Illinois Driver License: License, Exams and Young Drivers

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: License, Exams and Young Drivers. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver with a basic Class D license rents a moving truck to move their own furniture within Illinois. What is the maximum gross vehicle weight this license allows them to drive for this non-business use?

16,000 pounds
10,000 pounds
26,000 pounds
40,000 pounds

Answer: C — 26,000 pounds

A Class D license covers rental vehicles up to 26,000 pounds carrying the driver's own or immediate family's property for non-business use.

2. What is the minimum age required to apply for a standard driver's license?

Answer: D — 16

The minimum qualifying age for a driver's license is 16.

3. A person moves to Illinois holding a valid license from another state. How long may they drive on that out-of-state license before they need an Illinois one?

One year
30 days
60 days
90 days, or until it expires, whichever comes first

Answer: D — 90 days, or until it expires, whichever comes first

New residents get a 90-day grace period on their existing license, capped by that license's own expiration.

4. A 19-year-old applies for a driver's license for the first time and has never taken driver education. What must they complete first?

A Cooperative Driver Testing certificate
A six-hour Adult Driver Education Course
50 hours of supervised driving with a parent
A 30-hour classroom course with 6 hours behind the wheel

Answer: B — A six-hour Adult Driver Education Course

First-time applicants aged 18-20 without prior driver education must finish a six-hour Adult Driver Education Course.

5. A driver moves to a new address within Illinois. Within how many days must they report the address change?

90 days
60 days
30 days
10 days

Answer: D — 10 days

An address change must be reported within 10 days.

6. After a legal name change, how long does a driver have to apply for a corrected license card?

60 days
90 days
30 days
10 days

Answer: C — 30 days

A corrected card for a legal name change must be applied for within 30 days.

7. An applicant is applying for a REAL ID-compliant license for the first time, submitting proof of identity, date of birth, Social Security number and signature. How many residency documents must they also provide?

Three
One
None
Two

Answer: D — Two

A first REAL ID requires two residency documents, versus one for a standard license.

8. A 45-year-old driver's license is stolen, and they file a police report. What does it cost to replace the card?

$20
Free
$30
$5

Answer: B — Free

A stolen card is replaced free of charge when a police report is filed and the holder is under 60.

9. About how many days before a license expires does a renewal notice typically arrive?

30 days
120 days
90 days
60 days

Answer: C — 90 days

A renewal notice arrives about 90 days before expiration.

10. A driver renews their license at age 83. How long will this renewed license last before it must be renewed again?

One year
Two years
Three years
Four years

Answer: B — Two years

Licenses issued to drivers aged 81 to 86 last two years.

11. A driver is convicted of using someone else's license card as their own identification. Besides arrest, what penalties can this bring?

A fine only, with no suspension
Up to five years in prison and a 12-month suspension or revocation
Permanent revocation with no possibility of prison time
A 30-day suspension and a mandatory retake of the written exam

Answer: B — Up to five years in prison and a 12-month suspension or revocation

License fraud, including using another person's card, carries up to five years in prison plus a 12-month suspension or revocation.

12. A driver develops a new medical condition likely to cause loss of consciousness while driving. Within how many days must this be reported?

30 days
60 days
10 days
90 days

Answer: C — 10 days

A new condition likely to cause loss of consciousness or driving ability must be reported within 10 days.

13. A 70-year-old driver meets every condition of the Safe Driver Renewal program — no CDL or school bus permit, no infractions, sanctions, crash reports or medical reviews, and verified Social Security data. Are they eligible to renew from home?

No, the program only covers ages 18 to 21
No, drivers are barred from the program after age 65
No, the program only covers ages 75 and older
Yes, drivers aged 22 to 74 who meet these conditions qualify

Answer: D — Yes, drivers aged 22 to 74 who meet these conditions qualify

Safe Driver Renewal covers drivers aged 22 to 74 who meet the clean-record and verification conditions.

14. What visual acuity, with or without corrective lenses, must a driver have to be licensed without a daylight-driving restriction?

20/20
20/40
20/70
20/100

Answer: B — 20/40

At least 20/40 acuity, with or without lenses, is the standard; 20/41 to 20/70 is licensable only for daylight driving.

15. An applicant's vision tests at 20/55 with corrective lenses. What restriction will their license carry?

No restriction
The license will be denied outright
Highway driving only
Daylight driving only

Answer: D — Daylight driving only

Acuity between 20/41 and 20/70 limits the driver to daylight driving.

16. What is the minimum peripheral vision required to pass the vision screening?

140 degrees
160 degrees
100 degrees
120 degrees

Answer: A — 140 degrees

At least 140 degrees of peripheral vision is required.

