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Illinois Senior Driver’s License Renewal Laws Just Changed: What Sangamon County Drivers Need to Know
Public Act 104-0169 took effect July 1, 2026 — raising the mandatory road test age to 87 and expanding the in-person renewal threshold to 79.
By: W. Scott Hanken | Former Sangamon County Prosecutor | Springfield Criminal Defense & DUI Attorney |
Voted “Best Attorney” — Illinois Times Best of Springfield & State Journal-Register Reader’s Choice | Springfield, IL • Sangamon County • (217) 544-4057 • hankenlaw.com
The Short Answer
Starting July 1, 2026, Illinois drivers between the ages of 79 and 86 no longer face a mandatory behind-the-wheel road test at license renewal. That requirement now applies only at age 87 and older. In-person renewal with a vision screening is still required beginning at age 79. Family members can now report medical concerns about a loved one’s driving directly to the Secretary of State.
Illinois has long been the only state in the nation that required older drivers to take a behind-the-wheel road test based solely on their age. That changed when Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 1226 — formally Public Act 104-0169 — into law on August 15, 2025. The new law, known as the Road Safety and Fairness Act, took effect July 1, 2026, and it reshapes the license renewal landscape for hundreds of thousands of Illinois drivers.
If you or a family member is an older driver in Sangamon County, here is a plain-English breakdown of exactly what changed, what stayed the same, and what you should do if the Secretary of State takes action against your driving privileges.
What Changed Under Public Act 104-0169
1. In-Person Renewal: The Threshold Moved from 75 to 79
Previously, any Illinois driver who reached age 75 was required to renew their driver’s license in person at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility. Under the new law, that threshold is age 79. Drivers between 75 and 78 may now renew through standard channels — online or by mail — the same as younger drivers, provided their record otherwise qualifies.
Drivers 79 and older still must appear in person at each renewal and complete a vision screening. That requirement did not change.
2. Mandatory Road Test: Moved from Age 79 to Age 87
This is the headline change. Under the prior law, any driver who reached age 79 had to pass an actual behind-the-wheel driving test to renew — regardless of their driving record. Illinois was the only state in the country that imposed this requirement.
Under Public Act 104-0169, a behind-the-wheel road test is now mandatory only for drivers 87 years of age or older, who must take it at every annual renewal. Drivers between 79 and 86 who have clean records are no longer required to demonstrate their driving ability by road test. Drivers in that age range who have a recent traffic conviction or qualifying violation on their record may be required to pass a written test as well as the vision screening — but not a road test.
3. CDL Holders: No Change
Commercial driver’s license holders are explicitly excluded from the road test reform. Under 625 ILCS 5/6-109 as amended, CDL holders who are 75 years of age or older must continue to demonstrate their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle by an actual behind-the-wheel test at each renewal. If you hold a CDL and are approaching 75, nothing in this law relieves that obligation.
4. Family Reporting: A New Pathway to the Secretary of State
Perhaps the most significant structural change in the new law is the expansion of who may report a driver’s medical fitness to the Illinois Secretary of State. Previously, only medical professionals, law enforcement officers, and state’s attorneys could submit medical information about a driver’s fitness.
Under Public Act 104-0169, an immediate family member — specifically a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or child — may now submit written information to the Secretary of State if they believe the driver’s medical condition interferes with the person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. The family reporting provision is codified at 625 ILCS 5/6-911. The law imposes two firm procedural requirements: the report must be submitted in writing in a manner and form approved by the Secretary, and it must include the submitter’s name. The Secretary is prohibited from accepting or acting on anonymous reports.
Once a report is received and deemed credible, the Secretary of State’s medical review unit evaluates the information and may require the driver to submit to a vision exam, a written test, or a behind-the-wheel road test. If the review concludes the driver is unfit to safely operate a vehicle, the Secretary may suspend or revoke the license. Importantly, a driver who receives notice of a reexamination order or license action has rights — including the right to contest the action. That is precisely when experienced legal counsel can make a critical difference. See Public Act 104-0169 and the Illinois Secretary of State’s senior driver page for official guidance.
