How Much Does the Illinois Written Test Cost?

"How much does it cost to take the written test at the DMV?" is one of the most common questions Illinois teens and first-time drivers ask — and the answer is confusing because Illinois does not charge a separate test fee. Here is exactly how the payment works.

The Full Cost: $20

When you walk into an Illinois Secretary of State facility to apply for your instruction permit, you pay a flat $20 fee. That one payment includes:

• Your instruction permit application
• Vision screening at the counter
• The 35-question written knowledge exam
• Your physical permit card if you pass everything

There is no separate "test fee" on top of the $20. If you walk in and only want to take the written test without applying for a permit, you still pay the $20 because the test is tied to the application.

What Happens If You Fail the Test

This is where Illinois is surprisingly generous. If you fail the written test on your first try, you do not have to pay again to retake it. Under Illinois rules:

• Your $20 application fee gives you three attempts to pass the written test.
• These three attempts must be used within one year of your application.
• If you fail your first attempt, you may be able to retake the test the same day within normal business hours, depending on your specific facility's rules.
• If you need more time to study, you can return on a later day — usually as soon as the next business day.

If you burn through all three attempts without passing, you have to start over with a new application and another $20.

What Costs Actually Come Later

The $20 instruction permit fee is only the beginning. Here is the full cost of becoming a fully licensed Illinois driver:

What You Get for Your $20

The $20 Illinois instruction permit fee is a bundled price that actually gives you a lot for the money:

• The full application and identity verification process
• Your vision screening at the counter
• Up to three attempts at the 35-question written knowledge test
• Your photo and the printed physical permit card
• A one-year application window to pass the test

When you break that down, $20 for three exam attempts and an issued permit card works out to less than $7 per test attempt — a low cost of entry for starting the Illinois driver licensing process.

How to Make Sure You Pass the First Time

The cheapest written test is the one you pass on the first try. A few tips:

• Read the Illinois Rules of the Road. Not skim — read. The manual is available free from the Secretary of State.
• Take free practice tests. Most people who fail thought they were ready but had not actually tested themselves under real conditions.
• Focus on road signs. 15 of the 35 questions are sign-based. If you nail all 15, you only need 13 correct out of 20 on the laws section to pass.
• Do not rush. The test is not timed in a way that should create pressure. Read each question twice.
• Do not look around or check your phone. This is explicitly forbidden and results in automatic failure plus a 30-day retake ban.

What Happens During the Exam

You take the written test at the Secretary of State facility, usually on a computer at an exam station. An examiner will get you set up. The test has 35 multiple-choice and true/false questions. You need 28 correct (80%) to pass. Results are given immediately. If you pass, you pay the $20 fee at the cashier (if you have not already), get your photo taken, and walk out with a permit the same day.

Frequently Asked Questions