A new Illinois law taking effect July 1st will change driver’s license renewal requirements for older motorists, raising the age at which a driving test is required.
The measure, known as the Road Safety and Fairness Act, increases the threshold for mandatory driving tests from age 79 to 87. Drivers 79 and older will still be required to pass a vision test, and those with traffic violations may also be required to take a written exam.
Under the new law, drivers ages 81 through 86 will renew their licenses in person every two years. Drivers 87 and older will continue to renew annually and must complete both vision and driving tests, with those requirements unchanged.
The law also establishes a process allowing immediate family members to report concerns about an older driver’s cognitive or physical health, triggering a state review.
Illinois officials note the state continues to have some of the strictest renewal standards for older drivers, although a 2023 report from Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias shows drivers age 75 and older are involved in the fewest crashes of any age group.
The legislation passed with bipartisan support in May 2025 and was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in August.