Illinois DSD CDTS 27 Form: Safety Inspection Guide – Commercial driver training schools in Illinois must keep their training vehicles in safe, legal condition. The official form that documents fleet changes and safety inspections is Illinois Secretary of State Form DSD CDTS 27 — Safety Inspection — Driver Training School Motor Vehicle Fleet. This guide explains what the form is, who must use it, how to complete it, and where to submit it so school owners and managers stay compliant with state rules.
What Is Form DSD CDTS 27?
Form DSD CDTS 27 is the official Illinois Secretary of State schedule used by licensed commercial driver training schools to report additions and deletions to their motor vehicle fleet. It also records the safety inspection details required by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The full title is “Safety Inspection – Driver Training School Motor Vehicle Fleet (Supplement – Additions and Deletions).” The current version is available as a fillable PDF from the Illinois Secretary of State.
You can download the official form here: https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_cdts27.pdf.
The form appears on the Secretary of State’s Commercial Drivers Publications and Forms page under Commercial Driver Training Schools and is also listed as the “Fleet Sheet” on the Commercial Driver Training Schools information page.
Why Illinois Requires the Safety Inspection Form?
Under Illinois Administrative Code Title 92, Part 1060, Section 1060.110, every motor vehicle used by a driver training school or instructor for driving instruction must be safety-inspected by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Evidence of that inspection must accompany the school’s initial or renewal license application. Any new vehicle added after the license is issued must also be inspected, and proof must be filed with the Secretary of State.
Illinois Vehicle Code Section 6-410 further requires dual-control brakes (with limited exceptions for commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and motor-driven cycles), side mirrors, proper school identification signs, valid registration, and a current safety-inspection sticker. Form DSD CDTS 27 is the document that links the fleet list, the IDOT inspection, and the school’s insurance certificate so the Secretary of State can issue the required insurance-certificate sticker.
Who Must File Form DSD CDTS 27?
Any Illinois commercial driver training school licensed by the Secretary of State must use this form when:
- Adding a vehicle to the training fleet
- Removing a vehicle from the training fleet
- Submitting the vehicle fleet schedule as part of a new or renewal license application
The form must be filed with the Commercial Driver Training School Division within ten (10) days of any addition or deletion. Only an authorized representative listed on the school’s license application (owner, manager, partner, or corporate officer) who has already filed a personal-history schedule may sign the form.
Key Requirements for Training Vehicles
Before a vehicle can be listed on Form DSD CDTS 27 and used for instruction, it must meet these standards:
- Pass an IDOT safety inspection (evidenced by a blue receipt and inspection certificate number)
- Be equipped with dual-control service brakes (and dual clutch if equipped with a standard transmission), except for commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles, and motor-driven cycles
- Have driver and passenger side-view mirrors that show at least 200 feet to the rear
- Display the full school name on signs visible from the front and rear in letters at least two inches tall
- Be owned or leased in the name of the licensed school or school owner and properly registered with the Secretary of State
- Carry the minimum liability insurance: $50,000 bodily injury/death of one person, $100,000 for two or more persons, and $10,000 property damage
- Remain in safe mechanical condition (doors, mirrors, windshield, exhaust, lights, seat belts, brakes, tires, etc.)
- Display a current safety-inspection sticker and the Secretary of State insurance-certificate sticker on the lower right of the front windshield
Commercial driver training school vehicles must be inspected every six months. Public high-school driver-education vehicles follow a different schedule once they exceed five model years or 75,000 miles.
How to Complete Form DSD CDTS 27?
The form has two main sections: Additions and Deletions.
Additions section requires:
- School name, street address, city, state, ZIP, and phone
- For each vehicle: year, make, serial (VIN) number, license plate number, whether owned or leased, lessor name and address if leased, date of inspection, inspection certificate number, and inspector’s initials
- Inspection station name, address, and city (completed by the vehicle inspection station)
- Signature of the authorized school representative
The applicant swears that every vehicle listed is equipped with dual controls, registered to the school, in safe mechanical condition, properly identified with school signs, and properly insured.
Deletions section requires the year, make, decal number, license number, ownership status, and lessor information (if applicable) for each vehicle no longer used for training. The school must also affirm that the safety-inspection/insurance-certification decal has been removed and destroyed.
Important notes printed on the form:
- The schedule will not be accepted unless the signer is an authorized representative already on file and personal-history paperwork has been submitted.
- Insurance certificates for all vehicles listed in the Additions section must accompany the form.
Where and How to Submit the Form?
Mail the completed Form DSD CDTS 27 (and required insurance certificates) to:
Illinois Secretary of State
Commercial Driver Training Section
1800 W. Hawthorne Lane
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: 630-520-9310
Schools should keep copies of all submitted schedules and inspection receipts for their records. License renewals must be filed at least 15 days before the current license expires.
Related Forms and Resources
Form DSD CDTS 27 is typically submitted together with or after these related documents:
- DSD CDTS 10 – Insurance Certificate
- DSD CDTS 24 – Driver Training School Application for Main License
- DSD CDTS 8 – Schedule 1 Personal History of Owner or Manager
Official sources for current rules and forms include:
- Illinois Secretary of State Commercial Drivers Publications and Forms
- Commercial Driver Training Schools page
- 92 Ill. Adm. Code 1060.110 – Safety Inspection of Driver Training School Motor Vehicles
- Illinois Vehicle Code Section 6-410
Tips for Staying Compliant
Keep a running inventory of every training vehicle and update Form DSD CDTS 27 within the ten-day window whenever a vehicle is added or removed. Schedule IDOT inspections well before the current sticker expires. Always attach current insurance certificates when adding vehicles. Removing the inspection and insurance stickers when a vehicle leaves the fleet prevents misuse and keeps the school’s records accurate.
Operators outside Illinois who train drivers for Illinois licenses or who operate multi-state fleets should still follow Illinois rules for any vehicle used for Illinois-licensed instruction.
Conclusion
Form DSD CDTS 27 is a straightforward but essential compliance tool for every Illinois commercial driver training school. By completing the form accurately, attaching the required insurance certificates, and filing it promptly with the Commercial Driver Training Section, school owners protect their license, keep students safe, and meet the clear requirements of the Illinois Secretary of State and the Illinois Department of Transportation. Download the current PDF, keep copies of every submission, and contact the West Chicago office at 630-520-9310 with any questions.
Official download link: https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_cdts27.pdf