Champaign County Adult Driver Education

Online Adult Driver Education in Champaign County, Illinois

If you are 18, 19, or 20 and applying for an Illinois driver's license for the first time, you may need to complete the Illinois Secretary of State's six-hour Adult Driver Education course before applying for your license. The course can be completed online when offered by a Secretary of State-certified online provider. (Illinois Secretary of State)

For eligible first-time applicants in Champaign County, online Adult Driver Education can fit into the licensing process whether you live in Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, Mahomet, Savoy, St. Joseph, or another community in the county. After successfully completing the course and obtaining your completion certificate, you still need to visit an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility and complete the applicable licensing requirements and examinations. (Illinois Secretary of State)

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Who Must Take Adult Driver Education?

Illinois uses a three-part eligibility test. You generally must complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education course ifall threeof the following are true:

You are18, 19, or 20 years old.

You are applying for anIllinois driver's license for the first time.

You havenever successfully completed an approved driver education course, either through a high school or a commercial driving school.

The Illinois Secretary of State states that applicants meeting all three conditions must successfully complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education course before obtaining an Illinois driver's license. (Illinois Secretary of State)

The course must be completed through a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State. A course from an uncertified provider will not satisfy the requirement. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Who Does Not Need This Course?

The six-hour Adult Driver Education requirement does not apply in the same way to every applicant.

You generally do not need this specific course if:

You areunder 18and are following Illinois' separate teen driver education and Graduated Driver Licensing requirements.

You are21 or older. The specific six-hour Adult Driver Education requirement applies to applicants ages 18, 19, and 20 who meet the eligibility conditions.

You havepreviously held a driver's license, subject to the applicable Illinois licensing rules.

You successfully completed an approved driver education course through a high school or commercial driving school.

You have a valid out-of-state driver's license and are moving to Illinois. The Secretary of State says an applicant in this situation does not need to take the Adult Driver Education course solely because the out-of-state license is being transferred. The out-of-state license must be surrendered and the applicable Illinois requirements must be completed. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Applicants under 18 should follow the Secretary of State's teen-driver requirements rather than treating the six-hour adult course as a substitute for the teen program. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Illinois Online Course Rules

The Adult Driver Education course is aminimum six-hour classroom or online coursefor eligible applicants ages 18, 19, and 20. Illinois law and Secretary of State guidance require instruction covering traffic laws, signs, signals and markings, crash-related risks, impaired driving, distraction, speeding, seat-belt use, nighttime driving, right-of-way, texting and wireless-device issues, alcohol and drug awareness, and appropriate conduct during traffic stops. (Illinois Secretary of State)

The course may be completed online when the provider is certified to offer the online version. The Secretary of State maintains an official list of certified Adult Driver Education providers, including online providers. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Students must also successfully complete the provider's written final test. This test verifies successful completion of the Adult Driver Education course. Itdoes not replace the written examination administered by the Secretary of Statewhen the applicant applies for a driver's license. (Illinois Secretary of State)

After successful completion, the student receives access to the official completion certificate process. The Secretary of State FAQ explains that the student receives an email with a link to download the Certificate of Completion. The student should download and print the certificate for use during the licensing process. (Illinois Secretary of State)

What the Course Includes and Does Not Include

The course includes

At least six hours of classroom or online Adult Driver Education instruction.

Illinois traffic laws and rules of the road.

Highway signs, signals and pavement markings.

Crash-risk factors such as poor decision-making, risk-taking, distraction and speeding.

Information about impaired driving.

Safety-belt and nighttime-driving information.

Right-of-way and other traffic-safety concepts.

Information concerning texting and wireless communication while driving.

A provider-administered written final test.

Access to the official completion certificate after successful completion. (Illinois Secretary of State)

The course does not include

Behind-the-wheel driving instruction.

Behind-the-wheel lessons with an instructor.

The Secretary of State's written examination.

The Secretary of State's road examination.

Automatic issuance of an Illinois driver's license.

Illinois specifically states that the six-hour Adult Driver Education course does not include and is not required to include behind-the-wheel training. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Illinois encourages applicants to obtainat least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night, before obtaining a license. This is a recommendation for driving practice and isnot a required component of the six-hour Adult Driver Education course. The applicant must still complete the applicable road examination at the Secretary of State facility. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Champaign County Licensing Process

Confirm that you are required to take Adult Driver Education.Check your age, first-time applicant status and previous driver education history.

