Illinois cancels mandatory driving test for elderly drivers aged 79-86
Drivers in Illinois aged 79 to 86 have received significant relief thanks to a decision by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Starting July 1, the state eliminates the requirement to take a practical driving test for this age group, raising the age threshold for the mandatory test to 87 years.
According to the Road Safety and Fairness Act, initiated by Giannoulias, drivers aged 79-80 will need to renew their licenses every 4 years and undergo a vision test, but will no longer be required to take a practical exam. Additionally, drivers aged 81-86 must renew their licenses in person every two years and also undergo a vision test. However, the previous requirement to take a driving test for them has also been abolished.
When a driver in Illinois turns 87 or older, they must renew their license annually, undergo a vision test, and take a practical driving exam. The state stated that the previous age-based requirement for all drivers over 79 to take a driving test was “outdated” and made Illinois the only state in the U.S. that required “on-road testing solely due to a driver’s age.”
State officials noted that the new law shifts the focus to whether a person can safely operate a vehicle, rather than their age.
Are older drivers safer?
Currently, Illinois has approximately 350,000 drivers aged 79 to 86 who will no longer be required to take age-based driving tests to prove they can still drive safely. State officials report that about 55,000 drivers in this age group took such a test annually.
According to Giannoulias,
“Illinois seniors have consistently proven that they are among the safest drivers on our roads,” adding that “this law removes an unnecessary burden for older drivers while maintaining robust safeguards to protect everyone traveling on our streets.”
He also noted that the Road Safety and Fairness Act aims to “replace outdated assumptions with facts.”
Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows that drivers aged 75 and older had an accident rate of 25.54 per 1,000 licensed drivers in 2024, the lowest rate among all age groups from 16 to 74.
Image: GM
This decision is based on statistical data that debunks the stereotype that older drivers pose a higher risk on the road. On the contrary, official Illinois statistics show that drivers over 75 have the lowest accident rate among all age groups. Abolishing the mandatory test for the 79-86 age group not only reduces the administrative burden but also recognizes that driving safety depends on individual skills and health conditions, not just age. At the same time, requirements for regular license renewal and vision tests remain in place, and for the oldest drivers (87+), an annual mandatory exam remains, ensuring a balance between convenience and road safety.