Failed the Illinois DMV Test? Here's What to Do Next
Failing the knowledge test is far more common than people expect. First-attempt fail rates run 35-50% in many states. Here's how the retake process works in Illinois and how to actually pass next time.
Retake rules
- Per-section minimums?
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No per-section minimum
Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 2: Written Exam, p. 14
Retake fees
- Learner permit fee
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$20
Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, p. 11
- Knowledge test fee
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$0 (no separate fee)
Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, pp. 11-12
- Skills (road) test fee
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$0 (no separate fee)
Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, pp. 11-12
- First-time license fee
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$30 (ages 21-68)
Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, p. 11
- Renewal fee
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$30 (ages 21-68)
Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, p. 11
- Non-driver ID card fee
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$20 (ages 18-64)
Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 1: Driver's License/State ID Card Fees, p. 11
- Retake fee
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$0 within three attempts
Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 2: Driver's License Exams, p. 13
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