Illinois lawmakers are set to make it easier for seniors to renew their driver’s licenses. State Senator Ram Villivalam, working with the Illinois Secretary of State and AARP, is championing legislation that would raise the age for mandatory, in-person license renewals from 75 to 79. Under the plan, a road test would only be required at 87 instead of 79, unless the senior has a commercial license. Immediate family members would also be allowed to report medical concerns affecting a driver’s abilities. Supporters say this move recognizes seniors as some of the state’s safest drivers and streamlines the process for them.
Senator Ram Villivalam led an initiative in 2022 directing Illinois officials to examine how age influences driving safety. The resulting study found that older adults in Illinois rank among the state’s safest drivers. Based on these findings, Illinois raised the age requirement for mandatory senior driving tests. This adjustment has produced positive results, benefiting older drivers by limiting unnecessary testing while also reducing long wait times at driver services offices. Supporters argue these changes ensure road safety without placing undue burden on older adults, reflecting a data-driven approach to policy and public service improvements in Illinois.
“Our senior drivers are proven to be the safest drivers on the road, yet they are continuously burdened with some of the strictest driving test requirements in the nation,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “We need to ensure that processes, such as renewing a license, continue to be accessible to all, especially for those who pose the least amount of risk to other drivers.”
“This measure will align Illinois’ senior driving standards with the rest of the nation while increasing safeguards so we continue to demonstrate leadership in road safety,” Villivalam said. “It’s time to adjust this unnecessary and burdensome requirement unfairly placed on our state’s safest drivers.”
