Iowa driver's license
Get your first license in Iowa after moving to the US.
The short answer
An Iowa driver license starts with an instruction permit, which lets you learn to drive with an experienced driver helping you.1 A standard Class C license costs $4 for each year it is valid.2 If you fail the knowledge test, the examiner decides when you may take it again.3 Carry your license or permit with you whenever you drive.4
How it goes
- 1You arriveYou have moved to Iowa and you want to drive here.
- 2Your permitYou practice on the road with a learner permit.
- 3The written testYou take the written test.
- 4Behind the wheelYou take the drive test behind the wheel.
- 5Your licenseYou pass the tests, and the license is yours.
What it costs
| What you pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| A first license to drive your own car, for every year it stays valid2 | $4 for each year |
| A chauffeur license, for every year it stays valid2 | $8 for each year |
If you just arrived in the US
Tests you take
Tries you get on the written test
If you fail, you may repeat the test at the discretion of the examiner.3
Practising with your permit
Who can sit with you while you practise
An instruction permit lets you learn how to drive with the help of an experienced driver.1
What to bring to the drive test
Who comes with you
You should always have your driver's license or permit with you while driving.4
Where to go
Office locations
Browse all DMV locations in Iowa at https://iowadot.gov/drivers-licenses-ids/find-dmv-location/all-dmv-locations.7
Other states
U
Sources
Every numbered fact above is quoted from the page that publishes it, in the words it uses.
- 1
“The instruction permit gives you the chance to learn how to drive with the help of an experienced driver.”
iowadot.gov/…/drivers-license-types-restrictions-endorsementsChecked August 4, 2026
- 2
“Operator - Class C $4/year See expiration date chart* Chauffeur - Class D $8/year See expiration date chart*”
iowadot.gov/…/feesChecked August 4, 2026
- 3
“An applicant who fails a knowledge test may repeat the test at the discretion of the examiner.”
legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/761.604.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
- 4
“You should always have your license or permit with you while driving.”
web.archive.org/…/downloadChecked July 28, 2026
- 5
“c. A driver’s license issued to a foreign national with temporary lawful status shall include the”
legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/07-16-2025.761.605.pdfChecked July 28, 2026
- 6
“"Temporarily present in this state" means a person who has temporary lawful status as defined in 6 CFR Section 37.3 effective January 1, 2024.”
legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/761.605.pdfChecked August 2, 2026
- 7
“https://iowadot.gov/drivers-licenses-ids/find-dmv-location FINAL-URL: https://iowadot.gov/drivers-licenses-ids/find-dmv-location TITLE: Find a DMV Location | Department of Transportation Captured via connected Chrome (get_page_text), 2026-07-26 — iowadot.gov returns HTTP 403 to curl (Cloudflare bot block) and renders page bodies client-side, so the rendered DOM text is the only real capture. Link targets read from the same loaded DOM: "All DMV Locations" => https://iowadot.gov/drivers-licenses-ids/find-dmv-location/all-dmv-locations --- Find a DMV Location Find a DMV Location Browse all DMV locations in Iowa.”
iowadot.gov/drivers-licenses-ids/find-dmv-locationChecked July 26, 2026
Applying for a driver's license in Iowa?
Answer a few questions and see the steps that apply to you.