Section 1030.65  Instruction Permits

a)         A person who wishes to practice driving before obtaining a driver's license shall obtain an instruction permit from a Driver Services Facility.

b)         Upon receipt of an instruction permit, the holder may operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of this State when accompanied by an adult instructor of a driver education program or when practicing with a parent, legal guardian, family member or person in loco parentis who is 21 years of age or more and has a license classification to operate the vehicle and at least one year of driving experience, and is occupying a seat beside the driver.

c)         The fees collected for the issuance of an original, renewal, duplicate or corrected instruction permit, or CLP shall be in accordance with IVC Section 6-118(a).

d)         A minor who wishes to receive an instruction permit shall be at least 15 years old and enrolled in a driver education course. Any minor who has been enrolled in an approved driver education program out-of-state shall provide proof of that enrollment before an Illinois instruction permit will be issued.  Proof shall consist of a letter from the minor's school on the school's letterhead or other proof deemed acceptable by the Secretary of State.  The minor shall complete a driver education course prior to applying for a driver's license before the minor is 18 years of age.  If the minor is 16 years of age or older and possesses a certificate of completion or the equivalent from another state's driver education program or a driver’s license issued by a state that requires driver education, the minor shall be eligible to receive an Illinois driver's license upon successful completion of the vision and, as applicable, written and/or road tests.  The equivalent of an Illinois certificate of completion from an out-of-state driver education course shall include, but is not limited to, transcripts from the out-of-state attendance center indicating successful completion of the course of instruction or a letter from the state's driver's licensing authority on agency letterhead, attesting to the minor's successful completion of a driver education course approved by the office that regulates education.

e)         A minor who is at least 15 years and 6 months of age may obtain an Illinois instruction permit prior to being enrolled in a driver education course, provided the minor:

1)         Submits written documentation, on a form prepared or approved by the Secretary of State, stating that the minor is enrolled in school; meets the educational requirements of the Driver Education Act [105 ILCS 5/27-24 through 27-24.8] and IVC Section 6-103(1) and signed by a superintendent or chief administrator that states, through no fault of the minor, the minor will be unable to be enrolled in a driver education course until after the minor's 16^th birthday and the school would have no objection to the issuance of the instruction permit; and

2)         Successfully completes the written and vision examinations administered either by an approved driver education instructor or the Secretary of State.

f)         An instruction permit issued to a minor under subsection (e) may be canceled upon receipt of a report from the minor's school on the school letterhead, or other proof deemed acceptable by the Secretary of State, stating the minor has failed to enroll in a driver education course.

g)         The minor who is not legally emancipated by marriage or court order shall have the application signed by a parent, guardian or person in loco parentis and the driver education instructor.  The minor shall then be allowed to take the vision and written exams.

h)         The instruction permit shall be issued to a minor for a period of 24 months upon successful completion of the written and vision exams.  If an instruction permit has expired prior to the applicant completing the road test, a second fee established for instruction permits in IVC Section 6-118(a) must be submitted and the written and vision exams must be successfully completed.  The applicant shall present another application to the Secretary of State signed by the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis, if the applicant is under the age of 18.  The driver education instructor shall also sign the application unless the applicant presents a certificate of completion.

i)          An instruction permit issued to a minor may be canceled if the student is certified as a chronic or habitual truant or has dropped out of school.  The report shall be received from the Illinois State Board of Education in a form acceptable to the Secretary of State.

j)          Applicants who are not minors shall also be issued instruction permits by the Secretary of State.  The permit shall be issued for 12 months upon successful completion of the written and vision exams.  Commercial learner's permits shall be issued for 12 months upon successful completion of the applicable written and vision exams.

k)         Applicants whose driving privileges have been canceled based upon receipt by the Department of a medical report indicating the applicant has a medical condition that impairs the applicant's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle may apply for an instruction permit.  The Department shall receive a favorable medical report from a competent medical specialist describing the applicant's needs to undergo a driving evaluation with a driver rehabilitation specialist.  The Department shall issue to the applicant an authorization for examination to appear at a Driver Services Facility to take the written test and vision test and submit the fee required by IVC Section 6-118(a).  Upon successful completion of the written and vision tests, the applicant shall be issued, if not otherwise prohibited, an instruction permit that shall be canceled upon receipt of a written statement from a competent medical specialist that the instruction permit holder has failed to successfully complete the driving evaluation or is otherwise unable to safely operate a motor vehicle.  A medical restriction card shall be issued by the Department and must be carried with the instruction permit.  Upon successful completion of the driving evaluation, the rehabilitation institution and a competent medical specialist shall notify the Department.  The Department shall send the applicant an authorization form instructing the applicant to appear at a Driver Services Facility to take the drive portion of the test.  Upon the applicant's successful completion of the drive examination, a driver license shall be issued.

l)          An applicant must be at least 16 years old to obtain a Class L instruction permit and must possess a certificate of completion at the time of application.

m)        A Class M instruction permit may be issued by the Secretary of State to an applicant 18 or older for a period of 12 months.  A Class M instruction permit may be issued for a period of 24 months to applicants 16 or 17 years old who have obtained a certificate of completion at the time of application and have completed a motorcycle training course approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation (see 92 Ill. Adm. Code 455).  A certificate of completion card issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation must be furnished to the Secretary of State's Office before an instruction permit will be issued.

n)         An applicant who is 17 years and 3 months of age or older may obtain an Illinois instruction permit without being enrolled in a driver education course, provided the applicant has successfully completed the vision and written exams.

o)         An applicant 18, 19 or 20 years of age may obtain an Illinois instruction permit without being enrolled in an adult driver education course.

p)         A person who wishes to obtain a CLP must provide proof of social security number and United States citizenship or lawful permanent residency.  A person who is not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident must provide proof of social security number and legal presence in the United States to obtain a non-domiciled CLP. An applicant who wishes to renew a CLP or whose CLP has expired must complete all applicable testing under Section 1030.80.  

q)         Prior to renewing a non-commercial instruction permit, an applicant is required to successfully complete vision screening and a written test.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 9020, effective July 1, 2024)