Driving exam (road test)
Every new Illinois driver takes a driving exam with a Secretary of State examiner in a vehicle they provide, unless a certified driver education instructor gives the test instead. The examiner scores driving skills such as backing about 50 feet, a turnabout using an alley, parking and starting on a hill, turns, signals, and obeying signs and lights. Errors cost points based on how serious they are: Class D applicants are allowed 36 points, and any ticketable violation or dangerous action fails the exam on the spot.
Checked October 4, 2026 against official Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department sources. Tap a numbered chip to read the exact wording.
All new drivers must take the exam. Drivers 15 to 17 must hold their instruction permit for at least nine months, complete driver education, and log 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night); the earliest license age is 16. Drivers 18 to 20 who are first-time drivers must complete a six-hour Adult Driver Education Course. Drivers who are 87 or older, or turning 87 at renewal, must also take a driving exam. Official source 1web.archive.org“All new drivers must take a driving exam. Drivers ages 87 and older, as well as those turning 87 or older when renewing their license, must also take a driving exam.”“The instruction permit is valid for 24 months and must be held for at least nine consecutive months before obtaining a driver's license if you are age 15-17.”“Illinois 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, in addition to the driver education training, before being eligible to obtain a driver's license at age 16.”“If 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.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
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The examiner checks your car before you drive. If it fails, you usually can’t take the test that day.
A point system: each error adds one or more points depending on how serious it is. Class C and D applicants are allowed 36 points. Disqualifying acts end the test immediately whatever the point total. Official source 2ilga.gov“Test exercises and skills are evaluated on a point system. When the applicant commits an error, a point or points are assessed based upon the severity of the error.”“Applicants for a CDL or Non-CDL Class A, B, C, or D license or a religious organization vehicle restriction, for-profit ridesharing arrangement restriction or senior citizen transportation restriction are allowed 36 points.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Any one of these ends or fails a Illinois road test, no matter how well the rest goes.
Steps and scoring come from Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department’s own materials, in their words where possible. Where a state publishes no steps, we say so rather than guess.
You are graded on checking the vehicle controls, including the parking brake and mirrors, and on making all adjustments before moving.
Back about 50 feet slowly, straight and smoothly, turning your head to the right to watch to the rear. The regulation lists 'backing' as a scored skill.
Turn around using an alley on the left side of the street: signal, turn in, back out, and stay on your side of the street. 'Turnabout' is a scored skill in the regulation.
You park uphill and downhill at the side of the road and start from each position. The regulation scores parking (up and downhill) and starting (up and downhill).
Scored on signal, speed, lane and the turn itself.
Not officially described by SOS.
Scored on signal, speed, lane and the turn itself.
Not officially described by SOS.
Signaling when pulling into and away from the curb is scored, as is the final park.
Not officially described by SOS.
Signaling for lane changes is scored, along with lane observance and use of mirrors.
Not officially described by SOS.
Scored on stop signs; other signs (yield, school, railroad, regulatory, warning, special); traffic lights; and right-of-way.
Not officially described by SOS.
How you start the vehicle and your seating posture. Official source 2ilga.gov“start, posture, use of mirrors, steering, lane observance, right-of-way, left and right turns (signal, speed, lane, turn), attention (distraction level), following (too closely)”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Checking your mirrors. Official source 2ilga.gov“start, posture, use of mirrors, steering, lane observance, right-of-way, left and right turns (signal, speed, lane, turn), attention (distraction level), following (too closely)”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Steering control and staying in your lane. Official source 2ilga.gov“start, posture, use of mirrors, steering, lane observance, right-of-way, left and right turns (signal, speed, lane, turn), attention (distraction level), following (too closely)”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Yielding correctly. Official source 2ilga.gov“start, posture, use of mirrors, steering, lane observance, right-of-way, left and right turns (signal, speed, lane, turn), attention (distraction level), following (too closely)”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
How distracted you are. Official source 2ilga.gov“start, posture, use of mirrors, steering, lane observance, right-of-way, left and right turns (signal, speed, lane, turn), attention (distraction level), following (too closely)”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Following too closely is scored. Official source 2ilga.gov“start, posture, use of mirrors, steering, lane observance, right-of-way, left and right turns (signal, speed, lane, turn), attention (distraction level), following (too closely)”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Driving too fast or too slow is scored. Official source 2ilga.gov“speed (too fast/too slow), parking (up and downhill ), starting (up and downhill ), final park, signal (pulling into and away from curb, changing lanes), stop signs”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Obey all traffic signs, control devices, rights of way and lane markings, and use turn signals properly. Official source 1web.archive.org“Controlling your vehicle by obeying all traffic signs, control devices, rights of way, lane markings and properly using turn signals.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Handling the transmission. Official source 2ilga.gov“stop signs, other signs (yield, school, railroad, regulatory, warning, special), traffic lights, backing, turnabout , and use of clutch or automatic transmission.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
The license fee covers three attempts at the written and/or road tests within one year of the first attempt. After a failure you may retest the same day during business hours, but not if you showed a danger to public safety, and never a third road test on the same day. After six failed road tests you must file a favorable medical report before a seventh attempt. Official source 2ilga.gov“shall entitle a person to a total of three attempts to pass the written and/or road tests within a one year period starting from the date of the first attempt.”“An applicant for an Illinois driver's license may be allowed to attempt the written and/or road tests a second time after a failure in the same day during normal business hours of the Driver Services Facility”“if the applicant demonstrates a danger to public safety during the first attempt to pass a written and/or road tests, a second attempt during the same day will not be allowed.”“If an applicant fails the road test six times, the individual will not be permitted to attempt the road test a seventh time until a current favorable completed medical report form is submitted to the Department”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Didn’t pass? What to do next, including the Illinois permit (knowledge) test retake rules.
