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Illinois permit practice: 20 free questions

Choose an answer, then check the explanation and its handbook source. These are Steerlet practice questions, not the official test or its exact format.

Written from Illinois Rules of the Road (2026). Independently checked .

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Question 1 of 20

All the traffic lights at an intersection have stopped working. No officer is directing traffic. What must you do?

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Correct answer: B. Stop completely and use the rules for an all-way stop.

Treat a signal outage as a stop for every approach. After stopping, check for traffic and yield before entering.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 10: Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings — Traffic Signals, PDF page 80. Checked .

Question 2 of 20

Two solid white lines separate your lane from another lane going the same way. May you cross those lines to change lanes?

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Correct answer: C. No, crossing this pair of lines is prohibited.

A pair of unbroken white lane lines must not be crossed. This rule differs from the guidance for a single solid white line.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 10: Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings — Pavement Markings — White Lane Lines, PDF page 82. Checked .

Question 3 of 20

You and a driver to your right reach an intersection at the same time. There are no traffic signs or signals. Who must yield?

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Correct answer: A. You must let the driver on your right go first.

For simultaneous arrivals at an uncontrolled intersection, the left-hand driver gives way. The vehicle approaching from your right has priority.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 4: Traffic Laws — Right of Way, PDF page 29. Checked .

Question 4 of 20

You are leaving an urban driveway that crosses a sidewalk. Where must you make the required stop?

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Correct answer: B. Before your vehicle enters the sidewalk area.

Stop before reaching the sidewalk when leaving this driveway. Then give pedestrians and road traffic priority before pulling out.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 4: Traffic Laws — Special Stops — Alleys/Driveways, PDF page 37. Checked .

Question 5 of 20

You plan to turn on a residential street in Illinois. For at least how far before the turn must your signal stay on?

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Correct answer: B. 100 feet.

In residential or business areas, keep the turn signal on through at least the final 100 feet before turning. Outside those areas, the minimum is 200 feet.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 4: Traffic Laws — Signaling, PDF page 33. Checked .

Question 6 of 20

After passing on a two-lane highway, you must be back in your own lane before you come within what distance of an oncoming vehicle?

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Correct answer: C. 200 feet.

Finish the pass and return to your side before the approaching vehicle is within 200 feet. Begin only when the opposing lane is visible and clear far enough ahead.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 4: Traffic Laws — Passing, PDF page 31. Checked .

Question 7 of 20

On a school day at 8 a.m., children are present in a posted school zone. What speed limit applies?

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Correct answer: A. 20 mph.

The school-zone limit is 20 mph when the posted zone has children present on a school day during the stated hours, 6:30 a.m. through 4 p.m.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 4: Traffic Laws — Speed Limits, PDF page 27. Checked .

Question 8 of 20

In good weather on a good road, the car ahead passes a fixed landmark. How long should you wait before your car reaches that same point?

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Correct answer: C. At least three seconds.

Use a three-second time gap in good conditions. Allow a longer gap when the road or weather makes driving more difficult.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 11: Safe Driving Tips — Following Distances, PDF page 86. Checked .

Question 9 of 20

When you parallel park along the right curb of a street with two-way traffic, what is the greatest allowed distance between the curb and your right wheels?

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Correct answer: A. 12 inches.

Keep the right wheels parallel to the curb and no farther than 12 inches away. Park facing the direction of travel.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 4: Traffic Laws — Parking — Parallel Parking, PDF page 38. Checked .

Question 10 of 20

What is the minimum distance you must leave between a parked vehicle and a fire hydrant?

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Correct answer: B. 15 feet.

Parking or standing within 15 feet of a hydrant is forbidden. Keep that space clear even when you stay inside the vehicle.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 4: Traffic Laws — Prohibited Stopping, Standing, or Parking, PDF page 38. Checked .

Question 11 of 20

You are about to pass a bicyclist, but your side mirror would be only 2 feet from the rider. What should you do?