17. A driver has held a license for years with no traffic convictions on record. How often would drivers who do have convictions otherwise need to retake the written exam?

Never, once initially licensed
Every 8 years
Every 4 years
Every 10 years

Answer: B — Every 8 years

Drivers retake the written exam every eight years, except those with no traffic convictions.

18. An 80-year-old driver is renewing their license. Which exam must they retake as part of renewal that most younger renewing drivers would not need to retake?

The written exam only
The driving exam
The vision screening only
No exam is required at renewal

Answer: B — The driving exam

The driving exam is required for new drivers and for renewing drivers aged 79 and older.

19. During a driving exam, the examiner asks the applicant to back up in a straight line for about 50 feet. What should the applicant do with their head while doing this?

Turn it to the right to watch behind
Keep eyes on the dashboard gauges
Keep it facing forward and use only the mirrors
Turn it to the left toward the alley

Answer: A — Turn it to the right to watch behind

Applicants are graded on backing about 50 feet slowly and straight while turning their head to the right to watch behind.

20. Approved driver education for a teen applicant must include how much classroom instruction and how much behind-the-wheel instruction?

30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel
20 hours classroom, 4 hours behind the wheel
50 hours classroom, 10 hours behind the wheel
40 hours classroom, 10 hours behind the wheel

Answer: A — 30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel

Approved driver education is at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours behind the wheel.

21. A 16-year-old has held an instruction permit for six months and wants to apply for a license now. Can they?

Yes, six months is enough
No, the permit must be held nine consecutive months first
No, the permit must be held 24 months first
No, the permit must be held 12 months first

Answer: B — No, the permit must be held nine consecutive months first

At 15 to 17, the instruction permit must be held nine consecutive months before a license can be issued.

22. A first-time applicant is 17 years and 3 months old and has not taken driver education. Can they still get an instruction permit?

Yes, but only after completing the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course first
Yes, at 17 years and 3 months a permit may be issued without driver education
No, they must wait until age 18
No, driver education is always required under 18

Answer: B — Yes, at 17 years and 3 months a permit may be issued without driver education

At 17 years and 3 months, a permit may be obtained without driver education.

23. A 16-year-old with an instruction permit wants a parent to supervise their practice driving, seated beside them. What must be true of that parent?

Any adult with a valid license, regardless of age or experience
At least 18 years old and validly licensed
At least 21 years old, validly licensed, with at least one year of driving experience
At least 25 years old with a clean driving record

Answer: C — At least 21 years old, validly licensed, with at least one year of driving experience

The supervising adult must be 21 or older, validly licensed, and have at least one year of driving experience.

24. A 16-year-old is applying for a license. How many hours of supervised driving must they have logged, and how many of those must be at night?

50 hours total, including 10 at night
50 hours total, including 20 at night
40 hours total, with no night driving required
30 hours total, including 5 at night

Answer: A — 50 hours total, including 10 at night

Drivers under 18 must log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night, before a license at 16.

25. A high school student finishes driver education with a combined grade of B. What can this allow them to skip?

The 50-hour supervised driving log
The written exam
The vision screening
The state driving exam

Answer: D — The state driving exam

Students who finish driver education with a combined grade of A or B may skip the state driving exam under Cooperative Driver Testing.

26. A 15-year-old permit holder wants to drive on a Tuesday at 11 p.m. with a licensed parent seated beside them. Is this allowed under the statewide permit-phase restriction?

No, driving is barred every night from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Yes, as long as a parent knows their location
No, driving is barred Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Yes, the curfew only applies on weekends

Answer: C — No, driving is barred Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The permit-phase curfew bars driving Sunday to Thursday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Friday-Saturday 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

27. A newly licensed 16-year-old, within their first 12 months of licensure, wants to drive with two unrelated friends who are both under 20. Is this allowed?

Yes, up to three passengers under 20 are allowed
No passengers under 20 are allowed at all during this period
Yes, since the restriction only applies after dark
No, only one passenger under 20 is allowed unless they are siblings, stepsiblings, children or stepchildren

Answer: D — No, only one passenger under 20 is allowed unless they are siblings, stepsiblings, children or stepchildren

During the first 12 months or until 18, only one passenger under 20 is allowed unless they are siblings, stepsiblings, children or stepchildren.

28. A 19-year-old driver receives a second moving violation within 24 months of the first. What is the minimum consequence?

A license suspension of at least 30 days, possibly with a remedial course
A warning letter only
Permanent revocation
A three-month suspension

Answer: A — A license suspension of at least 30 days, possibly with a remedial course

Two or more moving violations within 24 months under 21 suspends the license for at least 30 days, possibly with a remedial course.