Choose a certified provider.Use the Illinois Secretary of State's official provider list and select a provider certified for online Adult Driver Education. (Illinois Secretary of State Apps)

Complete the six-hour course online.Complete the required instruction and all provider requirements.

Pass the provider's final written test.This test confirms successful completion of the course.

Obtain your Certificate of Completion.Follow the Secretary of State's instructions to download and print the certificate. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Prepare your identification documents.First-time Illinois applicants must provide the documents required by the Secretary of State. Standard first-time applications generally require documents satisfying Groups A, B, C and D. REAL ID applications have additional residency-document requirements. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Check the Driver Services facility before traveling.Confirm the current address, services, appointment requirements, hours and road-testing availability through the official DMV Finder.

Visit a Driver Services facility.Bring your completion certificate and required identification documents.

Complete the applicable Secretary of State examinations.Depending on your circumstances, this includes the required vision, written and behind-the-wheel road examinations. The provider's final test does not replace the Secretary of State written test. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Complete the remaining licensing requirements.Passing the Adult Driver Education course does not by itself issue a driver's license or grant driving privileges.

Driving in Champaign County

Champaign County combines a major urban center with extensive rural areas. Champaign and Urbana form the county's primary urban area, while communities such as Rantoul, Mahomet, Savoy and St. Joseph connect to a broader network of state highways and county roads. The county also has a significant agricultural landscape, so new drivers can encounter both urban traffic and slower agricultural equipment on rural roads. The county Highway Department is responsible for maintaining county highways and county bridges and culverts. (Champaign County Illinois)

The county is also an important transportation crossroads. Interstate 57, Interstate 72 and Interstate 74 intersect within Champaign County, creating higher-speed travel and interchange activity alongside local streets and state routes. (Champaign County Illinois)

The Champaign-Urbana area has additional traffic considerations associated with the University of Illinois and its surrounding neighborhoods. Urbana's transportation planning identifies University Avenue, Cunningham Avenue and High Cross Road as major arterial corridors with higher speeds and traffic volumes. New drivers should expect pedestrians, bicyclists, turning traffic and changing traffic conditions around major urban corridors. (Urbanail)

Weather can also affect driving. County emergency-planning documentation identifies past flash-flood events that closed or made portions of rural and state highways impassable, including sections of Illinois Route 47, U.S. Route 150, U.S. Route 136 and Interstate 74. Drivers should never attempt to cross a flooded roadway simply because the water appears shallow. (Champaign County Illinois)

Railroad infrastructure is another part of the local transportation environment. Urbana planning documents identify railroad corridors and transportation projects involving railroad crossings, while the Champaign-Urbana area developed around the Illinois Central Railroad. (Champaign County Illinois)

Major Roads and Highways in Champaign County

Champaign County's highway network includes three major interstate corridors:

Interstate 57runs north and south through the county and provides a major regional connection through the Champaign-Urbana area.

Interstate 72runs east and west across the county and connects the Champaign area with communities to the west and east.

Interstate 74runs east and west through the county and provides another major regional connection, including travel toward Bloomington-Normal and east toward Indiana. Champaign County identifies all three interstates as major transportation routes serving the county. (Champaign County Illinois)

Important U.S. and Illinois routes also serve different parts of the county:

U.S. Route 45serves the Champaign-Urbana area and communities north of the urban area. Urbana identifies Cunningham Avenue and U.S. Route 45 as a major arterial corridor.

U.S. Route 150crosses the Champaign-Urbana area and continues through communities to the east and west. IDOT records identify U.S. 150 segments through Champaign, Urbana and St. Joseph.

U.S. Route 136provides an important east-west connection through the northern portion of the county, including the Fisher and Gifford area.

Illinois Route 10serves the Champaign area and extends west toward Mahomet and other communities.

Illinois Route 47connects communities including Mahomet and provides access to the I-72 and I-74 corridors.

Illinois Route 49serves the southeastern and eastern portions of the county and connects with U.S. Route 150.

Illinois Route 54serves the southern and southeastern transportation network.

Illinois Route 130serves the Urbana and Philo area and connects with U.S. Route 150. IDOT records document these state and U.S. routes within Champaign County. (Illinois Commerce Commission)

IDOT's official highway-map system provides county, roadway, traffic and functional-classification maps for Illinois. (IDOT)

Primary Local Driving Topic: Interstates and High-Speed Merging

For a new driver in Champaign County,interstate mergingis an important skill because I-57, I-72 and I-74 all serve the county. (Champaign County Illinois)

Entering an interstate requires the driver to judge speed and traffic gaps while moving from an entrance ramp into faster traffic. A new driver should use the acceleration lane to build speed appropriately, check mirrors and blind spots, signal before changing lanes, and avoid stopping at the end of an entrance ramp unless traffic conditions make it unavoidable.

