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Illinois DMV Permit Test Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing Summary

Checked 10/18/26

Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing: key points

  • Drivers under 18 must hold the permit at least 9 months and log 50 hours, including 10 at night.
  • Drivers under 18 may not drive Sunday to Thursday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., or Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Drivers under 19 may not use a cell phone while driving, even hands-free, except in an emergency.
Importance
★★★☆☆ (3 / 5)
Weight
About 5 of 35 Written Knowledge Test questions (13%)

How the instruction permit works, the supervised practice hours, and the night and passenger limits for young drivers.

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Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing: 10 sample questions

Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★★☆

Question 1. If you are under 18, how long must you hold your Illinois instruction permit before you can get a license?

  1. ① 3 months
  2. ② 6 months
  3. ③ 9 months
  4. ④ 12 months
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Answer: ③ 9 months

Key point: Hold the permit at least 9 months if under 18

Drivers under 18 must hold the instruction permit for at least 9 months before getting a license.

Wrong choices

  • 3 months: 3 months is too short.
  • 6 months: 6 months is not the Illinois rule.
  • 12 months: 12 months is longer than the Illinois rule.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★★☆

Question 2. How many hours of supervised practice driving must an Illinois driver under 18 complete before getting a license?

  1. ① 20 hours
  2. ② 30 hours
  3. ③ 50 hours
  4. ④ 100 hours
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Answer: ③ 50 hours

Key point: Under 18: 50 hours of supervised driving

Drivers under 18 must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night. A parent or guardian certifies the hours.

Wrong choices

  • 20 hours: 20 hours is too few.
  • 30 hours: 30 hours is too few.
  • 100 hours: 100 hours is more than the rule requires.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★★☆

Question 3. Who may supervise you while you drive with an Illinois instruction permit?

  1. ① Any passenger, any age
  2. ② A friend who has a learner's permit
  3. ③ A licensed adult who is at least 21 years old
  4. ④ No one; you may drive alone during the day
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Answer: ③ A licensed adult who is at least 21 years old

Key point: Permit driving: with a licensed adult 21 or older

With an instruction permit, you must drive with a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old sitting next to you.

Wrong choices

  • Any passenger, any age: The supervisor must be a licensed adult at least 21.
  • A friend who has a learner's permit: Another permit holder cannot supervise you.
  • No one; you may drive alone during the day: Permit holders may not drive alone.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★☆☆

Question 4. At what age can you get an Illinois instruction permit if you are enrolled in an approved driver education course?

  1. ① 14
  2. ② 15
  3. ③ 16
  4. ④ 17
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Answer: ② 15

Key point: Instruction permit at 15 with driver education

In Illinois you can get an instruction permit at age 15 if you are enrolled in an approved driver education course.

Wrong choices

  • 14: 14 is too young.
  • 16: 16 is the youngest age for a license, not the permit.
  • 17: 17 is not the permit age.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★☆☆

Question 5. Of the required supervised practice hours, how many must be at night?

  1. ① 5 hours
  2. ② 10 hours
  3. ③ 15 hours
  4. ④ 25 hours
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Answer: ② 10 hours

Key point: 10 of the 50 practice hours at night

At least 10 of the 50 practice hours must be driven at night.

Wrong choices

  • 5 hours: 5 hours is too few.
  • 15 hours: 15 hours is not the Illinois rule.
  • 25 hours: 25 hours is more than the rule requires.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★☆☆

Question 6. Under Illinois law, drivers under 18 may not drive during which hours on Sunday through Thursday nights?

  1. ① 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  2. ② 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  3. ③ 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  4. ④ Midnight to 5 a.m.
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Answer: ② 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Key point: Under 18, Sun to Thu: no driving 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Drivers under 18 may not drive from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights. On Friday and Saturday nights, the hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Local curfews may be stricter.

Wrong choices

  • 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. is not the Illinois rule.
  • 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. is the rule for Friday and Saturday nights.
  • Midnight to 5 a.m.: Midnight to 5 a.m. is not the Illinois rule.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★☆☆

Question 7. Under Illinois law, drivers under 18 may not drive during which hours on Friday and Saturday nights?

  1. ① 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  2. ② 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  3. ③ Midnight to 6 a.m.
  4. ④ 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
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Answer: ② 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Key point: Under 18, Fri and Sat: no driving 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

On Friday and Saturday nights, drivers under 18 may not drive from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. On Sunday through Thursday, the hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Wrong choices

  • 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. is the rule for Sunday through Thursday.
  • Midnight to 6 a.m.: Midnight to 6 a.m. is not the Illinois rule.
  • 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. is not the Illinois rule.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★☆☆

Question 8. What does Illinois law say about cell phone use for drivers under 19?

  1. ① They may not use a cell phone while driving, even hands-free, except in an emergency
  2. ② They may use hands-free phones only
  3. ③ They may text at red lights
  4. ④ They may talk on the phone if a parent is in the car
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Answer: ① They may not use a cell phone while driving, even hands-free, except in an emergency

Key point: Under 19: no phone at all while driving, except emergency

Drivers under 19 may not use a cell phone while driving, even hands-free, except to call for help in an emergency.

Wrong choices

  • They may use hands-free phones only: Hands-free use is also banned for drivers under 19.
  • They may text at red lights: Texting while driving is not allowed, including at red lights.
  • They may talk on the phone if a parent is in the car: A parent in the car does not change the rule.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★☆☆

Question 9. A 16-year-old has just received an Illinois license. During the first 12 months (or until age 18, if sooner), how many passengers under 20 may ride with them, not counting family members?

  1. ① None
  2. ② Two
  3. ③ Three
  4. ④ One
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Answer: ④ One

Key point: First 12 months: only one passenger under 20

For the first 12 months a driver under 18 holds a license, or until they turn 18 if sooner, they may carry only one passenger under age 20. Brothers, sisters, children, and stepchildren of the driver are not counted.

Wrong choices

  • None: One passenger under 20 is allowed, not zero.
  • Two: Two is more than the rule allows.
  • Three: Three is more than the rule allows.
Practice questionReviewedWritten Knowledge Test › Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★☆☆

Question 10. The Illinois Class D written test has at least 35 questions, and you must answer 80% of them correctly. On a 35-question test, how many correct answers do you need to pass?

  1. ① 21
  2. ② 25
  3. ③ 28
  4. ④ 30
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Answer: ③ 28

Key point: Pass with 80%: 28 of 35

Illinois rules say you must answer 80% of the questions correctly. On a 35-question test, that is 28 correct answers, so you can miss no more than 7.

Wrong choices

  • 21: 21 is only 60%.
  • 25: 25 is about 71%, which is below 80%.
  • 30: 30 is more than you need. 28 correct is 80%.

Test yourself.

Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing: 5 questions →Written Knowledge Test: 5 questions →

Written by AI · Not yet reviewed by staff