Do I need an Illinois Driver&#39;s License?
<p>I'm an international student on a J1 Visa pursuing a Master's degree at a university in Chicago. For the duration of my program I will live in Chicago, but will be leaving the US after finishing my program in approx 2 years. I have a driver's license from my EU home country along with the international drivers permit, which to my knowledge serves as translation.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a112.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Illinois rules of the road state the following:</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Individuals may drive in Illinois without a valid Illinois driver’s
  license if they meet one of the following circumstances:<br>
   [...]<br>
  Are an out-of-state student attending an Illinois college/university;
  they and their spouse and children may drive with a valid license from
  their home state or country.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Does this exemption apply to me? I'm unsure whether <code>out-of-state</code> means someone not living in IL but only commuting to IL, or someone without permanent residence, such as me. </p>

<p>"Out of state" means "not a permanent resident of the state".  A Californian student doesn't need to get an Illinois Driver's License (they can continue to use their Californian license), and nor does a German one (they can continue to use their German one).</p>

driving illinois