Illinois CDL Permit Test 2026: Classes, Manuals and Ages

How do you study for the Illinois CDL permit test?

With the Commercial Driver’s License Study Guide, which the handbook says you can get at any SOS facility or on ilsos.gov. The Rules of the Road covers the car license, so it doesn’t describe the CDL tests, and it says CDL fees are in that guide as well. Among its online services, the SOS lists CDL appointments.

See the other handbooks →

Illinois license classes

Licenses are classed by the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle you drive:

Class	What you can drive
A	Combinations of 26,001 pounds or more, towing over 10,000 pounds; a CDL is generally required
B	A single vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more, towing up to 10,000 pounds; a CDL is generally required
C	Over 16,000 and under 26,001 pounds, towing up to 10,000, or 16 or more passengers or placarded hazardous materials
D	A vehicle of 16,000 pounds or less that doesn’t need another class
L	A motor-driven cycle under 150cc
M	Any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle

Classes A, B and C don’t include motorcycles. The handbook names a separate Rules of the Road for Non-CDL Vehicles too.

What a Class D license already lets you drive

With Class D, you may drive a rental vehicle of up to 26,000 pounds within Illinois to move your own property, or an immediate family member’s, for non-business purposes. The rental company should give you information on a safety course for that vehicle.

Age limits for larger vehicles

The handbook sets these limits:

Under 18: no vehicle that needs a CDL, and no for-hire vehicle carrying property, such as delivery work
Under 21: no for-hire vehicle carrying more than 10 passengers, commuter van, religious organization bus, school bus, senior citizen transport or child care vehicle

Driving a school bus, religious organization bus, child care vehicle, for-profit ride share or senior transport has special requirements; the SOS Safe Ride Section is at 217-782-7674. A school bus permit costs $4.

Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds

Which license you need depends on the engine:

A scooter under 150cc is a motor-driven cycle and needs Class L
A scooter of 150cc or more is a motorcycle and needs Class M
A moped may be driven on any valid Illinois license, if a gas engine is no bigger than 50cc and you don’t shift gears
A low-speed electric scooter needs no license, but you must be 18 or older

Adding or renewing an M or L class costs $5 on top of the license fee. For the motorcycle tests themselves, the handbook points to the Illinois Motorcycle Operator Manual.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State. Checked November 2026.