As we grow up, there are many life lessons we pick up on our own. However, driving is not one of them. To assist teens in gaining the knowledge they need to become safe, responsible drivers, Illinois requires that they take a driver's ed class before they can become licensed.

Illinois driver's ed is a 30-hour long class that includes both classroom instruction and in-car driving practice. Driver’s ed not only teaches teens how to drive, it also teaches them how to drive safely and defensively. By giving teens a firm foundation of safe driving skills to build on, Illinois driver's ed classes make state roads safer.

Drivers Education 

In Illinois, any teen under the age of 18 who would like to get a driving permit and later, a driver's license, must complete a driver's ed program approved by the state of Illinois. Aspiring driver's age 17 1/2 and up do not have to take an Illinois driver's ed course in order to get a permit; they simply have to pass the written exam. However, to get a license, the student will have to be 18 and also pass a road test administered by the Secretary of State's office. If you are over 18 and would like to take a driver's ed course before you attempt to get your license, many local community courses offer optional classes for adults, too.  In most cases, students must be 15 and over to participate in an Illinois driver's education class. Read more...

Drivers Ed Benefits 

In Illinois, the chief benefit of taking driver's ed if you are under 18 is that you cannot get your driver's license or even an instructional permit unless you do so. However, there are other benefits as well. For example, students in Illinois driver's education classes learn how to drive defensively and how to react to common road hazards and emergencies. The class gives them knowledge and experience to fall back on if something unexpected happens while they are behind the wheel. Read more...

Drivers Ed Curriculum 

All Illinois driver's ed classes must include 30 hours of classroom time. Illinois driver's ed classes cover all the basics of driving: how to start, stop and turn safely, proper signaling, and Illinois traffic laws. Read more...

Driving School Locations 

Find a driving school in your area. Read more...

Online Drivers Ed 

In Illinois, online driving programs are not approved by the Secretary of State's office. However, they can still be an excellent way of supplementing an approved driver's ed course for students who need a little more practice. Also, adults over the age of 18 who have not applied for their license yet can definitely benefit from taking an Illinois online driver's ed class. Read more...

Teen Driving

Why are there special requirements for teenagers to get their driver's licenses in Illinois? As a group, teens have the worst driving records out of all drivers. They are young, inexperienced, and more prone to risk-taking than older drivers are. According to the US Department of Transportation, 16% of all reported auto accidents in 2006 involved drivers between the ages of 15-20. Also in 2006, 3,490 drivers in that age group died in automobile accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Read more...