Old Law vs. New Law: Side-by-Side
| Requirement | Before July 1, 2026 | After July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory in-person renewal | Age 75+ | Age 79+ — CHANGED |
| Mandatory behind-the-wheel road test | Age 79+ | Age 87+ — CHANGED |
| CDL holder road test requirement | Age 75+ | Age 75+ — No change |
| Vision screening at in-person renewal | Required at 79+ | Required at 79+ — No change |
| Who may report medical driving concerns | Medical professionals, law enforcement, state’s attorneys | All of the above, plus immediate family members (spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child) — EXPANDED |
| Anonymous reports to Secretary of State | Not explicitly addressed | Prohibited by statute — NEW RESTRICTION |
| Renewal cycle: ages 79–80 | Every 4 years, in person | Every 4 years, in person + vision — No change |
| Renewal cycle: ages 81–86 | Every 2 years, in person | Every 2 years, in person + vision — No change |
| Renewal cycle: age 87+ | Annual, in person + vision + road test | Annual, in person + vision + road test — No change |
What Stays the Same
It is worth being clear about what this law did not change. Drivers 79 and older in Illinois still renew on a compressed schedule governed by 625 ILCS 5/6-115: every four years from age 79 to 80, every two years from age 81 to 86, and annually at 87 and older. Vision screening is required at every in-person renewal across all of these tiers. Drivers 81 to 86 in particular should note that the biennial renewal cycle — not an annual one — applies to them, and in-person appearance with a vision test is required at each of those renewals. The Secretary of State retains full authority to require reexamination of any driver — regardless of age — when there is good cause to believe the driver may be unfit to drive.
Why This Law Matters to Sangamon County Drivers
The Springfield area has a substantial older driver population, and the prior road test requirement was a source of real anxiety for many residents. Drivers with decades of clean records were being required to pass behind-the-wheel exams in their late seventies and eighties — a standard applied nowhere else in the country. The change reflects what Illinois crash data has consistently shown: drivers in the 79–86 range have accident rates comparable to the general driving population.
At the same time, the family reporting provision is a two-edged development. It gives concerned families a formal mechanism to address genuine safety worries about a loved one whose medical condition interferes with their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. But it also means that a motivated family member — even one acting out of misguided concern, a personal dispute, or financial interest — can set the Secretary of State’s medical review process in motion against a driver who may be perfectly capable behind the wheel. If you receive notice that a report has been filed about your driving fitness, that notice deserves immediate attention.
What Should You Do If the Secretary of State Takes Action?
A reexamination order, a medical review referral, or a license suspension based on a family report is not a casual matter. For most people, a driver’s license is not a convenience — it is the practical foundation of independence, employment, medical care access, and daily life. In Sangamon County, where public transportation options are limited, losing driving privileges can be isolating and financially devastating.
If you receive any notice from the Illinois Secretary of State suggesting your driving fitness is under review — whether triggered by a family report under the new law, a court referral, or any other basis — you have rights. The Secretary’s authority to order reexaminations and to suspend or revoke licenses is not unlimited, and the procedures governing those actions must be followed. An experienced Springfield traffic defense attorney can review the factual basis for any action taken, evaluate whether the proper procedures were observed, and represent your interests throughout the process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Under Public Act 104-0169 (effective July 1, 2026), a behind-the-wheel road test is now required only for drivers who are 87 years of age or older. Previously, the road test was required beginning at age 79. CDL holders are an exception — they must continue taking a road test beginning at age 75, per 625 ILCS 5/6-109.
Under the new law, in-person renewal at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility is required beginning at age 79. This raised the previous threshold of 75. All those 79 and older must appear in person and pass a vision screening at each renewal.
Yes. Public Act 104-0169 allows a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or child to submit written information to the Secretary of State regarding a loved one’s medical condition if they believe it interferes with the person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. This provision is codified at 625 ILCS 5/6-911. Reports must be submitted in writing with the submitter’s name included. Anonymous reports are not accepted.
Yes. Drivers ages 79 through 86 must still renew in person at a Driver Services facility and pass a vision screening. If they have a recent traffic conviction or a triggering violation on their record, a written test may also be required. What they are no longer required to do — absent being 87 or older — is pass a behind-the-wheel road test solely because of their age.
No. CDL holders are specifically exempt from the age-79 road test elimination. Commercial driver’s license holders who are 75 years of age or older must still demonstrate their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle by an actual behind-the-wheel demonstration at each renewal.
Contact a Springfield traffic defense attorney immediately. A reexamination order or potential license action has serious consequences for your independence and livelihood. An experienced attorney can review the basis for the action, advise you on your options, and represent your interests before the Secretary of State.
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Call W. Scott Hanken at (217) 544-4057 or contact us online for a free consultation. We serve clients throughout Springfield, Sangamon County, and Central Illinois.
About the Author: W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law
Scott Hanken is a Springfield, Illinois criminal defense attorney with over 37 years of experience, including service as a former Sangamon County prosecutor. He has been voted Best Attorney by the Illinois Times and State Journal-Register, holds an Avvo 10.0 “Superb” rating, and has earned over 270 five-star Google reviews. His firm handles DUI defense, drug crimes, traffic violations, violent crimes, and weapons offenses throughout Sangamon County and Central Illinois.
📍 1100 S 5th St, Springfield, IL 62703 | ☎ (217) 544-4057 | 🌐 hankenlaw.com
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique — contact an experienced Springfield criminal defense attorney for guidance on your specific situation.
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