A new Illinois law taking effect July 1st will raise the age at which older drivers are required to take a driving test when renewing their driver’s license.
Under the Road Safety and Fairness Act, the mandatory driving test age increases from 79 to 87. Drivers age 79 and older will still be required to pass a vision test, and those with a driving violation must also complete a written exam.
Drivers ages 81 through 86 will continue to renew their licenses in person every two years. Drivers age 87 and older will still be required to renew annually and complete both a vision and driving test.
The new law also creates a process allowing immediate family members to report concerns about a loved one’s cognitive or physical ability to drive, prompting a review by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.
Illinois has some of the nation’s strictest license renewal requirements for older drivers. However, a 2023 report from Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias found drivers age 75 and older are involved in fewer crashes than any other age group.
The Road Safety and Fairness Act received bipartisan support in the General Assembly and was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in August 2025.