Students in the Graduate to Safety classroom with their instructor

Illinois Secretary of State certified

Get your license back on track.

One Sunday afternoon. A friendly classroom. No sign-up needed. Just walk in and we will take it from there.

Next class

Sundays

1:00 to 5:00 PM · Mt. Vernon

☎ Call (618) 509-0224 Get directions

$100Cash or card at the door

4 hoursSundays, 1 to 5 PM

No sign-upJust show up

Free retakeIf you do not pass

Where would you like to start?

Inside the classActivities, films, the test, and who teaches it.The Class

Get readyWhat to bring, how to pay, and quick answers.Before You Come

After the classYour certificate and how the state gets notified.After Class

Is this class for you?

License

Suspended, invalid or revoked

The Illinois Secretary of State requires this class before many licenses can be reinstated.

Court

Court ordered

Courts send drivers here for the traffic safety class they have to complete.

Ticket

Supervision or lower insurance

Completing the class can help keep a ticket off your record and may lower what you pay for insurance.

Under the state's rules, a driver age 15 to 21 who gets two violations within 24 months, or a Zero Tolerance Law violation, must complete this class to have a suspended license or permit reinstated. Your suspension notice tells you whether the class is required.

Not sure which one you are? Call (618) 509-0224. The phone is answered 24 hours a day.

Four hours, start to finish

Inside the class

A state-approved class taught in person, in a room of up to 30 students. You work through activities, hear a lecture, watch short films, and finish with a test.

What you will do

5 activities

Work it out

Following safety driving laws · Why I am here · Aggressive driving quiz · Comparing Illinois motorist safety laws with another state · Rules of the Road practice quiz

Lecture

Know the rules

Driver's license revocation, suspension, denial and cancellation, plus car insurance (SR-22), new Illinois motorist laws, and IDOT crash facts and statistics.

4 short films

See the real cost

Underage drinking · Texting · Distracted driving · Driving skills for life

Then: a 100-point final test (70 to pass), and a short course evaluation.

A fair test, and a free retake

You need at least 70 out of 100 to pass. If you do not pass, you can retake the class for free. Students who pass receive their Certificate of Completion that day.

If you are under 21

Court supervision

A driver under 21 is limited to one court supervision for serious traffic offenses, and must attend traffic safety school to get it. A driver under 18 must also appear in court with a parent or legal guardian.

Alcohol-related violations

A driver under 18 who gets court supervision for certain alcohol-related violations will be denied a full graduated driver's license for nine months.

Adults over 21 are sent here for offenses such as DUI, reckless driving, repeat traffic offenses, speeding, and driving on a suspended or revoked license. Your court or the Secretary of State will tell you what applies to you.

Taught by Jim Hanner

Jim has owned Southern Illinois Driving School since 1997. He holds a master's and a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University and an associate degree from Kaskaskia College. He directed driver education and worked as a school counselor at Woodlawn High School from 1996 to 2015, and has taught thousands of teen and adult students in private and public schools. The school is a family-owned Illinois small business.

No sign-up needed

Before you come

Bring a real photo ID, one piece of Illinois paperwork, and your payment. And please be on time.

What to bring

A real photo ID is required (a government-issued ID with your photo). Then bring any one of these:

Illinois Secretary of State suspension paperwork
Your Illinois driver's license
An Illinois Secretary of State ID
Illinois court paperwork
An Illinois traffic ticket

And your payment: $100, cash or credit card.

Be on time. Class starts at 1:00 PM. Arrive 15 minutes early so you are settled and checked in. Late arrivals are a problem, so leave extra time.

Save a few minutes

You do not have to register ahead. If you like, print the optional registration form, fill it out, and bring it with you. The brochure has the full class outline.

Registration form (fill in on screen) Class brochure (PDF)

Quick answers

Is a photo ID really required?

Yes. Bring a real, government-issued photo ID, along with one piece of Illinois paperwork and your payment.

What if I am running late?

Please be on time. Class starts at 1:00 PM sharp and runs until 5:00. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early. If something goes wrong, call (618) 509-0224 and ask.

Do I need to register first?

No. There is no advance registration. Arrive 15 minutes early. The optional paper registration form can save you a few minutes at the door.

How do I pay?

The class fee is $100. Pay at the door with cash or a credit card.

What if I do not pass or have to leave?

You can retake the class for free. There are no refunds once fees are paid.

Can I take this class online?

No. It is an in-person class at Times Square Mall in Mt. Vernon. If you live outside Illinois, check with your own state to make sure it accepts this course.

Is this a beginner driving class?

No. We are not a commercial driving school, and this class does not include beginner classroom or behind-the-wheel lessons.

Does finishing the class reinstate my license?

Finishing the class is one step. We report your completion to the Secretary of State, but reinstatement is a separate step with the state, and state reinstatement fees are separate from the class fee. Confirm with the Secretary of State that your driving privileges are back before you drive.

Which Sundays is there no class?

Class is held on Sundays, 1:00 to 5:00 PM. There is no class on Easter, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year's Day. When one of those falls on a Sunday, the class is the next Sunday.

Back on the road

After the class

Here is exactly what happens from the moment you walk in to the day the state updates your record.

From walking in to finished

Arrive 15 minutes earlyCheck in with your paperwork or ID and pay the $100 fee.
Take the class, 1 to 5 PMFour hours of state-approved lessons.
Pass the final testYou need at least 70 out of 100. Retake the class free if you do not.
Get your Certificate of CompletionPassing students receive it that day.
We report it to the stateWithin 24 hours we email your Pupil Status Report to the Secretary of State in Springfield. Their office can take up to ten working days to process it.

Lost your certificate?

We can issue a duplicate Graduate to Safety certificate. The fee is $35.00, paid online. Open the lost-certificate form, read it through, and fill it out. Questions? Call us any time.

Lost certificate form ☎ Call (618) 509-0224

Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Find us

Times Square Mall, Suite #28, next to Ashley Outlet.

Times Square Mall #28

3917 Broadway Street
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864

Class: Sundays, 1:00 to 5:00 PM. No class on Easter, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
Phone: (618) 509-0224, answered 24 hours a day.

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