Illinois Driving Laws: The 2026 Guide
Contributor
Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Editor
Summary
- Three strikes and you could be off the road. If you rack up three traffic convictions within 12 months, Illinois may suspend your license. And drivers under 21 could be off the road for only two convictions in 24 months.
- Buckling up is mandatory. Everyone in the vehicle must wear seat belts, regardless of where they’re sitting. Additionally, children under 8 need proper car seats, and kids under 2 must ride rear-facing.
- Keep your phone out of your hands. Illinois bans handheld phone use completely. You can’t text, use the GPS or hold your device for any other reason behind the wheel.
Illinois doesn’t mess around with traffic violations. A single speeding ticket might not seem like a big deal, but rack up more, and your license could be gone. The state tracks every conviction, and once you cross certain thresholds, you’re looking at license suspension or worse.
This guide walks you through common Illinois driving laws so you know how to navigate them before getting behind the wheel.
Licensing Requirements in Illinois
You need a valid driver’s license to drive legally in Illinois. If you’re moving from another state, you have 90 days to get an Illinois license. For first-time license applicants, Illinois requires a vision test, a written exam, and a road test.
Illinois runs a Graduated Driver Licensing program for drivers under 21. Teens can get a learner’s permit at 15 and an initial license at 16, but face restrictions on nighttime driving and passengers until turning 18.
Insurance Is Mandatory in Illinois
You and your vehicle must be covered by auto insurance to drive legally. If you’re borrowing someone else’s car in Bloomington, Joliet, or anywhere else in the state, make sure the vehicle has current insurance and keep the insurance card in the vehicle. Minimum mandatory insurance amounts in Illinois:
- $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 the property of another person.
Speed Limits in Illinois
Illinois (under 625 ILCS 5/11-601) sets different speed limits that vary by road type:
- Interstate highways and tollways: 70 mph (I-90, I-55, I-57, I-294)
- Other highways: 55 mph (US-51, Route 47, IL-29)
- Urban and residential areas: 30 mph
- School zones: 20 mph when children are present
Speed limits are taken seriously in Illinois. Going 26 to 34 mph over the limit becomes a Class B misdemeanor. If you exceed the posted limit by more than 35 mph, you’re facing a Class A misdemeanor, which can carry high fines and mandatory court appearances.
Driver’s License Point System
Illinois doesn’t use a traditional point system like some states. Instead, the Secretary of State’s office assigns point values to each traffic conviction and uses those points (along with how many violations you rack up in a given period) to decide whether to suspend or revoke your license.
The state reports most traffic tickets to the DMV, even if you have an out-of-state or international license. Illinois creates an internal record number for non-Illinois drivers, so even those whose licenses were issued elsewhere aren’t immune from consequences when they break traffic laws in the state.
Traffic Violations and License Suspension
License suspension in Illinois can happen fast. If you’re under 21, two traffic convictions within 24 months may already trigger a suspension. At 21 or older, three convictions in 12 months can do it (625 ILCS 5/6-206).
But traffic violations aren’t the only path to suspension, especially if you’re an underage driver. If you’re under 21 and police ask for your ID at a bar or club serving alcohol, and you show a fake ID, they can confiscate your license on the spot.
Getting your license back once it was suspended involves a few steps. First, you’ll need to schedule an informal hearing with a DMV hearing officer. You’ll also have to pay a reinstatement fee (costing between between $70 and $500), show proof of SR22 insurance, and possibly retake written or driving exams. And DUI convictions come with additional requirements beyond standard suspension rules.
Seat Belt and Child Safety Laws
Restraint laws in Illinois, under 625 ILCS 25/4, don’t give you much wiggle room. Everyone in the vehicle must be buckled up, and children have specific requirements based on age. Here are Illinois’ required safety restraints:
- All passengers must wear seat belts regardless of where they’re sitting
- Children under 8 must use appropriate child restraint systems
- Children under 2 must ride in rear-facing car seats
- Booster seats are required until age 8 or when the child reaches 4’9’’ tall
The penalties for violating child safety laws can go beyond fines. For example, if a child is injured in a car accident in Chicago, Springfield, or anywhere in Illinois and wasn’t properly restrained, you’re looking at serious legal consequences (potentially even criminal charges).
DUI and Distracted Driving Laws
Illinois maintains zero tolerance for drivers under 21 with any alcohol in their system. For drivers 21 and older, the legal blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.08%.
But alcohol isn’t the only concern. Illinois completely bans handheld device use behind the wheel. You can’t text, make calls, or scroll through your phone while driving. The only legal options while driving are hands-free and voice-operated features.
Getting caught using your phone means a moving violation that counts toward your suspension threshold. And if you’re driving distracted in a construction zone, the fines can double (625 ILCS 5/11-908). Construction zones are common on I-55 through Joliet and on I-90 around Rockford, where work crews frequently repair old, failing infrastructure.
Parking and Turning Rules
Illinois parking laws set clear distance requirements that can trip you up if you’re not aware of them. Stay at least 15 feet from fire hydrants, don’t park on crosswalks and intersections, or on railroad crossings (625 ILCS 5/11-1303). School zones and bus stops have designated no-parking areas.
Illinois also has specific rules for intersections:
- Right turns on red are legal after a complete stop, unless signs prohibit it.
- Yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic before turning.
- At four-way stops, the first driver to arrive goes first; if several arrive simultaneously, the driver on the right goes first.
- Pull over to the right and stop completely when emergency vehicles approach with flashing lights.
Unique Driving Rules for Illinois
Illinois has several driving rules that can catch out-of-state visitors and even throw residents off guard. Some mirror other states, but others are unique to the Land of Lincoln:
- Motorcycle headlights are required 24/7. Unlike cars, motorcycles must have their headlights on whenever operated, day or night.
- Lane splitting is illegal. Motorcycles cannot pass between lanes of traffic or ride between rows of vehicles.
- Work zone penalties doubled. Fines for speeding in construction areas are twice the normal amount. Hitting a worker can carry severe penalties.
- No rearview mirror obstructions. Hanging air fresheners or parking passes from your mirror is illegal if they block your view.
Illinois gives drivers only limited room for error. Understanding these laws and observing them can mean the difference between keeping your license and losing it.
