How To Apply For Illinois Drivers License As A Teen

The time may be coming for you to get your driver's license in Illinois, so you may be wondering what that process will look like for you. For Illinois, new teen drivers applying for their drivers license will take part in the Graduated Driver License law. If you follow the steps below, you will get behind the wheel and gain that freedom you are looking for with your driver's license.

Illinois takes part in the Graduated Driver License law. This program is split into three phases: Permit Phase, Initial Licensing Phase, and Full Licensing Phase.

First Step: Permit Phase

The first step to getting your driver's license in Illinois is to get an instruction permit. This is for drivers who are 15 years old and the following rules apply:

• Parent/legal guardian consent is required to obtain an instruction permit.
• Must be enrolled in an approved driver education course, and must pass a vision and written test.
• Nighttime driving restrictions — Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may differ).
• Permit must be held for a minimum of nine months.
• Must practice driving a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 hours at night, supervised by a parent or adult age 21 or older with a valid driver’s license.
• Must not acquire any driving convictions during the nine-month permit phase.
• Number of passengers limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat.
• All occupants must wear safety belts.
• Cell phone use while driving including a hands-free device is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency.
• Texting while driving is prohibited.
• Permit is valid for up to two years.

Sanctions

• To obtain court supervision for a traffic violation, a driver must appear in court with a parent/legal guardian and also must attend traffic safety school. Limit one court supervision for serious driving offenses.
• A moving violation conviction results in a nine-month waiting period before applying for a driver’s license.
• Not eligible for any hardship permit.
• Anyone caught driving without a permit is ineligible to obtain a driver’s license until age 18.
• Any person under age 18 who has unresolved traffic citations will be denied issuance of a driver’s license.
• Driver's License Suspension for Nighttime Driving Restriction Violation – A person under the age of 18 who violates the nighttime driving restriction may have their driving privileges suspended.

Second Step: Initial Licensing Phase

The next phase of the Graduated Driver License law for Illinois is the initial licensing phase for drivers 16 to 17 years old. The following steps must be followed:

• Parent/legal guardian must certify that a minimum of 50 hours of practice driving, including 10 hours at night, has been completed.
• Parent/legal guardian must accompany teen to provide written consent to obtain a driver’s license, OR complete and notarize an Affidavit/Consent for Minor to Drive form.
• Must have completed a state-approved driver education course.
• Nighttime driving restrictions — Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may differ).
• Must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months prior to turning 18 before moving to the Full Licensing Phase. A traffic conviction during the Initial Licensing Phase may extend restrictions beyond age 18.
• All occupants must wear safety belts.
• For the first 12 months of licensing, or until the driver turns 18, whichever occurs first, the number of passengers is limited to one person under age 20, unless the passenger(s) is a sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild of the driver. After this period, the number of passengers is limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat.
• Cell phone use while driving including a hands-free device is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency.
• Texting while driving is prohibited.

Sanctions

• To obtain court supervision for a traffic violation, a driver must appear in court with a parent/legal guardian and also must attend traffic safety school. Limit one court supervision for serious driving offenses.
• A moving violation conviction before age 18 generates a Secretary of State warning letter to the parent and teenager.
• A moving violation conviction that occurs within the first year of licensing will result in a six-month extension of the passenger limitation, which allows only one unrelated passenger under age 20.
• Two moving violation convictions occurring within a 24-month period result in a minimum one-month driver’s license suspension. Suspension length is determined by the seriousness of the offenses and the driver’s prior driving history. An additional driver’s license suspension will result for each subsequent moving violation following the initial suspension.
• Suspended drivers must attend a remedial education course, may be retested, and must pay a $70 reinstatement fee.
• Any person under age 18 who has unresolved traffic citations will be denied the issuance of a driver’s license.
• Driver's License Suspension for Nighttime Driving Restriction Violation – A person under the age of 18 who violates the nighttime driving restriction may have their driving privileges suspended.

Third Step: Full Licensing Phase

The final step in the Graduated Driver License Law is the full licensing phase, which is for drivers 18 to 20 years old. These steps include:

• No age-related restrictions apply except in cases where a driver fails to move from the Initial Licensing Phase to the Full Licensing Phase.
• Cell phone use while driving including a hands-free device is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency.
• Texting while driving is prohibited.
• Effective July 1, 2014, a person aged 18-20, who did not take an approved driver education course in high school must successfully complete a six-hour adult driver education course before obtaining a driver’s license.

Sanctions

• Limit one court supervision for serious driving offenses.
• Two moving violation convictions occurring within a 24-month period results in a minimum one-month driver’s license suspension. Suspension length is determined by the seriousness of the offenses and the driver’s prior driving history. An additional driver’s license suspension will result for each subsequent moving violation following the initial suspension.
• Suspended drivers may be required to attend a remedial education course, and must pay a $70 reinstatement fee.

It may seem like a lengthy process, but as you work your way through it the time will fly by. You will be a fully licensed driver in Illinois before you know it.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's license journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.