Driving Tests

What to Bring to the Illinois DMV for a Permit or License

informational·how to guide·Published August 23, 2026

What documents do you need at the Illinois DMV?

A first-time applicant for a standard Illinois license or state ID brings one document for each of four groups: signature (A), date of birth (B), Social Security number (C) and residency (D). One document can cover more than one group. A first REAL ID needs two residency documents. Bring hard copies: the SOS does not accept phone images or photocopies.

Where these document rules come from

The Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) sets the document rules. This guide uses the SOS document requirements page, the SOS new license and ID checklist and the SOS list of acceptable identification documents. The SOS driver's license application page, the SOS instruction permit page, the SOS Graduated Driver Licensing page and the 2025 edition of the Illinois Rules of the Road supply the other details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Illinois Secretary of State (ilsos.gov) before you drive.

The four document groups for a first license or state ID

The four document groups for a first license or state ID
Group	What it proves	What the SOS requires
A	Written signature	One document, such as a valid U.S. or foreign passport. The SOS compares the signature as part of verification.
B	Date of birth	One document with your full name and complete date of birth that the SOS can verify. A birth certificate must be an original or a certified copy with an embossed seal or stamped impression.
C	Social Security number	One document with your name and full Social Security number, such as a Social Security card, a W-2 or an SSA-1099.
D	Residency	One document with your full name and residence address. Bank statements and utility bills must be dated within 90 days of your application.

One document can do more than one job

One document may satisfy more than one group. A document from Group A, B or C that shows your full name and residence address can also serve as your Group D proof. Check the SOS lists before the visit, because SOS management may accept or refuse any document and the lists can change.

How your documents must look

Bring hard copies. The SOS scans each document, so images on a cellphone are not accepted.
Photocopies are not accepted. You may print an image of an item such as a bank statement and bring the printed copy.
Account numbers must be visible on the document.
Documents must be current and not expired, unless the SOS list notes an exception.
An instruction permit or receipt is not an acceptable identification document.
A college or university ID card is on the SOS list of unacceptable documents.

Which set of documents fits your visit?

You apply for a standard license or state ID for the first time

Bring one document for each of Groups A, B, C and D.

You want your first REAL ID

Bring one document each for Groups A, B and C, and two for Group D. This applies even if you hold or have held a standard Illinois license or ID.

You need a duplicate card

Bring one document from Group A, for a standard card or a REAL ID.

Your Illinois license or ID expired more than a year ago

You may only need documents from Groups A and D.

Your name, date of birth, Social Security number or gender changed

Bring identification that links the old information to the new information.

REAL ID or standard card: your choice

The SOS offers both a standard license or ID and a REAL ID, and the 2025 Illinois Rules of the Road says you decide which one you need. On the SOS list of acceptable documents, items marked with an asterisk are accepted for REAL ID. For the full REAL ID set, the SOS points to its REAL ID checklist.

Documents for an Illinois instruction permit

For an instruction permit, the SOS says you pay the fee, pass vision screening and the written exam, and bring proper identification documents and an SOS application. If you are enrolled in driver education, the certified instructor must sign the application. A 15-year-old also needs parent or guardian consent. The question on the youngest age for an Illinois teen permit tests the age rule, and the instruction permit guide covers the permit steps. For a license before age 18, the 2025 Illinois Rules of the Road lists the documents below.

What a driver under 18 brings for the license

Your instruction permit. You must hold it at least nine months, as the question on the minimum teen permit period shows.
Acceptable identification: one item from each of Groups A, B, C and D, the same as at any age.
The 50-hour driving log with the proper signature. A parent or guardian certifies at least 50 hours of practice driving, 10 of them at night.
Written consent from a parent or guardian who comes with you, or a completed and notarized Affidavit/Consent for Minor to Drive.
The Cooperative Driver Testing certificate, if it applies.

How the visit works

1
Use the SOS checklist
The SOS online checklist has a path for a new instruction permit. It is a guide and does not guarantee a license or ID. For special cases, call 800-252-8980.
2
Gather your paper documents
Collect your Group A, B, C and D documents, and a second Group D document if you want a REAL ID.
3
Show your documents at the DMV
At the DMV, show your identification documents and have your photo taken. If you move to Illinois, also surrender all valid out-of-state licenses, state ID cards, instruction permits and commercial driver's licenses.
4
Pass the required exams
Pass any required exams: vision screening, the written exam or the driving exam.
5
Pay the fee
Pay the fee for your license or ID. The license and permit fees guide lists the amounts.

What you receive after the visit

When you meet all the requirements, the DMV issues a temporary secure paper license valid for 90 days. It serves as your driver's license for driving and as proof of identification. The permanent card comes by mail within 15 business days.

Key takeaways

A first-time standard license or state ID needs one document for each of Groups A, B, C and D.
A first REAL ID needs one document for each of Groups A, B and C, and two for Group D.
Bring valid hard copies. Phone images and photocopies are not accepted.
A driver under 18 also needs a parent's written consent (or the notarized affidavit) and the signed 50-hour driving log.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Illinois Class D practice test.

Illinois DMV documents: common questions

Can I show my birth certificate on my phone at the Illinois DMV?

No. The SOS scans every document, so it needs hard copies and does not accept images on a cellphone. A printout of an item such as a bank statement is fine, but a photocopy is not. For a birth certificate, bring the original or a certified copy with an embossed seal or stamped impression.

Can I use my college ID as proof?

No. A college or university ID card is on the SOS list of unacceptable identification documents, and so is an instruction permit or receipt. Use an item from the acceptable list for each group instead, such as a valid passport for Group A or a W-2 for Group C.

What do I bring to renew my Illinois license?

To renew a current Illinois license or ID, the SOS asks for one document from Group A, the proof of written signature. If you also change your address, add one Group D document for a standard card, or two for a REAL ID. If your license expired more than a year ago, you may only need documents from Groups A and D.

What do I bring for a duplicate Illinois license?

For a duplicate standard card or REAL ID, the SOS asks for one document from Group A, such as a valid passport. You leave the DMV with a temporary paper license valid for 90 days, and the permanent duplicate comes by mail within 15 business days.

What do I do if my name changed?

Bring identification that links your old name to your new name. For a REAL ID, the 2025 handbook says that if your birth certificate name differs from your current legal name, you need a certified marriage certificate from the County Clerk or a court-certified name change order. Copies are not accepted.

What if my permanent card does not arrive in the mail?

The SOS mails the permanent card to your address on file within 15 business days, so make sure the address you give is correct. If the card does not arrive in that time, you can check its mailing status online or call 217-782-7044. Until then, your temporary paper license works for driving.