Crucial requirements for obtaining a driver’s license in Illinois involve passing three tests: a vision test, a knowledge (permit) test on driving theory, and a road test. However, you must obtain an instruction permit to practice driving before obtaining a driver’s license if you’re under 18. The vision and knowledge tests are also required for an instruction permit too.
If you’re under 18, you must also enroll in a state-approved driver’s education course and have a parent or other responsible adult sign your application (thus providing parental consent). In Illinois’ Graduated Driver’s License program, you must complete that driver’s education course before applying for an initial license. Note: If you pass a driving exam administered by the driving instructor of a high school driver’s education course, the Secretary of State may consider proof of passing an acceptable alternative to taking and passing the official road test. Whether you can do this depends on the school district.
The official knowledge test covers traffic signs and signals, pavement markings, Illinois traffic laws, alcohol and drug impairment, safe driving practices, and general vehicle operation. All test questions are based on information in the official Illinois DMV driver’s 2025 handbook (Illinois DMV Handbook (IL Driver's Manual) 2025). The Illinois Secretary of State publishes versions of this manual in three languages, of which we currently offer the English and Spanish versions. Each version is a PDF file, which can easily be downloaded from this webpage.
Studying this handbook should be the first thing you do to prepare to pass the official permit test. However, don’t be content to stop there. (In 2019 – 2023, about 40.5% of applicants failed the DMV knowledge test on their first attempt.) Please follow our entire test preparation program, including our graduated series of practice tests accompanied by our AI assistant. It can give you hints and explanations to help you learn.
We have also created an audiobook of the English version of the official driver’s handbook. It’s formatted as a downloadable series of eleven MP3 files, one for each chapter of the handbook: driver’s licenses, driver license exams, drivers under age 21, and so on. The longest chapter is Chapter 4: Traffic Laws, whose running time is 34 minutes and 40 seconds. The total running time of this audiobook is approximately 3 hours, 5 minutes, and 23 seconds, so you can go through it in a couple of days.
In addition to the official handbook, we also offer our own permit test study guide to help you prepare for the day of the Illinois knowledge test. It covers what documents to take to the DMV, frequently missed knowledge test questions, and other last-minute knowledge test tips.
The official road test often scares people. But in Illinois, if you’re taking high school driver’s education, you just might be able to avoid it entirely!