Illinois permit test numbers to know
Distances, speeds, limits, fines and deadlines are the questions people miss most, because they have to be memorized. Here are 63 Illinois numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
12 questions a round from the 47 number questions in our Illinois bank. Questions you miss come back more often in later rounds.
Free and unlimited. Your answers count toward your readiness and mistake review.
Numbers flashcards
47 cards: the question on the front, the number and its source on the back. Swipe right if you knew it.
Each deck starts with 20 free cards. Swipe right if you knew it, left to see it again.
See 3 of the cards
Alcohol & drugs
In Illinois, it is illegal for an adult to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of:
.08% or more
It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08% or more. You can still be convicted of DUI below .08% if your driving is impaired, so the only safe choice is not to drink and drive.
Fines, points & penalties
What are Illinois' minimum liability insurance limits?
$25,000 per person injured, $50,000 per crash, $20,000 property damage
Every vehicle in Illinois must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 for one person's injury or death, $50,000 for more than one person, and $20,000 for property damage.
Speed limits
Unless otherwise posted, what is the speed limit on Illinois interstates and tollways?
70 mph
Unless signs say otherwise, Illinois interstates and tollways are 70 mph.
Every Illinois number, by topic
Official test facts and Illinois laws come first in each group, then the numbers from our handbook questions. Tap a source to read the exact words it comes from.
- Alcohol & drugs 12
- Fines, points & penalties 7
- Speed limits 4
- Distances & following gaps 13
- Parking 4
- Ages, permits & the test 14
- Time limits & deadlines 5
- Seat belts, lights & equipment 4
Alcohol & drugs
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | ilga.govQuotethe alcohol concentration in the person's blood, other bodily substance, or breath is 0.08 or more based on the definition of blood and breath units in Section 11-501.2 |
| 0% | BAC limit for underage drivers | ilga.govQuoteif the person submits to the test or tests provided in paragraph (a) of this Section and the alcohol concentration in the person's blood, other bodily substance, or breath is greater than 0.00 and less than 0.08, a suspension of the person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | ilga.govQuoteOperating a commercial motor vehicle while the alcohol concentration of the person's blood, breath, other bodily substance, or urine is at least 0.04 |
| one year | Drunk driving (DUI)Conviction brings mandatory license revocation, with no reinstatement application for at least one year | ilga.govQuotethe person may make application for a license (A) after the expiration of one year from the effective date of the revocation |
| 6-month | Drunk driving (DUI)Failing a chemical test (0.08+) as a first offender also brings a 6-month statutory summary suspension | ilga.govQuotesix months from the effective date of the statutory summary suspension imposed following the person's submission to a chemical test which disclosed an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more |
| 12 months | Drunk driving (DUI)Refusing a chemical test brings an automatic statutory summary suspension of 12 months for a first offender | ilga.govQuotetwelve months from the effective date of the statutory summary suspension for a refusal or failure to complete a test or tests to determine the alcohol, other drug, or intoxicating compound concentration under Section 11-501.1 |
| .08% | In Illinois, it is illegal for an adult to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of:Answer: .08% or more | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 51QuoteIt is illegal to drive if your BAC is .08% or more. |
| One year | A first-time offender arrested for DUI in Illinois refuses chemical testing. How long is the statutory summary suspension?Answer: One year | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 52QuoteIf you refuse to submit to chemical testing, your driving privileges will be suspended for one year. |
| Six months | A first-time offender's chemical test shows a BAC of .08% or more. How long is the Illinois statutory summary suspension?Answer: Six months | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 52Quoteyour driving privileges will be suspended for six months |
| one year | What is the minimum penalty for a first DUI conviction in Illinois?Answer: Revocation of driving privileges for at least one year | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 53QuoteA first conviction results in a minimum one-year revocation. |
| Two years | A driver under 21 is convicted of DUI for the first time in Illinois. What is the minimum revocation?Answer: Two years | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 55QuoteIf you are under age 21 and convicted of DUI, you face the revocation of your driving privileges for a minimum of two years for a first conviction. |
| three months | Under Illinois' zero-tolerance law, what happens to a driver under 21 found with any trace of alcohol while driving?Answer: Driving privileges are suspended for at least three months | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 55QuoteIf you are under age 21 and found to have any trace of alcohol in your system while operating a motor vehicle, you will have your driving privileges suspended for a minimum of three months. |
Fines, points & penalties
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $75 · $100 second · $125 · $150 | Phone useMaximum fines: $75 first offense, $100 second, $125 third, $150 fourth or later | ilga.govQuoteA violation of this Section is an offense against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles. A person who violates this Section shall be fined a maximum of $75 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, $125 for a third offense, and $150 for a fourth or subsequent offense |
