Driver's license/ID

Fees and license types

  • There is a $10 fee for a replacement license or nonoperator ID card (e.g., change of address, name change, lost or stolen).
  • Licenses issued to persons under the age of 18 or persons who are temporary foreign nationals will be issued driver's licenses with shorter renewal periods set by Iowa law.
  • All nonoperator's ID cards will be valid for eight years with a cost of $8.
  • There is no charge to replace a defective license.
  • There are additional fees for commercial endorsements.
  • License issued to persons 78 and over will be valid for two years.

Accepted forms of payment

  • Cash (USD)
  • Check
  • MasterCard (debit and credit)
  • Visa Debit only (no Visa credit card) - Visa Debit is acceptable as long as you don't use Interlink or Shazam (specified on the back of the Visa card)
  • Discover credit card

Noncommercial driver license

License type Cost Minimum age Duration of license
Class C – Operator $4/year 16 See expiration date chart
Class D – Chauffeur $8/year 18 See expiration date chart
Class C – Instruction Permit $6 14 4 years
Class D – Chauffeur Instruction Permit $12 18 2 years
Class C – Minor’s School License $8 14 1/2 2 years
Class C – Minor’s Restricted License $8 16 2 years
Upgrade from operator license to chauffeur or commercial license $4/year (existing license will be prorated) 18 Based on existing license

Motorcycle/Moped licenses

License type Cost Minimum age Duration of license
Motorcycle endorsement (added to an existing license) $2/year 16 Same expiration as existing license
Class M - Motorcycle license only $6/year 16 8 years*
Motorcycle instruction permit   $2/year when adding to an existing license, or $14 if you are obtaining a motorcycle instruction permit only and do not have another type of license 14 Same expiration as existing license when adding to an existing license, or 4 years if you are obtaining a motorcycle instruction permit only and do not have another type of license. A motorcycle instruction permit will be issued for one four-year term with no renewal permitted.
Motorcycle permit only $14 14 4 years
Moped (motorized bicycle) license only $8 14 2 years
*Licenses issued to persons 78 and over will be valid for two years.
 

Commercial driver's license (CDL)

License type Cost Minimum age Duration of license
Class A commercial $8/year 18** 8 years*
Class B commercial $8/year 18** 8 years*
Class C commercial $8/year 18** 8 years*
Commercial learner's permit (must be added to an existing license)
 
 $12 18** 1 year
*Licenses issued to persons 78 and over will be valid for two years.
**Must be 21 years old to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate travel
 

Endorsements

The following endorsements are used exclusively in conjunction with a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
CDL endorsement Cost
Double/triple trailers $5
Passenger $10
Tank vehicles $5
Hazardous materials
 
 $5
School bus $10

Note: If you haul hazardous materials in a tank vehicle, you will need to get a haz-mat/tank combination endorsement.  You will have to pass both the tanker and the hazardous materials knowledge examinations and complete the federally required fingerprint-based threat assessment.  The cost will be $10.


Remove restriction from CDL license

Certain restrictions may be added to your CDL based on the type of vehicle you drive. The following restrictions require a fee to remove the restriction from your CDL and may require a pre-trip inspection test or a skills and driving test.
CDL restriction Cost
Remove air brake restriction $10
Remove full air brake restriction  $10
Remove manual transmission restriction  $10
Remove tractor-trailer restriction 
 
 $10

 

Identification card only (ID)

License type Cost Minimum age Duration of license
Identification card only (Class O) $8 No minimum age requirement 8 years

 


License restrictions and definitions

Restriction Definition
B Corrective lenses - when corrective lenses are used to obtain visual acuity reading
C Mechanical aid - to be detailed using the J restriction
D Prosthetic aid - to be detailed using the J restriction
E Automatic transmission
F Both outside mirrors - visual acuity less than 20/100 in the left eye
Binocular field of vision less than 140 degrees
Vision specialist or physician recommendation
G No driving when headlights are required - visual acuity 20/50 or less
H Temporary Restricted License (TRL)
I Ignition interlock required
J Restrictions are described on the back of card
Q No interstate or freeway - applies ONLY to non commercial license
R Maximum speed of 35 mph
S SR required (proof of financial responsibility)
T Medical report required at renewal
U Not valid for two wheel vehicle - applies ONLY to motorcycle license