Who Must Take Adult Driver Education?
The Illinois Secretary of State requires the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course when all three of these conditions apply:
You are 18, 19, or 20 years old.
You are applying for an Illinois driver's license for the first time.
You have never completed an approved driver education course through a high school or commercial driving school.
All three conditions must apply. The rule applies statewide, including to eligible first-time applicants who live in Lanark. (Illinois Secretary of State)
The course must be completed through a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois states that completion through a provider that is not listed as certified will not be accepted. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Who Does Not Need This Course?
The six-hour Adult Driver Education requirement does not apply to every Illinois driver.
You generally do not need this specific course if:
You are under 18 and instead fall under Illinois' teen driver education and Graduated Driver Licensing requirements.
You are 21 or older.
You have previously been licensed.
You completed an approved driver education course through a qualifying high school or commercial driving school.
You are transferring a valid out-of-state driver's license to Illinois.
If your circumstances are unusual, review the current Secretary of State requirements before assuming whether the adult course is required. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Illinois Online Adult Driver Education Rules
The Adult Driver Education Course must contain at least six hours of instruction. Illinois permits certified providers to offer the course online. The Secretary of State specifically regulates online-only Adult Driver Education providers and maintains a certified provider list. (Illinois Secretary of State)
The course covers important traffic-safety subjects such as:
Illinois traffic laws
Highway signs, signals, and pavement markings
Poor decision-making and risk-taking
Impaired driving
Distracted driving
Cell phone and text-message use
Speed
Safety-belt use
Nighttime driving
Right-of-way
Other factors associated with motor vehicle crashes
The provider also administers a written final test. Passing the provider's test is required to complete the course, but it does not replace the Secretary of State's licensing examination. (Illinois Secretary of State)
The current Illinois Secretary of State provider listing identifies IllinoisAdultDriverEd.com as an online Adult Driver Education provider. (Illinois Secretary of State Apps)
What the Course Includes
The six-hour Adult Driver Education Course includes:
At least six hours of driver education instruction.
Online instruction when completed through a certified online provider.
Illinois traffic laws and traffic-safety information.
Signs, signals, and pavement markings.
Driver decision-making and risk awareness.
Impaired-driving education.
Distracted-driving education.
Speed and safety-belt information.
Night-driving information.
Right-of-way information.
A provider-administered written final test.
A Certificate of Completion after successful completion. (Illinois Secretary of State)
What the Course Does Not Include
The six-hour course does not include:
Behind-the-wheel instruction.
In-car driving lessons.
The Secretary of State written examination.
The Secretary of State road examination.
Automatic issuance of a driver's license.
Automatic driving privileges.
Illinois encourages applicants to complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night, before obtaining a driver's license. These practice hours are not part of the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course. Applicants must still complete the applicable behind-the-wheel testing at the Secretary of State facility. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Lanark Adult Driver Education Licensing Process
If you are an eligible first-time applicant in Lanark, the process generally looks like this:
Confirm that you are 18, 19, or 20 and applying for your first Illinois driver's license.
Confirm that you have not already completed qualifying driver education.
Select a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course online.
Successfully complete the provider's final written test.
Obtain your Certificate of Completion.
Download and print the certificate.
Prepare the required identification documents.
Check the Secretary of State Facility Finder for current services and testing requirements.
Visit an appropriate Driver Services facility.
Complete the applicable vision examination.
Complete the Secretary of State written examination.
Complete the applicable road examination.
Meet the remaining licensing requirements and pay the required fees.
The provider's course final is separate from the Secretary of State's licensing tests. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Driving in Lanark, Illinois
Lanark is a rural Carroll County city. The city's official website describes Lanark as a rural community with a historic downtown, tree-lined streets, and a mixture of classic and modern homes. (Lanark, IL)
For a new driver, this means learning to transition smoothly between local city streets and the surrounding rural highway system.
Lanark is particularly relevant to regional driving because Illinois Route 72 has its western terminus at Lanark, while Illinois Route 73 also serves the community. (Wikipedia)
Outside the city, drivers can encounter:
Agricultural equipment.
Slow-moving vehicles.
Rural intersections.
Two-lane highways.
Limited nighttime lighting.
Changing pavement conditions.
Wildlife.
Snow and ice during winter.
New drivers should avoid assuming that a quiet rural road is automatically an easy road. Visibility, speed, curves, farm equipment, and changing weather can all affect how much time a driver has to react.
Major Roads Near Lanark
Illinois Route 72
Illinois Route 72 begins at Illinois Route 73 in the Lanark area and continues east through northern Illinois. It provides an important east-west connection from Lanark toward communities in Ogle County and beyond. (Wikipedia)
New drivers should practice maintaining a steady lane position, scanning intersections, watching for slower traffic, and adjusting speed before entering curves.
Illinois Route 73
Illinois Route 73 provides a north-south connection through the Lanark area. It is a two-lane state highway and connects Lanark with communities farther north and south. (Wikipedia)
Drivers should pay particular attention to intersections, opposing traffic, farm equipment, and vehicles entering or leaving rural properties.