Drivers should also remember that interstate traffic can change quickly near interchanges. A vehicle moving toward an exit may cross several lanes, while another driver may be entering from a ramp. Maintain a safe following distance and avoid making sudden lane changes.

Winter weather adds another consideration. Snow, ice and reduced visibility can increase stopping distances and make lane changes more difficult. Drivers should reduce speed when conditions warrant and leave additional space around other vehicles.

Additional Driving and Safety Topic: Flooded Roads and Heavy Rain

Heavy rainfall has caused significant road flooding in parts of Champaign County. County emergency-management documentation records previous events in which rural roads and portions of major highways became impassable. (Champaign County Illinois)

New drivers should never drive around barricades or attempt to cross a roadway covered by moving or standing floodwater. Water can conceal pavement damage, washouts or other hazards. If a familiar route becomes flooded, use an alternate route and follow official emergency and transportation instructions.

Rain can also reduce visibility and increase stopping distances. Slow down when conditions require it, turn on appropriate lights and give other vehicles additional space.

Take the Course Online Throughout Champaign County

Eligible first-time applicants throughout Champaign County can complete the classroom portion of Adult Driver Education online when using a provider certified to offer the online course. The Secretary of State's provider list identifies providers by course type, including online providers. (Illinois Secretary of State)

This means an eligible student living in Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, Mahomet, Savoy, St. Joseph or a rural part of the county can complete the required classroom instruction online without traveling to a classroom for the six-hour course.

Online completion doesnoteliminate the in-person licensing step. After completing the course and obtaining the completion certificate, the applicant must still visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility with the required documents and complete the applicable licensing examinations. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Important Champaign County Communities

Champaign

Champaign is one of the county's two incorporated cities and is part of the county's primary urban area. Interstate 57 and Interstate 72 provide major regional connections around the city, while U.S. 45 and U.S. 150 serve important urban corridors. Drivers should expect a combination of city streets, higher-volume arterial roads and interstate traffic. (Champaign County Illinois)

Urbana

Urbana is the county seat and the other incorporated city in Champaign County. Major corridors include U.S. 45 and U.S. 150, with High Cross Road serving as another important arterial. The presence of the University of Illinois and established pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure means drivers should pay close attention at intersections and crossings. (Illinois Secretary of State Apps)

Rantoul

Rantoul is a northern Champaign County community along the U.S. 45 corridor. The area connects to the broader county highway system and has a Secretary of State Driver Services facility at 421 S. Murray Road. Drivers traveling between Rantoul and the Champaign-Urbana area should be prepared for a transition between community streets and higher-speed highway travel. (Champaign County Illinois)

Mahomet

Mahomet lies west of Champaign-Urbana and is connected to the regional highway network by U.S. 150 and Illinois Route 47. County flood-planning records also document past flooding affecting roads in and around Mahomet, making weather awareness important for drivers traveling during severe storms. (Champaign County Illinois)

Savoy

Savoy is immediately south of Champaign and is part of the developed urbanizing area surrounding Champaign-Urbana. U.S. 45 and nearby connections to I-57 make the area relevant to drivers traveling between local streets and regional highways. The community is a village, so it is discussed here as an important local community but is not included in the cities-and-towns list below. (Illinois Commerce Commission)

St. Joseph

St. Joseph is an eastern Champaign County community served by U.S. 150 and Illinois Route 49. IDOT records identify U.S. 150 through St. Joseph and its connection toward Ogden. Drivers should be prepared for the change between village streets and the faster rural highway environment outside the community. (IDOT Apps)

Illinois Secretary of State Facilities Serving Champaign County

Champaign DMV+

2012 Round Barn Road, Round Barn West Shopping Center, Space 1, Champaign, IL 61822

The current Illinois Secretary of State statewide facility list identifies this facility asAppointment Required for Driver Services. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Rantoul

421 S. Murray Road, Rantoul, IL 61866

The statewide facility list currently lists the Rantoul facility at this address and doesnotlabel it as appointment required in the statewide listing. This should not be interpreted as a guarantee that a particular service is available without an appointment. Confirm the facility's current services and requirements before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Reasonable alternatives

