere, check the facility’s page in the Facility Finder.
Can my driving school give me the road test?
Only if it runs an approved program in the Cooperative Driver Testing Program. Ask your driver ed provider.
What happens if my permit expires before I pass?
Renew it. The SOS fee is $10. Under 18, the permit lasts 24 months.
Can I take the permit test at an Express facility?
SOS material says Express facilities don’t offer written testing. Pick a full-service DMV.
Main guide: learning to drive in Illinois. Also: getting an Illinois permit at 15, US license costs by state and how to book a DMV test appointment.
Sources
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Fees” (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Driver’s License/State ID Card Fees”, DSD A 229 (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Skip the Line” (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Senior Services” (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Find a DMV Service” facility pages (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapters 1, 2 and 3 (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Graduated Driver’s License” (ilsos.gov)