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moving to Iowa from out of state
How do I get an Intermediate LICENSE when moving to Iowa from another state?
- At least 16 years of age.
- Held an instruction permit or comparable intermediate license in the previous state for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application for an Iowa license. If you have an out of state instruction permit only, you will need to pass the Iowa knowledge test.
- The minor's driving record must be free of contributive accidents and moving violations for six months.
- Completed the required supervised driving time (20 hours, two hours between sunset and sunrise).
- Written approval of parent/guardian.
- Completed an Iowa-approved driver education course. An out of state driver’s education completion certificate must be converted to an Iowa completion certificate by an Iowa driver’s ed instructor.
-OR-
- Qualifies for driver education waiver by meeting all the requirements below:
- Have driven under a valid driver’s license for at least one year in the prior state of residence. Six months of the one year period may include driving with an instruction permit.
- Resides with a parent or guardian.
- Have had no moving traffic violations on the minor’s driving record.
If you have a valid out of state driver’s license, but don’t meet the above requirements for the waiver, you will need to take a driving test at an Iowa DMV.
How do I get an Full LICENSE when moving to Iowa from another state?
- At least 17 years of age.
- Held a full privilege license or comparable intermediate license in the previous state for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application for an Iowa license.
- The minor’s driving record must be free of contributive accidents and for moving violations for the 12 months immediately preceding application for the Iowa license.
- Completed the required supervised driving time (10 hours, two hours between sunset and sunrise).
- Written approval of parent/guardian.
- Completed an Iowa-approved driver education course. An out of state driver’s education completion certificate must be converted to an Iowa completion certificate by an Iowa driver’s ed instructor.
-OR-
- Qualifies for driver education waiver by meeting all the requirements below:
- Have driven under a valid driver’s license for at least one year in the prior state of residence. Six months of the one year period may include driving with an instruction permit.
- Resides with a parent or guardian.
- Have had no moving traffic violations on the minor’s driving record.
If you have a valid out of state driver’s license, but don’t meet the above requirements for the waiver, you will need to take a driving test at an Iowa DMV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My family recently moved to Iowa. Can I transfer my permit that was issued by the state I previously lived in?
A: Maybe, but here are different rules depending on your situation:
- If you’re 14-17 years old and only had an instruction permit in the state you moved from, you’ll need to pass the operator knowledge test, complete an Iowa-approved driver’s education course*, and hold a valid permit for six months with a clean record to get a special minor's restricted licnese. Time with a permit in your previous state can count towards the six months.
- If you’re 16 and had an instruction permit and/or intermediate license in your previous state for the last 12 months, you need a clean record for the past six months, complete 20 hours of supervised driving (with 2 hours after sunset) and finish an Iowa-approved driver’s education course* to get an intermediate license.
- If you’re 17 and want a full license, you need to have held a comparable intermediate license in your previous state for the last 12 months, have a clean record for six months, complete 20 hours of supervised driving (with 2 hours after sunset), and finish an Iowa-approved driver’s education course*.
*You may be able to skip the driver’s education course if you’ve had an intermediate license for 12 months or a combination of an instruction permit and intermediate license for 12 months, with at least six of those months being on the intermediate license, live with a parent or guardian in Iowa, and have no moving violations.
Q: I took driver’s ed in another state. Can I use that to qualify for an Iowa license?
A: It’s possible, but it can be complicated. An Iowa driver’s education instructor [link to DE webpage] will need to review your out-of-state course to see if it meets Iowa’s requirements. If it does, you’ll get an Iowa driver education certificate. They might also ask you to take a driving test with DMV staff.
If your out-of-state course doesn’t meet Iowa’s requirements, you might still qualify for a waiver if:
- You’ve had an intermediate license for 12 months or a combination of an instruction permit and intermediate license for 12 months, with at least six of those months being on the intermediate license.
- Live with a parent or guardian in Iowa
- Have no moving violations.