Teen curfews, passenger limits and phone rules

Key points

1. Permit and initial license curfew: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Nighttime driving restrictions: Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may differ).”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 18

2. During the nine month permit phase you must avoid any driving infractions, underage alcohol convictions or court supervision.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Must not acquire any driving infractions, underage alcohol convictions, or court supervisions during the nine-month permit phase.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 18

3. For the first 12 months of licensing or until 18, you may carry only one passenger under 20 unless they are family.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “For the first 12 months of licensing, or until the driver turns 18, whichever occurs first, the number of passengers is limited to one person under age 20, unless the passenger(s) is a sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild of the driver.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 18

4. You must keep a conviction-free record for six months before turning 18.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months before turning 18.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 18

5. Any phone use while driving, even hands-free, is banned under 19, except to call police, a health care provider or emergency services.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Any wireless/cellphone use while driving, including a hands-free device, is prohibited for a driver under age 19, except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health care provider, or emergency services agency.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 18

6. A driver under 21 convicted of two or more moving violations in 24 months faces at least a 30 day suspension.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “A driver under age 21 convicted of two or more moving violations within a 24-month period will face a minimum 30-day suspension of their driver’s license.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 20

7. A parent or guardian who gave consent may cancel a minor's license at any time until the driver turns 18.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “The parent/legal guardian who gave initial consent may cancel the minor’s license at any time, for any reason, until the driver turns 18”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 19

8. A driver under 21 is limited to one court supervision for serious traffic offenses.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “A driver under age 21 is limited to one court supervision for serious traffic offenses.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 19

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Illinois practice test

1. 1. During the Illinois permit phase, what nighttime driving restriction is listed for Sunday through Thursday?

   1. Driving is restricted from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m.
   2. Driving is restricted from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.
   3. Driving is restricted from midnight until 5 a.m.
   4. No nighttime restriction applies during the permit phase
   Show answer

   Driving is restricted from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.. For the permit phase, Illinois lists a Sunday-through-Thursday restriction from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday have a different starting time, 11 p.m., so treating every night identically loses an important detail. The permit phase is not unrestricted after dark. A useful memory aid is earlier on school-night-type evenings and one hour later on Friday and Saturday. Local curfews may differ, so a posted or local requirement can be stricter.

2. 2. During the first 12 months of Illinois initial licensing, how many passengers under 20 are generally allowed?

   1. Two people under 20
   2. One person under 20
   3. Three people under 20
   4. No passengers under 20
   Show answer

   One person under 20. For the first 12 months of licensing, or until the driver turns 18, Illinois limits the vehicle to one person under age 20. The rule has an important family exception for a sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild of the driver. Two and three passengers exceed the ordinary limit, while no passengers is stricter than the manual requires. On a test, identify the one-person baseline first, then check whether the listed passenger falls within the family exception.

3. 3. What cellphone rule applies to an Illinois driver under age 19?

   1. Only texting is prohibited; hands-free calls are always allowed
   2. Hands-free use is required but otherwise unrestricted
   3. All wireless or cellphone use while driving is prohibited, including hands-free use, subject to an emergency exception
   4. Cellphone use is allowed if the vehicle is moving below 15 mph
   Show answer

   All wireless or cellphone use while driving is prohibited, including hands-free use, subject to an emergency exception. Illinois prohibits any wireless or cellphone use while driving for a driver under 19, including hands-free use. The manual allows an exception for an emergency contact with law enforcement, a health care provider, or emergency services. The texting-only answer narrows the ban too far, and the hands-free answer reverses the rule by treating hands-free use as generally permitted. Vehicle speed does not create a listed exception. Age is the first cue, then remember that hands-free technology does not remove the under-19 prohibition.

Source: the Illinois Rules of the Road, Chapter 3: Drivers Under Age 21. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.