Moving to Illinois? Here's what to know about getting your license

For a REAL ID-compliant license, Illinois accepts identity documents such as a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport or passport card, employment authorization document (USCIS Form I-766), permanent resident card (Form I-551), foreign passport with an approved I-94 form, Naturalization Certificate (N-550/N-570), Citizenship Certificate (N-560/N-561), or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. The full Group B list also includes an Illinois driver's license or ID card (current or expired less than one year), a U.S. military driver's license or ID, a Social Security Award Letter for the primary beneficiary, and adoption records. If the identity document carries a name different from your current legal name, bring certified linking documentation: a certified marriage certificate issued by the County Clerk (a church certificate is not accepted), a court-certified name change order, divorce decree, or adoption papers. Photocopies are not accepted. For the complete Acceptable Identification Documents chart, see p. 106 of the manual.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Document/ID Requirements, pp. 6-7; Acceptable Identification Documents chart, p. 106

REAL ID applicants must present two current residency documents bearing the applicant's name and Illinois address; a standard license requires one. Accepted examples (Group D, p. 106) include a utility bill issued within 90 days (electric, water, refuse, telephone, land/cell, cable, or gas), a deed, title, mortgage, or rental/lease agreement, a bank or insurance statement dated within 90 days, a recent pay stub or electronic deposit receipt, a pension or retirement statement, a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, official mail from a State, County, City, Village, or Federal government agency (such as a Jury Duty notice, Selective Service card, Social Security annual statement, or Voter Registration Card), a credit report from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion dated within 12 months, an official school transcript or letter on school letterhead dated within 90 days, or a medical claim or statement of benefits dated within 90 days. Photocopies are not accepted.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Document/ID Requirements, pp. 6-7; Acceptable Identification Documents chart, Group D, p. 106

To prove your full Social Security number, the Secretary of State accepts a Social Security card issued by the SSA, an SSA-1099 or non-SSA-1099 form, a W-2, or a pay stub or printed electronic deposit receipt that displays your name and full SSN. A Medicare card, a U.S. Military driver's license or ID card, and a U.S. Military service record (such as a DD214) also satisfy Group C. If your SSN has already been verified on an existing Illinois driver's license or ID card record through the Social Security Online Verification System, the SOS can use that record as proof. Applicants who are ineligible for a Social Security number sign a declaration of ineligibility instead of presenting an SSN document.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Document/ID Requirements, pp. 6-7; Acceptable Identification Documents chart, Group C, p. 106

yes

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 2: Vision Screening, p. 13

$20

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, p. 11

$0 (no separate fee)

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, pp. 11-12

$0 (no separate fee)

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, pp. 11-12

The Illinois Secretary of State fee schedule sets the Class D license at $30 for ages 21 to 68 and $5 for ages 18 to 20, so a first license issued before age 21 costs $5.

Source: Illinois Secretary of State, Fees ("Driver's License or Renewal - Persons ages 18 to 20 $5"; "Driver's License - Persons ages 21 to 68 $30")

$30 (ages 21-68)

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, p. 11

$20 (ages 18-64)

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, p. 11

The handbook does not list a separate retake charge; it says the application fee buys three attempts at each exam within one year of payment. After that the applicant must re-apply and pay again.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 2 'Driver's License Exams', p. 13: "You are allowed three attempts to pass each exam within one year from the date you paid your application fee."

80

Source: 92 Ill. Adm. Code 1030.80(b): "a minimum of 35 questions, of which 80% percent must be answered correctly in order to be eligible for a Class D license."

Illinois rule sets a floor rather than a fixed length: the Class D written exam must have at least 35 questions, of which 80 percent must be answered correctly. The Secretary of State does not publish an exact count.

Source: 92 Ill. Adm. Code 1030.80(b) (Driver's License Testing/Written Test, as amended eff. July 1, 2026): "a written test consisting of a minimum of 35 questions, of which 80% percent must be answered correctly"

No waiting period is published. The handbook, the licensing agency and the state code are all silent on how long you wait to retake the knowledge test, so ask at the counter before you leave; in practice the office decides.

No per-section minimum

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 2: Written Exam, p. 14