Overview
Completing Adult Driver Education does not issue a driver's license. You must still complete the applicable Secretary of State licensing requirements, including the required vision, written and road examinations.
Who Must Take Adult Driver Education?
You generally must complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education course if all three 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.
Illinois requires the course before an eligible applicant obtains an Illinois driver's license. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Who Does Not Need This Course?
You generally do not need this particular six-hour course if:
You are under 18 and are following the separate Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing process.
You are 21 or older.
You have previously held a driver's license.
You completed qualifying driver education through a high school or commercial driving school.
You are transferring a valid out-of-state driver's license to Illinois.
If your situation is unusual, confirm your eligibility with the Illinois Secretary of State before enrolling.
Illinois Online Course Rules
The Adult Driver Education course must be provided by a provider certified by the Secretary of State. Illinois permits certified providers to offer the course online. A course completed through an uncertified provider will not satisfy the requirement. (Illinois Secretary of State)
The course is at least six hours long and covers subjects such as:
Illinois traffic laws
Highway signs, signals and pavement markings
Risk-taking and poor decision-making
Impaired driving
Distracted driving and wireless-device use
Speed
Safety-belt use
Nighttime driving
Right-of-way
Crash-related traffic-safety issues
Law-enforcement procedures during traffic stops
The course includes a provider-administered final test. This test is separate from the Secretary of State's written driver's license examination. (Illinois General Assembly)
What the Course Includes and Does Not Include
Includes
At least six hours of Adult Driver Education
Online classroom instruction through a certified online provider
Illinois traffic-law instruction
Traffic signs, signals and markings
Risk-management and decision-making instruction
Impaired and distracted-driving information
Night-driving and right-of-way instruction
A provider-administered final test
Course completion documentation
Does Not Include
Behind-the-wheel lessons
Instructor-led driving practice
The Secretary of State written examination
The Secretary of State road examination
Automatic issuance of a driver's license
Illinois encourages applicants to obtain at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night. That practice is separate from the six-hour course. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Aurora Licensing Process
For an eligible Aurora applicant, the general process is:
Confirm that you meet the 18-to-20 Adult Driver Education requirements.
Select a Secretary of State-certified provider.
Complete the six-hour course online.
Pass the provider's final test.
Obtain your completion certificate or completion notification.
Gather the identification documents required for a first-time applicant.
Check the current Secretary of State facility information and appointment requirements.
Visit a Driver Services facility.
Complete the applicable vision, written and road examinations.
Complete all remaining licensing requirements and pay applicable fees.
The provider final test does not replace the Secretary of State written examination. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Driving in Aurora
Aurora has one of the more complex driving environments in Kane County because it combines urban streets, suburban arterial roads, regional highways, commercial areas and commuter traffic.
Interstate 88 provides a major east-west connection through the area. Illinois Routes 25 and 31 form important north-south corridors through the Fox River Valley, while Route 56, Route 59, Randall Road and Kirk Road provide additional regional connections. (Aurora, IL)
The city maintains approximately 2,100 lane miles of public roadway, illustrating the scale of Aurora's local street network. (Aurora, IL)
New drivers should be prepared for:
Heavy traffic during commuter periods
Multiple-lane arterial roads
Frequent traffic signals
Vehicles entering and leaving commercial properties
Pedestrian and bicycle activity
Highway ramps and merging traffic
Construction and lane changes
Winter snow and ice
Major Roads and Highways
Interstate 88
I-88 is a major east-west tollway connecting Aurora with the western Chicago suburbs and communities farther west. Drivers entering or exiting the tollway need to manage acceleration, merging, lane changes and higher-speed traffic.
Illinois Route 31
Route 31 is one of Aurora's principal north-south corridors and continues through the Fox River communities north of the city.
Illinois Route 25
Route 25 connects Aurora with North Aurora, Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles and is an important Fox Valley corridor.
Illinois Route 56
Route 56 provides an east-west connection through Aurora and links with the broader Kane County network.
Illinois Route 59
Route 59 is an important regional corridor on Aurora's eastern side and provides connections toward the western suburbs.
Randall Road
Randall Road is a major county corridor serving commercial, residential and regional traffic. New drivers should expect turning vehicles, shopping-center entrances, signalized intersections and congestion.
Kirk Road
Kirk Road is another important north-south corridor connecting Aurora with Batavia and Geneva.
Primary Local Driving Topic: Heavy Traffic and Lane Changes
For a new Aurora driver, managing traffic on major multi-lane corridors is one of the most important local skills.
