Illinois DSD X 152 Form: 50-Hour Practice Driving Log

Illinois DSD X 152 Form: 50-Hour Practice Driving Log – Illinois Secretary of State Form DSD X 152 is the official 50-Hour Practice Driving Log / Under Age 18 Applicant. This fillable PDF document is required for teenagers under 18 who are progressing from an instruction permit to a graduated driver’s license under Illinois’ Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program.

The form provides a structured chart for recording supervised behind-the-wheel practice hours. It is issued by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office under current Secretary Alexi Giannoulias and is designed solely as a convenience tool to help families document the mandatory practice time.

You can download the current official version (March 2026 revision) directly from the Illinois Secretary of State website: Download Form DSD X 152 (PDF).

Why Is the 50-Hour Practice Driving Log Required?

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for people ages 15–20 in the United States. Illinois law requires a minimum of 50 hours of supervised practice driving — including at least 10 hours at night — to give novice drivers real-world experience in different conditions, locations, and times of day before they receive a full driver’s license.

These 50 hours are in addition to any behind-the-wheel time completed with a certified driving instructor during a state-approved driver education course. The practice must be supervised by a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult who is at least 21 years old and has held a valid driver’s license for a minimum of one year.

According to the official Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing program page, parent or guardian certification of these hours is mandatory when the teen applies for their initial license at age 16 or older.

Key Requirements for Completing the 50-Hour Log

To satisfy Illinois requirements using Form DSD X 152, the following rules apply:

  • Minimum of 50 total hours of supervised practice driving.
  • At least 10 of those hours must be nighttime driving.
  • All hours must be completed while the teen holds a valid instruction permit.
  • The instruction permit must be held for a minimum of nine months before applying for a driver’s license.
  • The supervising adult must be age 21 or older and licensed for at least one year.
  • Hours spent with a professional driving instructor do not count toward the 50-hour total.
  • The teen must remain conviction-free during the permit phase.

These rules are outlined on the official Illinois Secretary of State GDL overview page and on the form itself.

How to Fill Out Form DSD X 152?

The form contains a simple log table. For each practice session, record the following information:

  • Date of the practice session
  • Location of Practice (examples: highway, residential area, parking lot, rural roads)
  • Weather Conditions (sunny, rainy, snowy, foggy, etc.)
  • Daytime hours driven
  • Nighttime hours driven
  • Running Daytime Total
  • Running Nighttime Total
  • Grand Total (day + night cumulative)
  • Initials of the supervising adult

At the bottom of the form, the parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must sign to certify that the minimum 50 hours (including 10 nighttime hours) have been completed and that the teen is sufficiently prepared to operate a motor vehicle safely.

The form is fillable when opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download it to your computer before entering information for best results, as recommended on the official Driver’s License and ID Card Publications and Forms page.

Who Can Supervise the Practice Hours?

Illinois law is specific: every hour logged on Form DSD X 152 must be supervised by someone who is:

  • At least 21 years of age, and
  • Has held a valid driver’s license for a minimum of one full year.

This can be a parent, legal guardian, or another responsible adult who meets the criteria. The supervisor sits in the front passenger seat and provides guidance throughout the session. Their initials on each log entry confirm they were present for that specific practice drive.

When and How to Submit the Form?

Form DSD X 152 is not mailed in advance. Bring the completed and signed log with you when the teen applies for their graduated driver’s license at an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility.

Additional documents typically required at that appointment include:

  • Valid instruction permit (held for at least nine months)
  • Proof of completion of a state-approved driver education course
  • Parent or guardian written consent (or a notarized Affidavit/Consent for Minor to Drive — Form DSD X 174 if the parent cannot appear in person)
  • Acceptable identification documents

For the most current list of acceptable documents and facility locations, visit the official Illinois Secretary of State website at ilsos.gov.

Tips for Successful Practice Driving Sessions

Experienced driver education providers and the Illinois Secretary of State recommend spreading the 50 hours across the full nine-month permit period rather than rushing them at the end. Aim for variety:

  • Practice in residential neighborhoods, busy city streets, highways, and rural roads.
  • Include different weather and traffic conditions when safe to do so.
  • Schedule nighttime sessions after dark (the 10-hour minimum is a legal requirement, not a suggestion).
  • Use the log after every session so totals stay accurate and nothing is forgotten.
  • Review the Parent-Teen Driving Guide (available on the SOS publications page) for additional safety tips and conversation starters.

Download the Official Form DSD X 152

Always use the current official form issued by the Illinois Secretary of State. Third-party versions may be outdated or incomplete.

Download the Official Illinois Form DSD X 152 — 50-Hour Practice Driving Log (PDF)

The form is also listed on the complete publications page: Driver’s License and ID Card Publications and Forms.

Related Resources from the Illinois Secretary of State

Parents and teens should also review these official materials:

All forms and publications are available free of charge on the official Illinois Secretary of State website. Using the official Form DSD X 152 ensures your teen’s practice hours will be accepted when applying for a driver’s license at any Illinois Driver Services facility.

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