Depending on where you live in Champaign County and the services you need, other Central Illinois facilities may be useful alternatives:

Monticello, 1205 Bear Lane, Monticello, IL 61856

Tuscola, 211 S. Main, Tuscola, IL 61953

These facilities appear on the current statewide facility list. Their listing does not identify them as appointment-required Driver Services facilities. Applicants should verify the specific services available before making the trip. (Illinois Secretary of State)

The Secretary of State facility list can change. Before traveling, use the officialDMV Facility Finderto confirm the current address, hours, available services, appointment requirements and road-testing availability. A self-service kiosk should not be treated as a substitute for a full Driver Services facility when a first-time applicant needs licensing examinations.

Illinois Secretary of State DMV Facility Finder

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Adult Driver Education if I live in Champaign County?

If you are 18, 19 or 20, are applying for an Illinois driver's license for the first time, and have never completed an approved driver education course, you generally must complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education course. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Can I take Adult Driver Education online in Champaign County?

Yes. The Secretary of State allows the course to be completed online when the provider is certified to offer the online version. (Illinois Secretary of State)

How long is the Adult Driver Education course?

The course is at least six hours long. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Does the online course include driving lessons?

No. The six-hour Adult Driver Education course does not include behind-the-wheel instruction. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Do I have to complete 50 hours of driving practice?

Illinois encourages applicants to complete at least 50 hours of supervised practice, including at least 10 hours at night. These are recommended practice hours and are not a required part of the six-hour Adult Driver Education course. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Is there a final test in the Adult Driver Education course?

Yes. The provider requires a written final test that must be successfully completed as part of the course. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Does the provider's final test replace the Secretary of State written test?

No. You must still complete the applicable Secretary of State testing when you apply for your Illinois driver's license. This can include vision, written and behind-the-wheel road testing. (Illinois Secretary of State)

What happens after I complete the course?

After successful completion, you receive access to the official completion certificate process. The Secretary of State says an email will provide a link to download the certificate. Print it and bring it with your required identification documents when you visit a Driver Services facility. (Illinois Secretary of State)

What identification documents do I need?

First-time applicants must provide the identification documents required by the Secretary of State. The current document requirements identify acceptable documents for legal name, date of birth, Social Security number and residency. Photocopies are not accepted. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Which Driver Services facility can I use in Champaign County?

The current statewide facility list includes the Champaign DMV+ at 2012 Round Barn Road and the Rantoul facility at 421 S. Murray Road. Champaign is currently identified as appointment required for Driver Services. Verify the services available at each location before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Do I need an appointment at the Champaign DMV+?

The current statewide Secretary of State facility list identifies the Champaign DMV+ asAppointment Required for Driver Services. Always check the current DMV Finder before traveling because requirements can change. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Can I go to Rantoul instead of Champaign?

The Rantoul facility at 421 S. Murray Road is listed by the Secretary of State as a Driver Services facility and is not currently marked appointment required in the statewide facility list. However, you should verify that the specific service you need is available there before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Do applicants under 18 take this course?

Applicants under 18 follow Illinois' separate teen driver education and Graduated Driver Licensing requirements. The six-hour Adult Driver Education course is specifically for eligible applicants ages 18 through 20. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Do applicants age 21 or older need the six-hour Adult Driver Education course?

The specific Adult Driver Education requirement applies to eligible first-time applicants ages 18, 19 and 20. Applicants age 21 or older should follow the licensing requirements applicable to their individual situation. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Does living in Urbana, Rantoul, Mahomet or Savoy change the course requirement?

No. Eligibility is based on the applicant's age, first-time licensing status and previous approved driver education, not on which Champaign County community the applicant lives in. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Start Your Champaign County Adult Driver Education Course Online

If you are an eligible first-time Illinois driver's license applicant ages 18 to 20 in Champaign County, you can complete the required six-hour Adult Driver Education course online through a certified provider.

Complete the course, successfully pass the provider's final test, download and print your completion certificate, then prepare your required documents and visit an appropriate Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility to complete the licensing process.

Cities and Towns in Champaign County, Illinois

Champaign, city

Urbana, city and county seat

The Illinois State Archives Name Index identifies Champaign and Urbana as the county's incorporated cities. It identifies communities such as Rantoul, Mahomet, Savoy, St. Joseph, Tolono and others as villages, so they are intentionally excluded from this section. (Illinois Secretary of State Apps)

Sources