Special driving permits — Illinois Permit Test

A Restricted Driving Permit allows driving only at certain times and along specified routes, for work, education, taking a child to day care or school, or getting medical care or drug treatment.

It is not a license with conditions, it is permission for named trips. Anything outside them is driving while suspended.

Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) - Allows driving only during certain times and along specified routes for work-related or educational purposes, transporting a child in the home to and from day care or an acceptable educational institution, or receiving medical care or drug treatment.

A Restricted Driving Permit cannot be issued to a person under age 16, and a Monitoring Device Driving Permit cannot be issued to a person under age 18.

Both permits have an age floor below the age they would be useful at. It is the shortest answer to whether a teenager can get one.

An RDP cannot be issued to a person under age 16.

An Occupational Driving Permit allows a professional driver suspended for three moving violations to drive in connection with their employment, and the holder must drive for a living.

It exists for people whose job is driving, which is why the qualification is the job itself. It does not cover commercial drivers.

Occupational Driving Permit (ODP) - Allows a professional driver whose license has been suspended for three moving violations to operate a vehicle in conjunction with employment. To qualify, the individual must drive for a living.

A Probationary License lets a driver aged 21 or over suspended for three moving violations in 12 months drive during the suspension, and is issued with a driver improvement course.

It gives back full driving rather than named trips, which is what separates it from the restricted permit. The course is the condition.

Probationary License - Allows a driver age 21 and over whose license has been suspended for three moving violations in a 12-month period to operate a vehicle during the period of suspension.

A Family Financial Responsibility Driving Permit is for a driver suspended over unpaid child support or child visitation abuse, and is only issued on a circuit judge’s order or at the direction of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

The suspension came from a family court, so the way back does too. The Secretary of State cannot grant it alone.

Family Financial Responsibility Driving Permit (FRP) - Allows a driver whose license was suspended for nonpayment of child support or child visitation abuse to operate a vehicle. This permit is only issued following a circuit judge’s order or upon direction from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

What does an Illinois Restricted Driving Permit allow?

Driving at certain times along specified routes. It is not a license with conditions, it is permission for named trips. Anything outside them is driving while suspended. Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.61: “Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) - Allows driving only during certain times and along specified routes for work-related or educational purposes, transporting a child in the home to and from day care or an acceptable educational institution, or receiving medical care or drug treatment.”