Official Iowa DOT: Iowa driver's license types and fees

Fees and license types

Non-commercial driver's license
Motorcycle/Moped
Commercial Driver's License
ID card only

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

*Licenses issued to persons 78 and over will be valid for two years.

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.

License type	Cost	Duration of license
Motorcycle endorsement (added to an existing license)	$2/year	Same expiration as existing license
Motorcycle license only - Class M	$6/year	8 years*
Motorcycle instruction permit	$2/year when adding to an existing license, or $14 if you are obtaining a motorcycle instruction permit and do not currently have another type of license.	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.
Moped (motorized bicycle) license only	$8	2 years

*Licenses issued to persons 78 and over will be valid for two years.

License type	Cost	Duration of license
Class A commercial	$8/year	8 years*
Class B commercial	$8/year	8 years*
Class C commercial	$8/year	8 years*
Commercial learner's permit (must be added to an existing license)	$12	1 year

*Licenses issued to persons 78 and over will be valid for two years.

Minimum age for a CDL is 18, however, you 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). If an endorsement is added outside your regular renewal period, a $10 fee will be charged for printing a new card with the new endorsement(s).

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

License type	Cost	Duration of license
Identification card only (Class O)	$8	8 years

Replacement license or ID card

There is a $10 fee for a replacement license or non-operator ID card (e.g., change of address, name change, lost or stolen).
There is no charge to replace a defective license.

Military fee exemption

Active duty military members, honorably discharged veterans, and veterans with a permanent 100% service-connected disability rating are exempt from certain driver’s license fees. Get more information about military fee waivers.

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*

*There will be a $1.50 credit card processing fee if using a credit card as a form of payment.

County locations may charge an additional convenience fee.

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.
K	Intrastate only.
L	Vehicles without airbrakes.
M	No class A passenger vehicle.
N	No class A or B passenger vehicle.
O	No tractor-trailer CMV.
P	No passengers in CMV bus.
Q	No interstate or freeway - applies ONLY to non commercial license.
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.
V	Medical variance.
W	Restricted CDL.
X	No cargo in CMV tank vehicle.
Y	Intermediate license.
Z	No full airbrake equipped CMV.

DMV