Illinois · Handbook chapter 2 · 4 min read
Chapter 2: Drivers under 21 and the GDL program
Illinois instruction permits for teens, the 50-hour practice rule, the three Graduated Driver Licensing phases, night and passenger limits, the cellphone ban under 19, parental consent and the extra penalties for young drivers.
Why this chapter matters
Illinois brings new drivers aged 15 to 20 to full privileges in stages. Each stage has its own limits, and breaking them can delay your license or suspend it. These rules are a favorite topic on the written exam.
The instruction permit
- From 15 you can get an instruction permit if your driver education provider confirms you are enrolled in an approved course, or will start one within 30 days.
- From 17 years and 3 months you may apply without driver education.
- You must pass the vision and written exams. The results stay valid until the permit expires.
- The permit is valid for 24 months. Under 18 you must hold it for at least nine consecutive months before getting a license.
- Approved driver education means at least 30 hours in the classroom and six hours behind the wheel.
Who may supervise
A parent, legal guardian or responsible adult aged 21 or older with a valid license and at least one year of driving experience, sitting in the front passenger seat beside you. During the course itself, the adult instructor supervises.
Practice hours
Drivers under 18 need at least 50 hours of supervised practice, including 10 hours at night, on top of driver education. Keep the hours in a driving log; the Secretary of State's Teen Driver Safety page links a 50-hour practice driving log.
The three GDL phases
| Phase | Who | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | Usually from 15 | Hold 9 months, 50 hours (10 at night), no violations or court supervisions, one front-seat passenger plus one per rear seat belt |
| Initial licensing | 16 and 17 | Night limits, passenger limit in the first 12 months, six months conviction-free before 18 |
| Full licensing | 18 to 20 | No age-based limits, but no phone use under 19 |
Night limits (permit and initial licensing)
No driving Sunday to Thursday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., or Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Local curfews may be stricter.
Passengers
- Permit phase: one passenger in the front seat, and no more in the back than there are safety belts.
- First 12 months of licensing, or until 18 if sooner: only one passenger under 20, unless the others are your siblings, stepsiblings, children or stepchildren.
Phones
A driver under 19 may not use any wireless phone while driving, even hands-free, except to contact police, a health care provider or emergency services in an emergency.
Getting the license before 18
Bring your instruction permit, identity documents, the 50-hour log signed, and if they apply, the Affidavit/Consent for Minor to Drive and the Cooperative Driver Testing Certificate. Your driver education completion must already show on your record. High school students with an A or B in driver education may be excused from the DMV driving exam under the Cooperative Driver Testing Program, but students whose birthdays fall on spot-check dates must still take it.
Parents and the law
- A parent or guardian who signed the consent can cancel a 16- or 17-year-old's license at any time until 18.
- Parents can view a teen's driving record free online with a PIN.
- Under 21, only one court supervision is allowed for serious traffic offenses, and it requires traffic safety school; under 18 a parent must come to court.
- Under 21, two or more moving violations within 24 months brings at least a 30-day suspension.
- An under-21 occupant of a vehicle who gets court supervision for possessing or drinking alcohol loses the license for three months; a conviction means at least six months.
Frequently asked questions
How long must I hold my permit?
At least nine consecutive months if you are under 18. The permit itself is valid for 24 months.
Can a 16-year-old talk on a hands-free phone while driving?
No. Drivers under 19 may not use a phone at all while driving, hands-free included, except to call for help in an emergency.
How many friends can I drive with in my first year?
Only one passenger under 20 for the first 12 months or until you turn 18, unless the others are your brothers, sisters, stepsiblings or children.
When can't I drive at night?
On permits and initial licenses: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Based on the Illinois Rules of the Road 2026 (DSD A 112), Chapter 3: Drivers Under Age 21, and the Secretary of State's Teen Driver Safety page.