PermitoIllinois permit test
The Illinois knowledge test has 35 questions and you need 28 correct to pass (80%). Source: ilga.gov, checked October 17, 2026.
Test facts
| What | Number | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions on the test | 35 | ilga.gov | |
| Pass mark | 80% (28 of 35 correct) | ilga.gov |
Illinois laws and handbook points
Points from Illinois law and the Illinois driver handbook, each taken from one of our Illinois practice questions with its source. Practice material, not the state test.
Permits and graduated licensing
A first-time driver aged 18 to 20 with no driver education must take which class?
Answer: A six-hour adult driver education course from a certified provider. Drivers aged 18 to 20 who skipped driver education take a six-hour adult course. A certified school runs it.
Other choices: No course, but a second road test instead. The adult course is required, and no second road test substitutes for it. A one-day defensive driving class run by an insurer. A defensive driving class is for insurance discounts and is not the licensing course.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 6-107.5; Driver handbook, Chapter 3: Drivers Under Age 21.
Alcohol and drugs
You carry legally bought cannabis in your car. How must you store it?
Answer: In a sealed, odor-proof, child-resistant case. Cannabis in a car must be in a sealed, odor-proof, child-resistant case. No one may use it inside the vehicle.
Other choices: In a plastic bag placed inside the cup holder. A plastic bag is not an odor-proof, child-resistant container. Anywhere in the car, if it is out of sight. Being out of sight does not meet the container rule in the law.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-502.15; 410 ILCS 705 10-35; Driver handbook, Chapter 6: Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
Insurance
Which set matches the Illinois minimum liability limits for one person, two or more people, and property?
Answer: $25,000, $50,000 and $20,000. The state minimums are $25,000 for one hurt person, $50,000 for two or more hurt people, and $20,000 for property damage.
Other choices: $50,000, $100,000 and $50,000. These amounts are higher than the legal minimum, which is lower. $20,000, $40,000 and $25,000. The person and property amounts are mixed up in this set.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 7-203; Driver handbook, Chapter 13: Owning a Vehicle.
Speed and following distance
You are following a truck on a wet road at highway speed. How closely may you follow under Illinois law?
Answer: No closer than is reasonable and prudent for conditions. The law asks for a gap that is reasonable and prudent. Wet roads and high speed call for more room than usual.
Other choices: Within one car length for every 10 mph, in any weather. This rule of thumb is not how the statute is written, and it ignores road conditions. Within 50 feet, since trucks block the wind and reduce drag. Close following removes the room needed to stop and is not allowed.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-710; Driver handbook, Chapter 11: Safe Driving Tips.
Parking
You want to park beside the curb 12 feet from an intersection crosswalk. Is that allowed?
Answer: No, the space must be at least 20 feet from the crosswalk. Parking is banned within 20 feet of an intersection crosswalk. A parked car closer than that hides people who are about to cross.
Other choices: Yes, any gap over 10 feet from the crosswalk is allowed. Ten feet is not the legal gap, and a car that near still blocks the view of walkers. Yes, if no walkers are in the crosswalk right now. The gap rule does not depend on whether anyone is crossing at the moment.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-1303; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Traffic Laws.
Right of way
What does a railroad crossbuck sign tell you to do?
Answer: Yield to any train, and stop if one is near. A crossbuck works like a yield sign. Slow down, look and listen, and let any train go first.
Other choices: Treat the crossing as closed to traffic. The sign marks a crossing, and it does not close the road. Speed up to clear the tracks as quickly as you can. Speeding up invites a collision.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-1201; Driver handbook, Chapter 10: Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings.
Sharing the road
How much space must a driver leave when passing a bicyclist on the road?
Answer: At least 3 feet of clearance. A driver must leave at least 3 feet when passing a bicycle or a person walking along the road, until safely past.
Other choices: Only 2 feet, if no cars come. The law requires more room than this. Only 1 foot, if you slow down. One foot is too close to a rider on a bicycle.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-703; Driver handbook, Chapter 5: Sharing the Road.
Emergencies
You are stopped at a red light with no room to pull right. A fire truck with its siren on approaches. What should you do?
Answer: Stay stopped until the fire truck has gone through. The law says to pull to the right edge, clear of any intersection, and stop if needed. When you cannot pull over, stay at the line until the emergency vehicle passes.
