NOTE: All Secretary of State facilities (DMVs) will be closed from November 17, 2020 through December 7, 2020. Updates wil provided here as we receive communication from the Secretary of State.
Students will need to meet the following requirements before applying for an Illinois instruction permit:
Note: It is also recommended that students complete the first two sessions of their Excel course before applying for their permit, as they are prepped for the written test during those first two classes.
When applying for a permit, students will also need to bring the following documentation:
All courses starting in 2020 will be offered VIRTUALLY
Courses are INTERACTIVE, and taught by a LIVE, CERTIFIED DRIVER’S EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR. No Pre-recorded Sessions.
Meets the Secretary of State classroom requirement
Multiple classes starting weekly, all summer
Easy to schedule makeup sessions if students need to miss class
No charge to switch courses if sports/activities resume
No instruction permit needed to start the course
Virtual makeup session options will be available for students who began their course in 2019 or later. How it works:
NOTE: We are entering attendance manually into our system, so please give us sometime to get your student’s attendance updated in their console.
As we are entering the fall/winter seasons, students who received their permits in JUNE, JULY OR AUGUST can now begin to schedule driving time. To do so, please follow the instructions below:
For the safety of our students, staff and all families, students will have the option to forgo observation time to complete out their state requirements without needing to make up this time at a later date. Further details will be given by instructors when scheduling. Students who prefer to complete their observation time may do so in the future, when it is deemed safe to do so.
All behind the wheel sessions will be one-on-one instruction until further notice.
Home pickup will be temporarily suspended to maximize availability. All behind the wheel sessions will originate and end at an Excel facility. Instructors will give further details when scheduling.
The following safety protocols have been instated for all behind the wheel sessions until further notice:
They must turn 15 before the final day of class. Example: If the class starts January 1st and ends February 17th, your student may enroll in the class as long as he/she turns 15 by February 17th.
The Illinois Secretary of State requirements are all based on what age a person is applying for their license. Students who are looking to obtain a license before they turn 18 must show proof of the following:
Teens under the age of 18 are required to drive 50 hours with a licensed driver over the age of 21 who has had their license for over a year. 40 hours should be completed during daylight and 10 hours should be completed at night. Your driving hours with an instructor may not count towards the 50 unless you purchase extra hours after the original package hours are completed.
Absolutely. All instructors are certified through the Secretary of State including extensive training and background checks.
We accept cash, check and all major credit/debit cards.
A deposit of $100 is due at the time of registration. The remaining balance is due 14 days after the start date of the class, however, students/parents who need to pay in installments can do so without penalties. Balance must be paid in full before any behind the wheel time can be scheduled.
There is. If the drive is cancelled within 24 hours of the lesson, you will "forfeit" the drive. This will require you to pay an additional $50.00 to reinstate that lesson. If you cancel before the 24 hour window, there is no fee.
Students can are allowed 4 absences during the duration of their class, HOWEVER, all missed classes must be made up. If a student misses more than 4 days, the state law requires that students must start the course over.
You can sign up for a make-up session by logging into your account and clicking on the tab labeled “classes.” After the session is missed, the class will be highlighted in red with a button that says "schedule make-up." There are two ways to make up, In-Class or Independent Study. **you must miss the class before scheduling the make up session
Independent Study: Student sits outside of the classroom and completes assigned tasks based on the day of absence.
In-Class Make Up: Student selects whatever session that was missed and participates in that exact class, which will be led by the certified classroom instructor. This method is the easiest and most enjoyable for students.
Forms can be printed from our website once your student logs into their profile. Select the header labeled “forms” and click on the title of each form to download a printable version. These forms are also attached to the Welcome Email you receive a few days before class begins.
If you do not remember the password or username, please call the office.
Excel will help prepare your student for the written test by having them take a practice permit test on the second day of class. This is NOT the offical exam. The offical written exam is administered at any full service DMV. Once your student passes the written and vision exams at the DMV, they are issued a learners permit.
Behind-the-wheel sessions can be booked directly through the student portal. To do so, please follow the instructions below:
Students may switch their behind the wheel instructor at anytime by calling the main office at 630.983.9235.
Once they are enrolled in our program there are two options:
1. You may pick up a permit application 30 days before class begins and take your student to the DMV. This is a good option if your student is at least 15 and 3 months. In order to obtain the permit they must be 15 and be able to pass the written and vision tests. ** You MUST come to the main office in Naperville to receive this document.
2. On the second day of class your student will take a practice permit test. Upon passing the exam they will be given the permit application. As long as your student is 15, they can obtain their permit by passing the vision and written exams at the DMV.
Log in to your student’s account and check their “Status” under Student Details. If their status is “Complete”, everything has been sent to the State’s office and you may start checking cyberdriveillinois.com. If their status is “Incomplete” we are missing either a form, a class needs to be made up, or there is still a balance on the account. If the status says “Active”, please give us a call so we may double check the file.
Scroll down to the box that says “Online Services” and click on “Drivers Education Course Completion Check.” Enter in your student Drivers License/Permit Number and click submit.
To be eligible for their license they must take a 6 hour adult course (if they did not take the 30 hours of classroom instruction before they turned 18). Excel offers this course one Saturday per month from 11:00am-5:00pm at our Naperville location for $100. Once the student is 18, there is no driving requirement but they must obtain a Permit from the DMV before they apply for their license. They will receive information about obtaining the permit during the 6 hour course. Please call the office to register.
Absolutely. Although this class is geared toward students between the ages of 18 and 20, this class may help you learn the Rules of the Road and prepare you for the Permit test at the DMV.
Great question. Each person is unique in their abilities to pick up a new skill. That being said, the average adult student usually completes around 6 hours with an instructor before applying for their license. We find our adult students to be most successful when they have a friend or family member to practice with, in addition to lessons with one of our instructors.
We sure do. We charge $65 per hour as well as a variety of other options. A 2 hours package is $125, 3 hours is $180, 6 hours is $330 and 10 hours is $545. If you are looking for something different, give us a call.
No worries, we are here to help! We offer the Remedial Class once a month at our Plainfield Location. The 4 hour course is $100.00 and is held from 11am-3pm one Saturday per month. Once the class is completed, we will send your information to the Secretary of State’s office so you may get your license reinstated. Please call the office to register.
Please bring the letter you received stating you must take the Graduate To Safety Remedial Course. If you can not find this letter, please bring something that contains your Driver’s License number.