Driving Tests

Illinois Teen Driver Penalties: Zero Tolerance and Suspensions

informational·how to guide·Published May 2, 2026

What happens if an Illinois teen driver gets a ticket or has alcohol in the body?

A moving violation conviction before age 18 brings a Secretary of State warning letter, and two convictions in 24 months mean at least a one-month suspension. Under 21, a chemical test result above 0.00 means a 3- or 12-month zero tolerance suspension, and refusing the test means 6 or 24 months. A DUI conviction under 21 means revocation for at least 2 years.

Where the Illinois teen penalty rules come from

The penalties come from the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) pages on Graduated Driver Licensing, the Drivers FAQ and the driver's license fee table. The Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/6-107, 6-110 and 6-108.1) and the SOS handbook Illinois Rules of the Road give the law and the details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Illinois Secretary of State (ilsos.gov) before you drive.

Illinois teen driver penalties at a glance

Illinois teen driver penalties at a glance
What happened	What happens next
Moving violation conviction on an instruction permit	A 9-month wait before the teen can apply for a driver's license.
First moving violation conviction before age 18 (licensed)	A Secretary of State warning letter to the parent and the teen.
Moving violation conviction in the first year of licensing	The passenger limit gets 6 more months.
Two moving violation convictions in 24 months	A driver's license suspension of at least one month.
Refusing the chemical test under 21	A 6- or 24-month suspension.
Chemical test result above 0.00 under 21	A 3- or 12-month suspension.
Alcohol violation in a vehicle under 21 (conviction)	6 months for a first conviction, 12 months for a second, revocation for a third or later.
DUI conviction under 21	Revocation for at least 2 years for a first offense.

What happens to a teen on an instruction permit who gets a ticket?

On a permit, a moving violation conviction means a 9-month waiting period before the teen can apply for a driver's license. Under 625 ILCS 5/6-107, a conviction for breaking the graduated license law itself brings the same 9-month bar for an applicant under 18.

A teen who is caught driving without a permit cannot get a driver's license until age 18.

What are the penalties for a licensed teen with a ticket?

First moving violation conviction before age 18: a Secretary of State warning letter goes to the parent and the teen.
Conviction in the first year of licensing: the limit of one unrelated passenger under 20 lasts 6 months longer.
Two convictions in 24 months: a suspension of at least one month. The length depends on how serious the offenses are and on the driver's history.
Each later moving violation: another suspension.

What does court supervision mean for a teen?

To get court supervision for a traffic violation, a driver under 18 must appear in court with a parent or legal guardian and must also attend traffic safety school. A driver gets only one court supervision for serious driving offenses. Under the law, a teen under 18 with a traffic ticket that the court has not yet decided cannot be issued a graduated driver's license.

What is the Illinois zero tolerance law for drivers under 21?

Zero tolerance covers every driver under 21. After an arrest for any Illinois Vehicle Code violation, the officer asks for a chemical test if there is reason to believe the driver drank any amount of alcohol. Two outcomes are possible:

- The driver refuses the test: a 6- or 24-month suspension.
- The test shows a blood alcohol concentration above 0.00: a 3- or 12-month suspension.

Practice this rule on the free question page about the Illinois under-21 alcohol rule.

What happens after a DUI conviction under 21?

Adult, first DUI conviction: revocation for at least one year. Illinois is stricter with a driver who is under 21 at the time of the conviction.
Under 21, first offense: revocation for at least 2 years.
Under 21, second offense: at least 5 years or until age 21, whichever is longer.
Under 21, third offense: at least 10 years.
Under 21, fourth or later offense: lifetime revocation. A revocation takes driving privileges away indefinitely.

What are the penalties for alcohol in a vehicle under 21?

A driver under 21 who is found guilty of, or gets court supervision for, illegally drinking, having, buying or receiving alcohol loses driving privileges when the offense happened in a vehicle. This comes on top of any fine.
Court supervision for the offense means a 3-month suspension.
A first conviction means a 6-month suspension, a second conviction means 12 months, and a third or later conviction means revocation.
Drinking alcohol in a car is illegal for anyone, and the driver and passengers may get a traffic citation. An opened alcohol container in the passenger area is also illegal. The question page on an opened alcohol container in the passenger area tests this rule.

What does it cost to get a suspended teen license back?

A teen under 18 whose license is suspended under the graduated license rules must take a remedial education course, may have to retake tests, and pays a reinstatement fee of $70 (U.S. dollars). The fee table also lists $70 for a zero tolerance suspension and $500 for any revocation, including a DUI revocation.

The $70 zero tolerance fee and the $500 revocation fee can be paid only to the Springfield office. The Illinois license and permit fees guide lists the other SOS fees.

Street racing, serious crashes and parent consent

Street racing: a conviction means revocation of driving privileges, and police may impound the vehicle for up to 5 days.
Serious crash charge: if a driver under 18 is charged over a crash that killed or seriously hurt someone, the Secretary of State may deny a driver's license while the charges are pending.
Parent consent: a parent or legal guardian can withdraw consent for a minor's license at any time, for any reason, until the driver turns 18.

Key takeaways

A moving violation conviction on a permit means a 9-month wait to apply for a license. Two moving violation convictions in 24 months on a license mean a suspension of at least one month.
Under 21, a chemical test result above 0.00 means a 3- or 12-month suspension, and refusing the test means 6 or 24 months.
A DUI conviction under 21 means revocation for at least 2 years, and alcohol offenses stay on the record for life.
Getting the license back costs a $70 reinstatement fee after a teen or zero tolerance suspension, and $500 after a revocation.
Next step: practice the rules on the free Illinois Class D practice test.

Illinois teen driver penalties: common questions

Can a parent stop a teen from driving in Illinois?

Yes. Until the teen turns 18, a parent or legal guardian can ask the Secretary of State's office to cancel consent for the license, for any reason. Driving privileges come back only when that parent consents again or the teen turns 18. The teen must then reapply, retake the required tests and pay the fees.

Does a first ticket suspend a teen's license in Illinois?

No. For a driver under 18, the first moving violation conviction brings a warning letter from the Secretary of State to the parent and the teen. In the first year of licensing, it also keeps the passenger limit in place for 6 more months. A suspension of at least one month starts with the second conviction within 24 months.

Can a teen with an Illinois instruction permit get a hardship permit?

No. In the permit phase, a teen is not eligible for any hardship permit. A moving violation conviction in that phase also delays the first license: the teen must wait 9 months before applying. A teen who drives with no permit at all cannot get a license until age 18.

What happens if a teen breaks the Illinois driving curfew?

A driver under 18 who breaks the night driving limit may have driving privileges suspended. The limit runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. By law, the license is not valid in those hours unless an exception applies, and local curfews may differ. The guide to Illinois graduated license rules lists the exceptions.

Can a teen lose their license for having alcohol in the car without drinking?

Yes. For a driver under 21, the penalty covers illegal possession of alcohol, not only drinking. When the offense happens in a vehicle, court supervision means a 3-month suspension, and a first conviction means 6 months. An opened alcohol container in the passenger area is also illegal.

How long does an underage DUI stay on an Illinois driving record?

For life. Alcohol and drug offenses stay on an Illinois driving record permanently. A DUI conviction under 21 also brings a revocation of at least 2 years for a first offense, and a revocation takes driving privileges away indefinitely. Getting a license back after any revocation costs a $500 reinstatement fee.