Illinois Proposes New Driver’s License Renewal Rules for Seniors: What You Need to Know

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Written By Blue & Gold NLR Team

 

 

Illinois is considering significant changes to its driver’s license renewal process for older adults under a new proposal from Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. The proposed legislation, the Road Safety & Fairness Act, aims to raise the age at which seniors must take a behind-the-wheel road test from 79 to 87, reducing the burden on drivers while aligning Illinois with most other states.

Currently, Illinois is the only state requiring seniors to take a road test starting at 79, a policy that would be eased under the new law. If passed, seniors between 81 and 86 would still need to visit the DMV every two years but would no longer face mandatory road tests. Instead, the renewal process would focus more on medical and cognitive factors rather than age alone.

Giannoulias emphasized that “driver ability and medical health should serve as the main determining factors” in whether someone should retain their driver’s license. A new provision would also allow immediate family members to report concerns about a loved one’s driving, triggering a possible re-evaluation.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, drivers aged 70 and older have lower crash rates than other age groups, making the current testing requirements seem unnecessary. The proposal aims to streamline the process while ensuring road safety.

The bill, co-sponsored by State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representative Jay Hoffman, has garnered support due to its potential to make Illinois’s policies more consistent with other states. This move comes after a temporary change during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the mandatory road test age was raised from 75 to 79, a change that became permanent in 2024.

 

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