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Correct answer: C. Wait until you can pass safely with at least 3 feet of clearance.

Allow at least 3 feet from the edge of your side mirror when passing a bicycle. If that space is unavailable, wait for a safe opportunity.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 5: Sharing the Road — Bicycles, PDF page 46. Checked .

Question 12 of 20

A motorcycle is ahead in your lane. The lane looks wide enough for your car to fit alongside it. What should you do?

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Correct answer: A. Leave the rider the full lane rather than driving alongside within it.

A rider is entitled to the whole lane and needs space to maneuver. Lane width does not give a car permission to squeeze alongside.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 5: Sharing the Road — Motorcycles — Lane Sharing, PDF page 44. Checked .

Question 13 of 20

If you must drive in fog, which headlight setting is recommended?

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Correct answer: B. Low beams or fog lights.

Choose low beams or fog lights for foggy travel. Reduce your speed and leave more space ahead because visibility is limited.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 11: Safe Driving Tips — Weather Conditions — Fog, PDF page 87. Checked .

Question 14 of 20

Heavy rain has flooded the road ahead, and you cannot tell how deep the water is. What should you do?

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Correct answer: C. Turn back and take a different route.

Do not enter a flooded roadway. Water depth and current cannot be judged reliably, so find another route.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 11: Safe Driving Tips — Weather Conditions — Rain, PDF page 88. Checked .

Question 15 of 20

A driver has a blood-alcohol concentration below .08%, but alcohol has impaired the driver's ability. Can that driver still be convicted of DUI?

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Correct answer: A. Yes, impairment can support a DUI conviction below .08%.

A BAC below .08% does not excuse impaired driving. A driver can still face a DUI conviction when alcohol affects driving ability.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 6: Driving Under the Influence (DUI) — Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC)/Presence of Drugs, PDF page 51. Checked .

Question 16 of 20

After drinking alcohol, which action actually allows its effects to wear off?

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Correct answer: B. Waiting for time to pass.

Only time removes alcohol's effects. Coffee, food and showers do not make the body eliminate alcohol faster.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 6: Driving Under the Influence (DUI) — Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC)/Presence of Drugs, PDF page 51. Checked .

Question 17 of 20

An adult is riding in the back seat of a car equipped with air bags. Must that passenger wear a safety belt?

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Correct answer: C. Yes, the belt requirement includes adult rear-seat passengers.

Illinois requires safety belts for occupants age 8 and above in either seating row. Air bags provide extra protection and do not replace a belt.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 4: Traffic Laws — Safety Belt Law, PDF page 26. Checked .

Question 18 of 20

An 18-year-old driver wants to make a routine call through a hands-free device while driving. Is this allowed?

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Correct answer: A. No, the under-19 phone restriction also covers hands-free calls.

Drivers younger than 19 cannot use a phone while driving merely because it is hands-free. The exception is an emergency call to law enforcement, a health care provider or emergency services.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 3: Drivers Under Age 21 — Graduated Driver Licensing Program — Full Licensing Phase, PDF page 22. Checked .

Question 19 of 20

A 16-year-old is preparing to apply for an Illinois driver's license. What is the minimum continuous period the teen must have held an instruction permit?

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Correct answer: B. Nine months.

A teen in the 15–17 age range must keep the permit for at least nine consecutive months before licensing. Completing that period is only one of the licensing requirements.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 3: Drivers Under Age 21 — Obtaining an Instruction Permit, PDF page 19. Checked .

Question 20 of 20

A 19-year-old first-time license applicant has never held a license and has not completed an approved driver education program. Which course must the applicant complete?

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Correct answer: C. A six-hour Adult Driver Education Course from a state-certified provider.

First-time applicants ages 18–20 who lack prior approved driver education must take the six-hour adult course. The provider must have Secretary of State certification.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road — Chapter 3: Drivers Under Age 21 — First-Time Drivers — Age 18-20, PDF page 21. Checked .

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