| $25 | Seat beltsFine up to $25 (petty offense) | ilga.govQuoteA violation of this Section shall be a petty offense and subject to a fine not to exceed $25. |
| $250 to $10,000 | Move Over lawScott's Law fine: $250 to $10,000 for a first violation | ilga.govQuoteA person who violates subsection (c) of this Section commits a business offense punishable by a fine of not less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first violation |
| $25,000 · $50,000 · $20,000 | What are Illinois' minimum liability insurance limits?Answer: $25,000 per person injured, $50,000 per crash, $20,000 property damage | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 101Quote$25,000 for injury or death of one person in a crash. • $50,000 for injury or death of more than one person in a crash. • $20,000 for damage to property of another person. |
| three months · $100 | What is the penalty for a conviction for driving without the required insurance in Illinois?Answer: Loss of driving privileges for at least three months and a $100 reinstatement fee | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 58QuoteIndividuals convicted of mandatory insurance violations will lose their driving privileges for a minimum of three months and be required to pay a $100 reinstatement fee, with no driving permit available. |
| $300 | What is the penalty for a first conviction of passing a stopped Illinois school bus with its lights flashing and stop arm out?Answer: License suspension, a $300 mandatory fine and community service | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 36Quoteyou will be subject to a mandatory fine of $300 and community service in an amount set by the court |
| $1,500 · $500 | You are in a crash in Illinois and no police officer is at the scene. Besides any crash that injures or kills someone, you must notify police right away if property damage is more than:Answer: $1,500 (or $500 if any vehicle is uninsured) | Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department websiteQuoteresults in damage to the property of any person, including the driver, in excess of $1,500 (or $500 if any of the vehicles involved in the accident is subject to Section 7-601 but is not covered by a liability insurance policy) |
Speed limits
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | Speed limits: Business & residence districts30 mph (urban district) | ilga.govQuoteUnless some other speed restriction is established under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit in an urban district for all vehicles is: 1. 30 miles per hour; and 2. 15 miles per hour in an alley. |
| 70 mph | Unless otherwise posted, what is the speed limit on Illinois interstates and tollways?Answer: 70 mph | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 27QuoteInterstates and tollways — 70 mph. |
| 30 mph | Unless a sign says otherwise, what is the speed limit in Illinois city and town areas?Answer: 30 mph | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 27QuoteCity/town areas — 30 mph. |
| 15 mph | What is the Illinois speed limit in an alley unless otherwise posted?Answer: 15 mph | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 27QuoteCity/town areas — 30 mph. • Alleys — 15 mph. |
Distances & following gaps
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 500 feet | You drive past a crash where a stopped ambulance has its lights flashing. Illinois law bans taking photos and using a phone, except in certain circumstances, within how many feet of an emergency scene like this?Answer: 500 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 28QuoteIllinois law prohibits photography and the use of wireless/cellphones within 500 feet of an emergency scene, except in certain circumstances. |
| 100 feet | In an Illinois business or residential district, how far before a turn must you start a continuous turn signal?Answer: At least 100 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 33QuoteIn a business or residential area, you must give a continuous turn signal for at least 100 feet before turning. |
| 200 feet | You are on a rural Illinois highway outside any business or residential area. How far ahead must you signal a turn?Answer: At least 200 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 33QuoteIn other areas, the signal must be given at least 200 feet before turning. |
| 500 feet | In Illinois, when may you make a U-turn on a curve or hill?Answer: Only if you can see at least 500 feet in all directions | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 35QuoteYou must not turn around on curves and hills unless you can see for at least 500 feet in all directions. |
| 200 feet | When passing on a two-lane Illinois highway, you must return to your lane before coming within how many feet of an oncoming vehicle?Answer: 200 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 31QuoteYou must return to your lane before getting within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle. |
| 100 feet | On a two-lane, two-way Illinois road, passing is not allowed within how many feet of an intersection or railroad crossing?Answer: 100 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 32QuoteWithin 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing. |
| three-second | What rule does the Illinois handbook recommend for keeping a safe following distance in good conditions?Answer: The three-second rule | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 86QuoteUse the three-second rule to determine a safe following distance. |
| three to four seconds | How much following distance does the Illinois handbook say to leave behind a motorcycle?Answer: At least three to four seconds | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 45QuoteAllow at least three to four seconds following distance when behind a motorcycle |
| 3 feet | When passing a bicyclist in Illinois, how much space must you leave?Answer: At least 3 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 46QuoteWhen passing a bicyclist, motorists must do so slowly and leave at least 3 feet of passing space from the edge of the vehicle’s side mirror. |