Other choices: Drive on through the intersection to clear the way for it. Entering the intersection risks a collision with the fire truck or other traffic. Back up a few feet and wait for the green light. Backing up adds risk and does not clear a path for the truck.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-907; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Traffic Laws.
Turns and lanes
You are on a rural highway outside any town and plan to turn left. How far ahead must you signal?
Answer: At least 200 feet. Outside towns, give a turn signal for at least 200 feet. Cars move faster there, so other drivers need more warning.
Other choices: At least 100 feet. One hundred feet is the town distance, which is shorter than the rural rule. Only when you begin to slow. The law sets a distance, not a moment tied to braking.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-804; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Traffic Laws.
Traffic signals
What does a flashing red signal at an intersection mean?
Answer: Stop, yield to other traffic, and go on when it is safe. A flashing red light means the same as a stop sign. Stop, give way, and go when the way is clear.
Other choices: The signal is broken, so drive on through it quickly. A flashing red is a deliberate signal to stop. Stop and wait for the light to turn green before going. A flashing red does not turn green; you go when the way is clear.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-309; Driver handbook, Chapter 10: Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings.
- Questions in this list were last updated .
What the Illinois question bank covers
Questions in Permito’s Illinois bank, by topic. The counts describe the bank, not the state test.
| Topic | Questions in the bank |
|---|---|
| Road signs | 359 |
| Right of way | 69 |
| Safe driving | 58 |
| Alcohol and drugs | 52 |
| Speed and following distance | 45 |
| Turns and lanes | 44 |
| Permits and graduated licensing | 37 |
| Sharing the road | 37 |
| Traffic signals | 35 |
| Pavement markings | 32 |
| Emergencies | 26 |
| Parking | 26 |
| Insurance | 13 |
Where these numbers come from
Each number was read on the agency page linked beside it. The count of correct answers is the agency’s percentage, rounded up.
Practice
- Try the Illinois practice questions. Questions with the answer, the explanation and the source.
- Compare all states
Road signs
Sign questions are part of the Illinois bank too. The road sign reference shows every sign Permito teaches, with its name and what it means. See all road signs.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Illinois permit test?
The test has 35 questions. Source: ilga.gov, checked October 17, 2026.
What score do I need to pass the Illinois permit test?
You need 28 correct answers out of 35, which is 80%. Source: ilga.gov, checked October 17, 2026.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the agency page at ilga.gov, which we checked on October 17, 2026. Permito is not part of any government agency.
Are the practice questions on Permito from the Illinois test?
No. They are our own practice questions, written from the Illinois driver handbook and vehicle code. Permito is not affiliated with any DMV or government agency.
You are 19 and want your first license, but you skipped driver education. What must you finish first?
A six-hour adult course from a certified provider in this state. A first-time applicant aged 18 to 20 with no driver education must finish a six-hour adult course. A certified provider must teach it. Sources: 625 ILCS 5 6-107.5; Driver handbook, Chapter 3: Drivers Under Age 21.
You are a passenger in a car with an opened wine bottle in the passenger area. Is that legal?
No, it must be in its original sealed container. Alcohol in the passenger area must be sealed in its original container. An opened bottle is illegal there, even if it is recapped. Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-502; Driver handbook, Chapter 6: Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
What insurance must every Illinois driver carry?
Liability coverage for injury and damage to others. Every driver needs liability insurance. It pays for harm you do to other people and their things. Other kinds are up to you. Sources: 625 ILCS 5 3-707; 625 ILCS 5 7-601; 625 ILCS 5 7-602; Driver handbook, Chapter 13: Owning a Vehicle.
How closely may an Illinois driver follow another vehicle?
No closer than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions. Illinois does not set one fixed gap. The gap must be safe for your speed, the traffic and the road, so leave more room when the road is wet. Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-710; Driver handbook, Chapter 11: Safe Driving Tips.
You find a space on a city street, but a fire hydrant is 10 feet ahead. May you park?
No, you must stay at least 15 feet from the hydrant. Do not park within 15 feet of a hydrant, even if you stay in the car. Firefighters need that space to connect their hoses. Sources: 625 ILCS 5 11-1303; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Traffic Laws.
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