A major component of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ Road Safety & Fairness Act will begin next month with the elimination of the state’s mandatory behind-the-wheel driving tests for Illinois drivers ages 79 to 86.

Starting July 1, the new law raises the age at which Illinois drivers must take a driving test from 79 to 87, removing an outdated age-based requirement that made Illinois the only state in the nation to require a behind-the-wheel test solely because of a driver’s age.

Instead, the new law shifts the focus to a person’s ability to drive safely – rather than the date of their birth certificate, Giannoulias said.

“The Road Safety & Fairness Act is about replacing outdated assumptions with facts,” Giannoulias said. “Illinois seniors have consistently proven they are among the safest drivers on our roads. This law removes an unnecessary burden for older drivers while preserving strong safeguards to protect everyone who travels on our streets.”

Under the Road Safety & Fairness Act, drivers ages 79 through 86 will still be required renew their licenses in person at a DMV and pass a vision screening but will no longer be required to take a behind-the-wheel driving test solely because of their age.

Beginning July 1, renewal requirements will be as follows:

Ages 79-80: Renew every four years, in person, with a vision test. No driving test required.
Ages 81-86: Renew every two years, in person, with a vision test. No driving test required.
Ages 87 and older: Continue annual in-person renewal with a vision test and behind-the-wheel driving test. These requirements remain unchanged.

There are approximately 350,000 Illinois drivers between the ages of 79 and 86. Approximately 55,000 of those take a driving test annually. In advance of the law taking effect, the Secretary of State’s office has sent letters to those Illinois drivers whose licenses are up for renewal about the change in the law.

The law does not change requirements for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, who must continue taking a behind-the-wheel driving test beginning at age 75 and at each subsequent renewal.

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Importantly, the law strengthens road safety by creating a new process that allows immediate family members to report legitimate concerns when a loved one’s medical condition, vision impairment or driving behavior may affect their ability to drive safely. Any report is independently reviewed by the Secretary of State’s office and a driver’s license is not automatically affected simply because a report is submitted.

For years, Illinois has been the only state in the nation that requires senior drivers to have their behind-the-wheel skills tested on a regular basis. The last two states that mandated driving tests for seniors did away with them in 2011 (New Hampshire) and 2005 (Indiana).

The changes are supported by extensive safety data. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, drivers age 75 and older had a crash rate of 25.54 per 1,000 licensed drivers in 2024 – lower than every age group between 16 and 74.

The legislation also builds on a temporary policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic that raised the mandatory road test age from 75 to 79. In 2024, that change was made permanent after an office-commissioned study found no significant increase in crashes among affected age groups.

The Road Safety & Fairness Act was championed by Secretary Giannoulias and AARP Illinois and passed the General Assembly unanimously with bipartisan support, reflecting a shared commitment to treating seniors fairly while keeping Illinois roads safe.