The Secretary of State has ended mandatory driving tests for drivers as old as 86 in Illinois, saying it removes an “unnecessary burden” on them and is part of the “Safety and Fairness Act.”
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced on Wednesday that his Road Safety & Fairness Act will go into effect next month with the elimination of Illinois’ mandatory behind-the-wheel driving tests for drivers ages 79 to 86.
The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, raises the age at which Illinois drivers must take a driving test from 79 to 87.
Giannoulias says it removes an outdated age-based requirement that made Illinois the only state in the nation to require a behind-the-wheel test solely because of a driver’s age.
The new law shifts the focus to a person’s ability to drive safely rather than the date on 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“The Road Safety & Fairness Act is about replacing outdated assumptions with facts,” Giannoulias said.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,” he added.
Under the act, drivers ages 79 through 86 will still be required to 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 because of their age.
Those aged 79-80 will renew every four years in person with a vision test and those aged 81-86 will renew every two years in person with a vision test.
Those aged 87 and older will continue annual in-person renewal with a vision test and behind-the-wheel driving test.
There are approximately 350,000 Illinois drivers between the ages of 79 and 86 and approximately 55,000 of those take a driving test annually.
The Secretary of State’s office has sent letters regarding the change to those Illinois drivers whose licenses are up for renewal.
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 renewal.
The law will allow 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 will be independently reviewed by the Secretary of State’s office and a driver’s license is not automatically affected simply because a report is submitted.
Illinois has been the only state in the nation that required senior drivers to have their behind-the-wheel skills tested on a regular basis.
The last two states that mandated driving tests for seniors were New Hampshire and Indiana. New Hampshire ended the requirement in 2011 and Indiana did so in 2005.
Giannoulias said the changes are supported by extensive safety data.
The Illinois Department of Transportation reported that drivers age 75 and older had a crash rate of 25.54 per 1,000 licensed drivers in 2024, which is lower than every age group between 16 and 74.
The legislation builds on a temporary policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic that raised the mandatory road test age from 75 to 79.
Giannoulias said that the change was made permanent in 2024 after an office-commissioned study found no significant increase in crashes among affected age groups.