| 15 and 50 feet | The lights are flashing at a railroad crossing. How far from the tracks must you stop in Illinois?Answer: Between 15 and 50 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 36QuoteWhen approaching a railroad crossing, you must stop within 15-50 feet if there is a posted stop sign, if the electric signal is flashing, or if the crossing gate is lowered. |
| 1,000 feet | Besides sunset to sunrise and when wipers are needed, when do Illinois rules say headlights should be on?Answer: When you cannot see objects 1,000 feet away | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 95QuoteThey should also be used when objects 1,000 feet away cannot be seen. |
| 50 feet | After a crash, power lines fall on your car and fire forces you to leave. How should you get away?Answer: Jump clear without touching car and ground together, then hop or shuffle 50 feet away | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 91Quoteland on both feet and hop or shuffle while keeping your arms close to your body for a distance of 50 feet away from the vehicle. |
| 4 feet | In an urban area, a white stop line is usually painted how far before the crosswalk?Answer: About 4 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 83QuoteThe line is usually 4 feet before the crosswalk in an urban area. |
Parking
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 15 feet | In Illinois, you may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?Answer: 15 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 38QuoteWithin 15 feet of a fire hydrant. |
| 20 feet | Illinois law prohibits parking within how many feet of a crosswalk at an intersection?Answer: 20 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 39QuoteWithin 20 feet of a fire station driveway or crosswalk at an intersection. |
| 30 feet | How close to a STOP sign, YIELD sign or traffic signal may you park in Illinois?Answer: No closer than 30 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 39QuoteWithin 30 feet of a STOP sign, YIELD sign, or traffic control signal. |
| 50 feet | In Illinois, you may not park within how many feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing?Answer: 50 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 39QuoteWithin 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing. |
Ages, permits & the test
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Questions on the test | ilga.govQuoteAn applicant for a Class D license will be required to take a written test consisting of a minimum of 35 questions, of which 80% percent must be answered correctly in order to be eligible for a Class D license. |
| 80% | Passing score | ilga.govQuoteAn applicant for a Class D license will be required to take a written test consisting of a minimum of 35 questions, of which 80% percent must be answered correctly in order to be eligible for a Class D license. |
| $20 | Fee | ilsos.govQuoteInstruction Permit (Class D) – Original *If you receive your license prior to the expiration of your instruction permit, you may not need to pay an additional fee. $20 |
| under 19 | Phone useDrivers under 19 with a permit or graduated license may not use a phone at all, even hands-free, except in an emergency | ilga.govQuoteA person under the age of 19 years who holds an instruction permit issued under Section 6-105 or 6-107.1, or a person under the age of 19 years who holds a graduated license issued under Section 6-107, may not drive a vehicle on a roadway while using a wireless phone. |
| 50 hours · 10 hours | How much supervised practice driving must an Illinois driver under 18 complete before getting a license?Answer: 50 hours, including 10 hours at night | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 19QuoteIllinois law requires drivers under age 18 to have at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel supervised driving, including 10 hours of nighttime supervised driving |
| age 21 · one year | Outside of driver education, who may supervise an Illinois permit holder while they practise?Answer: A licensed parent, guardian or adult age 21 or older with at least one year of driving experience | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 19Quotelegal guardian, or responsible adult who is age 21 or older, has a valid license, and has at least one year of driving experience |
| six-hour | You are 19 and have never had a license or taken driver education. What must you complete before getting an Illinois license?Answer: A six-hour Adult Driver Education Course from a state-certified provider | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 21QuoteIf you are age 18, 19, or 20 and have not previously been licensed or completed an approved driver education program, you must complete a six-hour Adult Driver Education Course. |
| 17 years · 3 months | At what age can an Illinois teen apply for an instruction permit without taking a driver education course?Answer: 17 years and 3 months or older | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 19QuoteIf you are age 17 and 3 months or older, you may apply for an instruction permit without taking a driver education course. |
| 80% · at least 35 | Under Illinois rules, how is the Class D written test for a car license scored?Answer: At least 80% correct on a test of at least 35 questions | Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department websiteQuoteAn applicant for a Class D license will be required to take a written test consisting of a minimum of 35 questions, of which 80% percent must be answered correctly |
| 90 days | You move to Illinois with a valid license from another state. How long can you keep driving on it?Answer: 90 days, or until it expires if that comes first | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 8QuoteYou must obtain an Illinois license within 90 days or before your driver’s license expires, whichever comes first. |
