Moving to Illinois: Transfer Your Driver's License in 90 Days
How long do I have to get an Illinois driver's license after I move?
You can keep driving on your valid out-of-state license for 90 days as a new Illinois resident. To switch, visit a DMV (not an Express facility), surrender your old license, and pass a vision screening, a written exam and possibly a drive exam. The license costs $30 (U.S. dollars) for ages 21 to 68, as of 2026. Change your vehicle registration within 30 days.
Where these Illinois transfer rules come from
The 90-day rule, the tests and the registration deadline come from the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) drivers FAQ. The documents come from the SOS new license and ID checklist and the SOS document requirements page, and the fees come from the SOS basic fees page. The surrender rule, the photo, the temporary license and the card timing come from the SOS driver's license application page. The vision limits, the exam rules, the expiry-date rule, the student and military exemptions and the REAL ID choice come from the 2025 edition of Illinois Rules of the Road, the official handbook. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Illinois Secretary of State (ilsos.gov) before you drive.
How to transfer an out-of-state license to Illinois
- 1Count your 90 days
As a new Illinois resident, you can drive on your valid out-of-state license for 90 days. Plan your DMV visit well before the 90 days end, or before your old license expires if that comes sooner.
- 2Gather your documents
Bring proof of your signature, date of birth, Social Security number and Illinois residency. The table below shows the four document groups.
- 3Pick a DMV, not an Express facility
Express facilities do not do out-of-state transfers or give written tests, so choose a full DMV. You can schedule a DMV appointment on the SOS appointments page.
- 4Surrender your old license and take the tests
At the DMV, show your documents, have your photo taken, hand in your out-of-state license and pay the fee. Then pass the required exams: a vision screening, a written exam and, in some cases, a drive exam.
- 5Drive on the temporary paper license
You receive a temporary secure paper license that is valid for 90 days. Your permanent card comes by mail within 15 business days. If it has not come by then, check its mailing status online or call 217-782-7044.
Documents to bring for an Illinois license
| Group | What it proves | What the document must show |
|---|---|---|
| A | Written signature | Your current out-of-state driver's license is on the Group A list. |
| B | Date of birth | Your full name and complete date of birth, and it must be verifiable. |
| C | Social Security number | Your name and full Social Security number. |
| D | Illinois residency | Your full name and residence address. Examples: a utility bill issued within 90 days of your application, a lease, a mortgage or a deed. |
Hard copies and valid documents
Each document must be current and not expired, and it must be an original or a certified copy. The DMV scans every document, so it requires hard copies: photos on a cellphone and photocopies are not accepted. One document can cover more than one group. For a standard license, one document for each of Groups A, B, C and D is enough.
Vision screening limits
The 2025 handbook sets the minimum at 20/40 acuity with or without lenses. Acuity from 20/41 to 20/70 means daylight driving only, and a license without restrictions needs at least 140 degrees of peripheral vision. If you wear glasses or contacts, your license notes that you must wear them to drive. A Vision Specialist Report from an optometrist, ophthalmologist or physician, dated within six months of your visit, can replace the screening. Our free question on the Illinois vision screening benchmarks lets you check the numbers.
How many tries do you get at each exam?
You get three attempts to pass each exam within one year from the date you paid your application fee. Our question on exam attempts after one application covers this rule in practice-test form.
Illinois driver's license fee by age (2026)
| Your age | Driver's license fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 18 to 20 | $5 |
| 21 to 68 | $30 |
| 69 to 80 | $5 |
| 81 to 86 | $2 |
| 87 and older | Free |
Special cases: under 21, students, military, CDL and visitors
Check the expiry date of your old license
The 2025 handbook says you must get an Illinois license within 90 days or before your out-of-state license expires, whichever comes first. If your old license expires before day 90, its expiry date is your real deadline. Check the date on your card before you plan the visit.
Change your vehicle registration within 30 days
A car with out-of-state plates is a second task. You have 30 days to change your vehicle registration, and you do it with a form at a driver services facility. That deadline comes well before the 90-day license deadline, so plan to handle both on one DMV visit.
Key Takeaways
- You can drive on a valid out-of-state license for 90 days, or until it expires if that comes first.
- Go to a DMV, not an Express facility, with original or certified hard copies of your documents.
- Expect a vision screening and a written exam, and possibly a drive exam. You get three attempts for each exam within one year.
- Change your vehicle registration within 30 days.
- Next step: practice on the free Illinois Class D practice test (English only) before your written exam.
Moving to Illinois license questions
Can I use an online bank statement as proof of address?
Yes, if you print it. A bank statement dated within 90 days before your application counts as Group D proof of residency. The DMV accepts a printed copy of an electronic statement when the account numbers are visible. The statement must show your full name and your Illinois address.
Do I need a REAL ID when I get my Illinois license?
You choose. The 2025 handbook leaves the choice between a REAL ID and a standard license to you, and it says a U.S. passport or a REAL ID card is acceptable for domestic flights. A first REAL ID needs one document each from Groups A, B and C and two from Group D, so bring a second proof of residency if you want one.
Do I have to give up my old license?
Yes. Illinois will not issue your license or ID until you hand in every out-of-state driver's license and ID card that you hold. That includes instruction permits and commercial driver's licenses from another state. Bring all of them to the DMV visit.
Do I have to take the Illinois driving test if I already have a license?
Possibly. Every new resident takes a vision screening and a written exam, and a drive exam is possible even with a valid out-of-state license. A traffic crash or other moving violation on your driving record can also lead to written or driving exams. If you need the drive exam, the Illinois road test guide covers the vehicle rules and what is tested.
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