Local and County Roads
The roads surrounding Lanark connect farms, residences, neighboring communities, and state highways. These roads can be narrower and less heavily lit than urban streets.
Drivers should keep additional following distance behind agricultural equipment and avoid passing unless the roadway provides a clear, legal, and safe opportunity.
Primary Local Driving Topic: Rural Highway Transitions
One of the most important driving skills for a new Lanark driver is learning to transition between city streets and rural highways.
A trip that begins on a quiet residential street can quickly lead to a higher-speed two-lane state highway. The driver needs to recognize the change in roadway environment and adjust accordingly.
Good habits include:
Check mirrors before entering a higher-speed roadway.
Scan for traffic approaching from both directions.
Do not assume another vehicle will yield.
Maintain a safe following distance.
Watch for farm machinery.
Reduce speed before curves or intersections when appropriate.
Keep both hands available for steering.
Avoid distractions from phones or passengers.
Use headlights appropriately in poor visibility.
Watch for deer and other wildlife.
Additional Safety Topic: Agricultural Traffic
Carroll County's rural road network means new drivers may encounter farm equipment traveling substantially slower than passenger vehicles.
Agricultural machinery may also enter a road from a field entrance, make wide turns, or occupy more lane space than a normal passenger vehicle.
When approaching farm equipment:
Reduce speed early.
Keep a safe following distance.
Watch for turn signals or hand signals.
Do not pass where visibility is limited.
Be patient.
Expect equipment to make wide or unexpected movements.
Confirm that the roadway is clear before passing.
Take Adult Driver Education Online in Lanark
Eligible Lanark residents can complete the required six-hour Adult Driver Education instruction online through a certified provider. The online format is available statewide, so an eligible student does not need to travel to a classroom in Lanark or another Carroll County community for the educational portion. (Illinois Secretary of State)
The online course does not eliminate the in-person licensing process. After successful course completion, the student must obtain the Certificate of Completion and complete the applicable Secretary of State licensing requirements and examinations. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Lanark and Carroll County Driver Services
Carroll County has a Secretary of State Driver Services facility in Chadwick at 236 Main Street, Chadwick, IL 61014. The current statewide facility list includes Chadwick among Northern Illinois Driver Services locations. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Nearby alternatives listed by the Secretary of State include:
Dixon Driver Services, 925 S. Peoria, Dixon, IL 61021.
Sterling Driver Services, 1224 W. 4th Street, Sterling, IL 61081.
Because services and testing availability can change, check the official Facility Finder before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Adult Driver Education if I live in Lanark?
If you are 18, 19, or 20, are applying for your first Illinois driver's license, and have never completed an approved driver education course, you must complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Can I take Adult Driver Education online in Lanark?
Yes. Illinois permits the six-hour course to be completed online through a certified online Adult Driver Education provider. (Illinois Secretary of State)
How long is the Adult Driver Education Course?
The course must contain at least six hours of instruction. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Does the online course include driving lessons?
No. The six-hour course is classroom or online instruction. It does not include behind-the-wheel training. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Do I still have to take a driving test?
Yes. Completing Adult Driver Education does not replace the applicable Secretary of State licensing tests, including the behind-the-wheel road test. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Does the course final replace the Secretary of State written test?
No. The provider's written final test and the Secretary of State written examination are separate. (Illinois Secretary of State)
What happens after I complete the course?
You receive access to a Certificate of Completion. Print the certificate and bring it with your required identification documents when completing the licensing process. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Where can I go for Driver Services?
The Secretary of State lists a Driver Services facility at 236 Main Street in Chadwick. Nearby facilities include Dixon and Sterling. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Do I need to live in Carroll County to take the online course?
No. The Illinois Adult Driver Education requirement and certified online provider system apply statewide.
Do I need this course if I am 21?
The six-hour Adult Driver Education requirement applies to eligible first-time applicants ages 18, 19, and 20. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Do I need the course if I previously completed high school driver education?
If you can provide acceptable proof of successful completion of qualifying high school driver education, you may not need the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course. (Illinois Secretary of State)
How much driving practice should I get?
Illinois encourages at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night. (Illinois Secretary of State)
What roads should new Lanark drivers practice on?
Practice should eventually include local city streets as well as appropriate rural roads and the transition to state routes such as Illinois Routes 72 and 73.
Is rural driving different from city driving?
Yes. Rural roads can involve agricultural equipment, fewer lights, longer distances between services, wildlife, higher speeds, and fewer immediate places to stop.
Can I complete the course without going to a classroom?
Yes. Certified online providers can offer the six-hour Adult Driver Education Course online. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Complete Adult Driver Education Online in Lanark
If you are an eligible first-time Illinois driver's license applicant age 18, 19, or 20 in Lanark, complete the required six-hour Adult Driver Education Course online through a certified provider.
Complete the course and provider final test, obtain your Certificate of Completion, and then complete the remaining Illinois Secretary of State licensing requirements.