Illinois Driver's License Fees: Permit and License Cost (2026)
How much is a permit or a driver's license in Illinois?
An original Illinois Class D instruction permit costs $20, and a renewal permit costs $10. A driver's license costs $30 for ages 21 to 68, $5 for ages 18 to 20 and 69 to 80, $2 for ages 81 to 86, and nothing at 87 and older. A duplicate or corrected license costs $5 for most drivers. These are Illinois Secretary of State fees as of 2026.
Where the Illinois fee amounts come from
The amounts come from the Illinois Secretary of State fee page, as published in September 2026. The permit and license fees are set by 625 ILCS 5/6-118 in the Illinois Vehicle Code. License terms and replacement steps come from the Secretary of State driver's license page. Other details come from Secretary of State pages on instruction permits, graduated licensing, reinstatement and online renewal, and from the 2025 Illinois Rules of the Road handbook. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Illinois Secretary of State (ilsos.gov) before you drive.
Illinois driver's license fee by age
| Your age | License fee | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 20 | $5 | Expires three months after your 21st birthday |
| 21 to 68 | $30 | 4 years, expires on your birthday |
| 69 to 80 | $5 | 4 years, expires on your birthday |
| 81 to 86 | $2 | 4 years, expires on your birthday |
| 87 and older | Free | Renew every year |
How much is an Illinois instruction permit?
An original Class D instruction permit costs $20, and a renewal permit costs $10. Under 625 ILCS 5/6-118, a person under 69 who held an Illinois permit or license before, but holds none now, pays $10.
If you get your license before the permit expires, you may not need to pay another fee: the law charges nothing extra for a license of the same type. A permit issued under age 18 is valid for two years and must be held for at least nine months before the license. From age 18, the permit is valid for one year. The Illinois instruction permit guide has the steps to get one.
When do you pay again? License terms and renewal
A 4-year renewal costs $30 from ages 21 to 68. From age 69, the lower fees in the table above apply to every license, renewals included. You can renew up to one year before a 4-year license expires, or 6 months before a one-year license expires. Drivers 87 and older renew every year at no fee; the guide to the senior driver road test at 87 has the other steps at that age.
When you renew online, a payment processor fee applies to credit card payments. The processor fee for e-checks is waived.
Other Illinois license fees
- Duplicate or corrected driver's license or permit: $5 for most drivers. The free cases for a duplicate are below.
- Duplicate or corrected temporary 90-day license: $5.
- Add a new license classification outside renewal (not a CDL): $5.
- Five-year State ID card: $20 for ages 18 to 64 and $5 under age 18.
When is a duplicate license free?
Illinois reinstatement fees after a suspension or revocation
| What happened | Reinstatement fee |
|---|---|
| Discretionary suspension (from court convictions or other sufficient evidence) | $70 |
| Failure to appear suspension | $70 |
| Mandatory insurance conviction suspension | $100 |
| One statutory summary suspension | $250 |
| Two or more statutory summary suspensions | $500 |
| Any revocation | $500 |
How do you pay a reinstatement fee?
Many fees can be paid on the Secretary of State website. When you pay online, your driving record updates at once and you get a confirmation receipt by email. A $70, $250 or $500 reinstatement fee can also be paid by mail with a check, cashier's check or money order made payable to the Secretary of State.
A teen in the initial licensing phase of the Graduated Driver Licensing program who is suspended also pays the $70 fee. That driver must attend a remedial education course and may be retested.
Key takeaways
- An original Illinois Class D instruction permit costs $20. A renewal permit costs $10.
- A license costs $30 for ages 21 to 68, $5 for ages 18 to 20 and 69 to 80, $2 for ages 81 to 86, and nothing at 87 and older.
- If you get your license before the permit expires, you may not need to pay another fee.
- A duplicate or corrected license costs $5 for most drivers. Reinstatement costs $70, $100, $250 or $500, depending on the case.
- Next step: practice for the written exam on the free Illinois Class D practice test.
Illinois license and permit fees: common questions
How much is a copy of my driving record in Illinois?
A certified abstract of an Illinois driving record costs $20. A parent or legal guardian of a driver under 18 who holds an instruction permit or a graduated license can see that teen's driving record online for free.
How much does it cost to change the address on my Illinois license?
A corrected license, with a change such as a new address or name, costs $5, or $2 at ages 81 to 86, and nothing at 87 and older. By law, you must tell the Secretary of State about the change within 10 days. You can send an address change online, but you must still visit a DMV before your license expires to update the card.
Can I pay an Illinois reinstatement fee in person?
Yes, but the place depends on the fee. The $70 Zero Tolerance fee and the $250 and $500 fees for statutory summary suspensions and revocations go only to the Springfield office. Other reinstatement fees can be paid in person in Springfield or at the Chicago Flagship Center, 125 W. Monroe. Some DMVs also process reinstatement fees.
How much does it cost to get a license at 18 in Illinois?
A license for ages 18 to 20 costs $5, and it expires three months after your 21st birthday. If you did not take an approved driver education course in high school, you must first complete a 6-hour Adult Driver Education Course. The provider you choose sets the price of that course.
Does a REAL ID cost more than a standard Illinois license?
No. The 2025 Illinois Rules of the Road handbook says a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card costs the same as a standard one. So the license fee for your age, from $30 for ages 21 to 68 down to nothing at 87 and older, applies to either card.
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