ONLINE TEEN DRIVER EDUCATION
FLEXIBLE ONLINE DRIVER EDUCATION
FOR NEW DRIVERS IN ILLINOIS.
Take the course on any device. Your progress is saved automatically.
Work through the self-paced course on your preferred device to strengthen your understanding of traffic laws, road hazards, right-of-way rules, and defensive driving before your permit and approved driver education process begin.
Use the included PrepWizard trial to work through Illinois-specific practice questions, timed test simulations, and targeted review of the topics you need to improve.
Pass the written test, complete your approved driver education and supervised practice requirements, and follow Illinois' Graduated Driver Licensing process as you work toward your initial driver's license.
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Quick answers for Illinois teens and parents.
Find more help on our full FAQ page.
You can generally apply for an instruction permit beginning at age 15. Applicants ages 15–17 generally need to be enrolled in an approved driver education course or be within 30 days of starting one.
A teen can generally move to the initial licensing phase at 16 after meeting the required permit, driver education, supervised-practice, consent, and testing requirements.
Generally, yes for applicants ages 15–17, although an applicant who is at least 17 years and 3 months old may apply for an instruction permit without taking driver education.
An approved teen program includes at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
No. The online course should not be treated as a substitute for Illinois-approved driver education or its required behind-the-wheel training.
If you received your permit at ages 15–17, you generally must hold it for at least nine consecutive months before obtaining a driver's license.
You need at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night.
Your practice must be supervised by a parent or an adult at least 21 years old who has a valid license for the vehicle you are driving and meets Illinois' requirements.
A moving violation conviction can delay your eligibility for a driver's license. Illinois can impose an additional nine-month waiting period before you can apply.
No. An instruction permit is for supervised driving and does not authorize you to drive by yourself.
Drivers under 18 generally cannot drive from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday or from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday, subject to limited exceptions and local curfews.
For the first 12 months of licensing or until you turn 18, whichever comes first, you are generally limited to one passenger under 20 who is not your sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild.
If you are under 19, no. Illinois prohibits cellphone and wireless-device use while driving, including hands-free use, except for qualifying emergencies.
Your driving privileges can be canceled until your parent or guardian restores consent or you turn 18. You may need to reapply, complete applicable exams, and pay the required fees.
If you are 18, 19, or 20, are applying for your first Illinois driver's license, and have never completed qualifying driver education, you must complete a six-hour Adult Driver Education Course from a certified provider.
Licensing information: Illinois Secretary of State →
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Illinois uses a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program to give new drivers experience in stages. For most teens, the process begins with an instruction permit at 15, followed by at least nine months of supervised practice before applying for a driver's license. The initial licensing phase applies to drivers ages 16–17, while the full licensing phase generally begins at 18.
If you are 15–17, Illinois generally requires you to be enrolled in an approved driver education course before obtaining an instruction permit. The approved teen driver education program includes at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
TeenDrivingCourse's online course is separate from Illinois' state-approved driver education requirement. It should not be presented as a substitute for the approved course, its required behind-the-wheel training, or the official documentation associated with completing that program.
Instead, the online course can serve as a supplemental study resource to help you understand driving rules and prepare for the written test as you move through Illinois' licensing process.
The major stages are:
There is also an important exception: if you are 17 years and 3 months or older, Illinois allows you to apply for an instruction permit without taking a driver education course.
If you're 15–17, you generally need to be enrolled in an approved driver education course, or be within 30 days of beginning one, before applying for your instruction permit. The permit process also requires the applicable application, identification documents, fee, vision screening, and written exam.
For most applicants in this age group, parent or legal guardian consent is required. The instruction permit is valid for up to two years, but it must generally be held for at least nine months before you can obtain a driver's license.
The Illinois written test is based on the Illinois Rules of the Road and tests your understanding of information needed to operate a vehicle safely and legally.
The test is one of the first major steps in the permit process, so studying before your Secretary of State visit can help you arrive prepared.
Once you receive your permit, you cannot drive alone. Your supervised practice must follow Illinois' rules for who may accompany you behind the wheel.