Cooperative Driver Testing: a high school student with an A or B in approved driver education who passes a road test given by a Department-certified instructor (high school or licensed commercial driving school) is excused from the facility road test. The exemption expires with the instruction permit. Students whose birthdays fall on spot-check dates must still pass a facility driving exam. Official source 1web.archive.org“Students whose birthdays fall on certain spot-check dates must pass a driving exam administered at a DMV, even if they have already taken and passed a road test conducted by their driver education instructor.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 2ilga.gov“The Department shall exempt a high school student from a facility-administered road test if the student has earned a grade of A or B for an approved high school driver education course, passed a road test administered by a Department-certified high school driver education instructor”“passed a road test administered by a commercial driver training school instructor certified by the Department to administer road tests.”“The exemption from the facility testing will expire on the same day as the student's current instruction permit.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Every new Illinois driver takes a driving exam with a Secretary of State examiner in a vehicle they provide, unless a certified driver education instructor gives the test instead. The examiner scores driving skills such as backing about 50 feet, a turnabout using an alley, parking and starting on a hill, turns, signals, and obeying signs and lights. Errors cost points based on how serious they are: Class D applicants are allowed 36 points, and any ticketable violation or dangerous action fails the exam on the spot. Maneuvers covered by official sources: Checking the vehicle controls, Backing about 50 feet, Turnabout using an alley, Parking and starting uphill and downhill, Left turns, Right turns, Pulling into and away from the curb; final park, Changing lanes, Stop signs, other signs and traffic lights.
A point system: each error adds one or more points depending on how serious it is. Class C and D applicants are allowed 36 points. Disqualifying acts end the test immediately whatever the point total.
Official Illinois sources list these as automatic failures: Any traffic violation (one you would get a ticket for); A dangerous action; Lack of cooperation or refusing to perform; and Using a recording device (phone, camera) and refusing to stop and delete the recording.
Instruction permit; Acceptable identification documents; Affidavit/Consent for Minor to Drive (if applicable); Cooperative Driver Testing Certificate (if applicable); 50-hour driving log with the proper signature (applicants under 18); Proof of insurance for the test vehicle; A licensed driver to drive the vehicle to the facility; Someone to care for any children or pets you bring (they can't ride along or be left alone in the facility); and Shoes: you must wear them during the road test.
Properly licensed, with the required equipment listed in the handbook; In the same weight class as stated on your license application; Insured, with proof of insurance shown at the exam; Valid front and rear Illinois plates and a valid registration sticker (out-of-state vehicles must meet their state's registration rules); Examiner safety-inspects the vehicle first; one not properly equipped or in safe operating order is rejected; Working lamps, wipers and horn; no tinted or smoked light lenses; No windshield or window obstructions; safe tires (no metal studded tires); Brakes that work with one movement, plus an operable emergency brake; Seat belts worn by you and the examiner; A rearview mirror showing at least 200 feet behind; Steering wheel not broken, with no more than 5 to 10 degrees of free play; Both front doors open from inside and outside with the normal latch; not wired or strapped shut; A secure, clean seat for the examiner; no loose objects on seats or floors; and Only the examiner rides with you (a translator may be allowed when necessary).
All new drivers must take the exam. Drivers 15 to 17 must hold their instruction permit for at least nine months, complete driver education, and log 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night); the earliest license age is 16. Drivers 18 to 20 who are first-time drivers must complete a six-hour Adult Driver Education Course. Drivers who are 87 or older, or turning 87 at renewal, must also take a driving exam.
The license fee covers three attempts at the written and/or road tests within one year of the first attempt. After a failure you may retest the same day during business hours, but not if you showed a danger to public safety, and never a third road test on the same day. After six failed road tests you must file a favorable medical report before a seventh attempt.
Cooperative Driver Testing: a high school student with an A or B in approved driver education who passes a road test given by a Department-certified instructor (high school or licensed commercial driving school) is excused from the facility road test. The exemption expires with the instruction permit. Students whose birthdays fall on spot-check dates must still pass a facility driving exam.
ilsos.gov blocks automated requests, so the 2026 Rules of the Road (DSD A 112.47, July 2026) is cited through its Wayback Machine snapshot of 2026-10-02. That snapshot matches the copy a person downloaded on 2026-09-22. Scoring, disqualifications, vehicle inspection, retest rules and exemptions come from 92 Ill. Adm. Code 1030.84-1030.88 on ilga.gov. The SOS examiner score sheet is not published online (the regulation mentions a 'road test score sheet' only for instructors reporting failures). The 36-point figure is how many points are 'allowed'; the regulation doesn't say whether exactly 36 passes, so we read it as fail only above 36. Parallel parking is not listed among the scored Class D skills; the hill-parking and turnabout maneuvers are. The regulation gives no per-attempt retest fee beyond the three attempts included in the license fee.
Every fact above links to one of these official pages. Checked October 4, 2026.
This guide summarizes official Illinois sources for study. It is not the test itself, and only a SOS examiner (or a tester the state licenses) can pass or fail you. Rules change; confirm with Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department before test day.