Illinois license renewal for older drivers
Licenses are valid 4 years; drivers 81-86 get 2-year licenses. As of July 1, 2026, drivers 87 and older must renew every year and take a driving exam at each renewal. Everyone renewing at a facility takes a vision screening. Drivers with traffic convictions must take a written exam every 8 years. License fees: $5 (ages 69-80), $2 (81-86), free (87 and older).
Preparing for the renewal test
If you need to take a written or signs test to renew, it covers the same handbook as new drivers' tests. Our Illinois practice tests and road signs test are free to use, and the read-aloud button can help if small print is hard to read.
Rules that may have changed since you first got your license
Some of the rules in today's Illinois handbook are newer than many drivers' first test. Worth a look before renewal:
- Phones: Handheld phone use, texting and other electronic communication are banned for all drivers; hands-free/Bluetooth is allowed only at 19 and older. Holding the phone on speaker, video streaming, video calls and social media are violations. Handheld use is allowed only to report an emergency, while parked on the shoulder, or while stopped by obstructed traffic in neutral or park. Drivers under 19 may not use any phone, even hands-free, except for emergencies. Phone use is banned in work zones and school zones unless hands-free (single-sided headset allowed), and within 500 feet of an emergency scene.
- Move over: Approaching a stationary emergency or maintenance vehicle with flashing blue, red, amber, white or green lights, or an emergency scene: yield, change to a lane away from it when possible, otherwise slow to a safe speed and keep it low until past. Approaching emergency vehicles using lights and siren: pull to the right and stop if needed. Disabled vehicles with hazard lights on four-lane highways: change lanes away if safe, otherwise slow down.
- School buses: Stop before meeting or passing a school bus stopped to load or unload, on any road, highway, private road or school parking lot, and stay stopped until the stop arm is retracted and the lights are off or the driver signals. Exception: you need not stop on a four-lane roadway when the bus is stopped facing the opposite direction. Buses warn at least 100 feet ahead (200 feet in rural areas). Penalty: license suspension, a mandatory $300 fine and community service.
- Alcohol: the limit for adult drivers is 0.08%.
Vision standard
Minimum visual acuity 20/40 with or without corrective lenses; acuity between 20/41 and 20/70 is limited to daylight driving only. At least 140 degrees of peripheral vision. A Vision Specialist Report from an optometrist, ophthalmologist or physician dated within 6 months may be submitted instead of the DMV screening.
Source: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department, checked 2026-10-27.