Drivers should:
Check mirrors before changing lanes.
Signal before moving laterally.
Check blind spots.
Avoid last-second lane changes.
Leave additional following distance in congestion.
Watch for vehicles entering from shopping centers.
Anticipate stopped traffic beyond the vehicle immediately ahead.
Slow down when approaching work zones.
Give buses, trucks and wide-turning vehicles additional space.
Aurora's extensive transportation network means a driver may transition quickly from a residential street to a busy arterial or highway entrance. The city's 2026 transportation plan emphasizes a safe, connected multimodal transportation system, reinforcing the importance of awareness around all road users. (Aurora.gov)
Additional Safety Topic: Pedestrians, Bicycles and Urban Traffic
Aurora's developed neighborhoods, commercial districts and transportation corridors create frequent interactions with pedestrians and bicyclists.
New drivers should scan sidewalks and crosswalks before turning, watch carefully at intersections and avoid blocking crosswalks when stopped in traffic.
During winter, snow piles can also reduce visibility around intersections and narrow travel lanes. Drivers should adjust speed for pavement conditions rather than relying only on the posted limit.
Take the Course Online in Aurora
Eligible first-time applicants ages 18 to 20 can complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education classroom portion online through a certified provider.
You can complete the instructional portion from home in Aurora and then continue the licensing process in person with the Secretary of State.
Online course completion does not eliminate the licensing visit. You must still provide your required documents and complete the applicable Secretary of State examinations.
Important Aurora Area Roads
Aurora drivers may frequently encounter:
I-88
Illinois Route 25
Illinois Route 31
Illinois Route 56
Illinois Route 59
Randall Road
Kirk Road
Indian Trail Road
Butterfield Road
Galena Boulevard
Aurora Secretary of State Facility
Aurora DMV+
970 N. Lake Street, Suite BAurora, IL 60506
The Illinois Secretary of State currently lists the Aurora DMV+ as Appointment Required for Driver Services. Confirm current services and appointment availability before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)
Applicants should use the Secretary of State's current facility information because services and appointment procedures can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Adult Driver Education if I live in Aurora?
If you are 18, 19 or 20, are applying for an Illinois driver's license for the first time, and have not completed qualifying driver education, you generally must complete the six-hour course.
Can I take the course online in Aurora?
Yes. Illinois allows the course to be completed online when the provider is certified for online Adult Driver Education.
How long is the course?
The course must provide at least six hours of instruction.
Does the course include driving lessons?
No. Behind-the-wheel training is not part of the six-hour Adult Driver Education requirement.
Is the provider final test the Illinois written test?
No. The provider's final test and the Secretary of State written examination are separate.
Where do I go after finishing the course?
You must continue to an appropriate Secretary of State Driver Services facility with your completion documentation and required identification documents.
Does Aurora have a Driver Services facility?
Yes. The Secretary of State currently lists Aurora DMV+ at 970 N. Lake Street, Suite B.
Does the Aurora facility require an appointment?
The current statewide facility list identifies Aurora DMV+ as appointment required for Driver Services.
What roads should new Aurora drivers practice on?
New drivers should become comfortable with local streets before progressing to larger corridors such as Route 31, Route 25, Randall Road and eventually I-88.
Is I-88 difficult for new drivers?
Higher speeds, merging and lane changes can make I-88 more demanding than neighborhood streets. New drivers should practice highway merging with an experienced supervising driver.
What should I watch for on Randall Road?
Expect commercial entrances, turning traffic, multiple lanes, signalized intersections and periods of congestion.
What should I know about winter driving in Aurora?
Snow and ice can reduce traction and visibility. Reduce speed, increase following distance and allow additional stopping distance.
Start Your Aurora Adult Driver Education Course Online
If you are an eligible first-time Illinois driver's license applicant age 18, 19 or 20, you can complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education classroom instruction online through a certified provider.
Complete the course, pass the provider final test, obtain your completion documentation, and continue the Illinois licensing process.
Start your six-hour online Adult Driver Education course today.
Sources
- Illinois Secretary of State Adult Driver Education (Illinois Secretary of State)
- Illinois Secretary of State Adult Driver Education FAQs (Illinois Secretary of State)
- Illinois Compiled Statutes, 625 ILCS 5/6-107.5 (Illinois General Assembly)
- Illinois Secretary of State Facility Locations (Illinois Secretary of State)
- City of Aurora Connecting Aurora transportation plan (Aurora.gov)
- City of Aurora Streets information (Aurora, IL)
- City of Aurora Route 59 Corridor Study (Aurora, IL)