Photo: Meagan Davis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Illinois permit test is a multiple-choice and true-or-false written exam taken at a Secretary of State DMV facility, along with a vision screening. The SOS workbook says it has 35 questions, 15 of them on traffic signs. This guide is for Illinois learners preparing for the instruction permit: what is on the test, what to bring, the fee and how to study.
Key facts
- Format: 35 questions, 15 on sign identification (SOS Rules of the Road Workbook).
- Also required: a vision screening (20/40 or better with or without glasses or contacts, and 140 degrees of side vision).
- Permit fee: $20 for a Class D instruction permit (as of November 2026).
- Study source: the 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road (DSD A 112) and its workbook (DSD DS 9).
- Languages: the SOS says the Class D test is offered in 23 languages, including English.
What is on the Illinois written test?
According to the 2026 Rules of the Road, the basic exam asks you to:
- identify traffic signs by shape, color or symbol
- identify signals and pavement markings
- answer multiple-choice and true-or-false questions on traffic laws, safety rules, crash prevention and vehicle equipment
Signs make up a large share of the questions, so learn them by shape and color first. Start with US road signs by shape and color, traffic signals and pavement markings.
What is the pass mark for the Illinois permit test?
Illinois Administrative Code, title 92, section 1030.80(b), sets a written test of at least 35 questions and requires 80% correct for a Class D license. On a 35-question test, that is 28 correct. Learn every topic rather than relying on a minimum score.
The Illinois vision screening
- The minimum standard is visual acuity of 20/40, with or without corrective lenses. With acuity from 20/41 to 20/70, you are limited to daylight driving.
- You also need at least 140 degrees of peripheral vision, with or without lenses.
- If you wear glasses or contacts, your license will require them when you drive. Telescopic lenses have their own rules.
- Bring your glasses or contacts if you use them for driving.
- Instead of screening at the DMV, you can bring a Vision Specialist Report from a licensed eye doctor or physician. It must be dated within six months of your facility visit.
What to bring to the Illinois permit test (ages 15 to 17)
- Identity and residency documents from the SOS checklist
- A parent or legal guardian’s consent
- Proof that you are enrolled in an approved driver education course, or start within 30 days. Your instructor signs the application.
- The $20 fee
Full permit rules: getting an Illinois instruction permit at 15.
Retakes, languages and accommodations
- Attempts: you get three attempts at each exam within one year of paying your application fee.
- Results: vision and written test results stay valid until your permit expires.
- Cheating: you may be warned for suspicious behavior such as an open book in view, looking around or checking a phone. If you are caught cheating, you fail and cannot retake the exam for 30 days. Taking any part of the exam for someone else is a crime with at least seven days in jail and a fine, and trying to bribe staff can get a license or permit denied.
- Languages: the Class D written test is offered in 23 languages including English.
- Oral tests: if you have a language barrier or a reading or learning disability, you can ask for an oral version in person, Monday through Thursday.
- Deaf or hard of hearing: sign language interpreters can be arranged in advance through the SOS.
How to prepare for the Illinois permit test
- Read the Rules of the Road from cover to cover once, and try the study questions at the end of each chapter. Then reread the sign, right-of-way and alcohol sections.
- Use the SOS workbook (DSD DS 9). It has sample questions and a summary of all traffic signs.
- Learn the Illinois rules that apply to you as a teen: GDL passenger and night limits and the teen phone ban.
- Check the topics learners most often get wrong: four-way stops, school buses, Scott’s Law and zero tolerance.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Illinois permit test?
The SOS workbook says 35, with 15 on traffic sign identification. The workbook is an older publication, so check that the format is unchanged.
Is there a separate sign test in Illinois?
The workbook describes sign questions as part of the 35-question written exam, not as a separate test.
Can I take the Illinois permit test online?
Ask the SOS before you look for an online option for a first Class D permit, and plan to test at a DMV facility. Express facilities do not offer written testing.
How much does the Illinois permit cost?
$20 for an original Class D instruction permit, as of November 2026.
Do practice tests count?
No. The workbook’s practice exam is not graded; it is for study only.
How does Illinois compare with other states?
See US permit tests by state. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in Illinois.
Sources
- Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapters 2, 3 and 9 (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Illinois Rules of the Road Workbook” DSD DS 9 (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Instruction Permit Requirements” (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Fees” (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Driver’s License and State ID Card Information” (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Vision Specialist Report” DSD X 20 (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Administrative Code, title 92, section 1030.80(b) (ilga.gov)