| 30 days | A 20-year-old is convicted of two moving violations within 24 months. What does Illinois law require?Answer: A driver's license suspension of at least 30 days | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 23QuoteA driver under age 21 convicted of two or more moving violations within a 24-month period will face a minimum 30-day suspension of their driver’s license. |
| age 19 | Under Illinois law, which drivers may use a hands-free or Bluetooth phone while driving?Answer: Drivers age 19 and older | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 25QuoteHands-free devices or Bluetooth technology is allowed for persons age 19 and older. |
| age 8 | Who must wear a safety belt in Illinois?Answer: All drivers and passengers age 8 and older, front and back seats | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 26QuoteIllinois law requires all drivers and passengers (front and back seats) age 8 and older to wear safety belts, even if the vehicle is equipped with air bags. |
| under age 8 | Under the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act, which children must ride in a child safety restraint system?Answer: All children under age 8 | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 26QuoteThe Child Passenger Protection Act requires all children under age 8 to be properly secured in an appropriate child safety restraint system. |
Time limits & deadlines
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500 · $500 | CrashesCauses property damage over $1,500 (over $500 if any vehicle involved is uninsured) | ilga.govQuoteresults in damage to the property of any person, including the driver, in excess of $1,500 (or $500 if any of the vehicles involved in the accident is subject to Section 7-601 but is not covered by a liability insurance policy) |
| one-half hour | CrashesA driver who failed to stop must report to police within one-half hour | ilga.govQuoteas soon as possible but in no case later than one-half hour after such motor vehicle crash |
| 10 days | After you move, how soon must you notify the Illinois Secretary of State of your new address?Answer: Within 10 days | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 9QuoteYou must notify the Secretary of State’s office of an address change within 10 days of any move by: |
| 24 hours · seven days | When must you obey a posted Illinois construction zone speed limit?Answer: 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether or not workers are present | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 28QuoteMotorists must obey the posted construction zone speed limit 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of the presence of workers. |
| one-half hour | A driver is involved in an Illinois crash that injures someone but fails to stop at the scene. By law, how soon must that driver report the crash at a police station or sheriff's office near the crash?Answer: No later than one-half hour after the crash | Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department websiteQuoteas soon as possible but in no case later than one-half hour after such motor vehicle crash |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | Seat beltsA child over 40 lb may use a lap belt alone in a back seat with no shoulder belt | ilga.govQuotehe or she shall be responsible for properly securing the child in a rear-facing child restraint system, unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. |
| Age 2 | Under Illinois law, a child must ride in a rear-facing car seat until what age, unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are taller than 40 inches?Answer: Age 2 | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 27QuoteIllinois law requires children to be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system until age 2 unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are more than 40 inches tall. |
| 6-inch | How much window tint does Illinois allow on the front windshield?Answer: Only a 6-inch strip along the top | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 95QuoteTinted windows are not allowed on the front windshield. A 6-inch strip of tinting is allowed along the entire length at the top of the front windshield. |
| 200 feet | Under Illinois equipment rules, a car's horn must be loud enough to be heard from at least:Answer: 200 feet | 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, page 95QuoteVehicles must have a horn that can be heard from 200 feet. |
Memory tips
Straight from the handbook:
“Use the three-second rule to determine a safe following distance.”
How to study them (our advice, not official rules):
- Learn the number with its unit and its place. “15 feet from a hydrant” sticks; “15” on its own gets mixed up with 15 mph.
- Say the answer before you look. Recalling the number yourself is harder than spotting it among four options, and it is what makes it stick.
- Come back to the ones you miss. The quiz above brings missed questions back more often. Short rounds over several days beat one long session.
Questions about the numbers
What numbers do I need to know for the Illinois permit test?
Mostly distances (how close you may park to a hydrant or crosswalk, when to signal, when to dim your high beams), speed limits, blood-alcohol limits, and the ages, hours and deadlines for your permit and license. This page lists 63 of them for Illinois, each with its source.
Why focus on numbers?
A California DMV study of its own knowledge test found that many of the hardest questions “are numerical and have correct answers that must be learned by rote memorization.” Numbers are easy to mix up under pressure, so they are worth drilling on their own.
Where do these numbers come from?
Each one is quoted from the 2026 Illinois Rules of the Road, Illinois statutes or SOS pages. Our build checks that every number on this page appears word for word in the quote it cites.
Is the numbers drill free?
Yes. The table and the numbers quiz are free and unlimited, and so are the first 20 flashcards.
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