Illinois-approved teen driver education includes at least:
The course must come from an approved provider. The behind-the-wheel portion is conducted with the appropriate instruction permit and an authorized instructor.
Use TeenDrivingCourse as supplemental study alongside your required Illinois-approved driver education. Before enrolling to meet a licensing requirement, confirm the specific course’s acceptance with the Illinois Secretary of State.
For students who need the official Illinois driver education requirement, use a provider recognized by the Secretary of State.
Once you have your instruction permit, Illinois requires substantial supervised driving experience before you can move on to your license.
You must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night. Your practice must be supervised by a parent or an adult who is at least 21 years old, holds a valid license for the vehicle being driven, and meets Illinois' supervision requirements.
The permit must generally be held for at least nine consecutive months if you received it between ages 15 and 17. Illinois also requires you to maintain the required driving record during this period.
A traffic violation can delay your eligibility. For example, a moving violation conviction during the permit phase can result in an additional nine-month waiting period before you may apply for a driver's license.
Once you reach the required age and have completed the applicable permit, driver education, and supervised-practice requirements, you can move toward your initial driver's license.
For drivers ages 16–17, Illinois requires:
Some approved driver education programs participate in Illinois' Cooperative Driver Testing Program, which may allow certified instructors to administer the road exam to qualifying students. Otherwise, the applicant takes the applicable road test through the Secretary of State's Driver Services process.
Getting your initial license does not immediately remove all restrictions. Illinois' GDL system continues to place limits on young drivers as they gain experience.
For drivers under 18, nighttime driving restrictions generally apply:
Limited exceptions may apply, including certain school- or work-related situations. Local curfews may also differ.
During the first 12 months of licensing or until you turn 18, whichever comes first, you may have no more than one passenger under age 20 who is not your sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild.
After that period, Illinois' standard passenger restrictions apply based on your age and licensing phase.
Illinois prohibits cellphone and wireless-device use while driving for drivers under 19, including hands-free use, except for qualifying emergencies. Texting while driving is prohibited as well.
Once you reach 19, hands-free or Bluetooth use is permitted under the applicable law, but texting, emailing, and other prohibited electronic-device activities while driving remain illegal.
Parental involvement does not end when you receive your permit. A parent or legal guardian who provided consent can withdraw that consent before you turn 18.
If consent is withdrawn, your driving privileges remain canceled until consent is restored or you turn 18. You may also need to reapply, complete applicable examinations, and pay the required fees.
Illinois requires motor vehicles operated in the state to carry liability insurance.
The current minimum liability coverage is:
Proof of insurance must be available and presented to law enforcement when requested.
The Illinois written test is based on the state's Rules of the Road and covers information such as traffic laws, safe-driving practices, signs, and other rules you need to know as a new driver.
Use PrepWizard to practice for your Illinois knowledge test and identify topics to review in the driver handbook. Check the current practice options, access, and trial terms before you begin.
Practicing with test-style questions can help you identify topics that need more review instead of relying only on reading the handbook.
TeenDrivingCourse provides supplemental study for Illinois teens. You still need to complete the Illinois-approved driver education required for your licensing path.
If you are following the standard teen GDL process, you still need to satisfy Illinois' approved driver education requirements, supervised-driving requirements, testing requirements, and other applicable licensing rules.
The online course can instead give you additional exposure to traffic laws, defensive-driving concepts, hazard recognition, right-of-way rules, and safe-driving habits while you prepare for the official steps.
For applicants ages 18–20 who have never completed qualifying driver education, Illinois has a separate 6-hour Adult Driver Education requirement before obtaining a first Illinois driver's license. That course must come from a provider certified by the Secretary of State.
Build confidence one question at a time. Try a few practice questions, then keep preparing for your Illinois knowledge test.
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Questions about your course? Call 1-800-482-6593.
Choose your county or area to find local driver education information and links to its cities and communities.
Place names and county relationships: 2020 U.S. Census reference files. Includes county equivalents and census-designated communities.
