Gather all documents you will need to submit or present to apply for the procedure. Use the link provided on the 'Required Documents' section to create a checklist of documents you should bring when you apply.
Go to a drivers license station.
Complete the required form and submit all necessary documents.
Iowa DOT
General information: 515-239-1101
Drivers license information : 800-532-1121 (toll free in Iowa) or 515-244-8725
Commercial vehicle information : 800-925-6469 (toll free in Iowa)
Different types of licenses for drivers under age 18:
Instruction permit:
Be at least 14 years old.
Your parent or guardian must provide written consent, either in-person at a drivers license issuance site or complete the Parents/Guardians Written Consent Form (form 430018).
Pass the written and vision test.
Provide a primary form of identification, proof of residency, and proof of Social Security number.
Next Step: Intermediate license:
Be at least 16 years old.
Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.
Must hold an instruction permit for at least 12 consecutive months and maintain a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for an intermediate license.
Parent or guardian of the applicant must provide written consent. Either in-person at a drivers license issuance site or complete the Parents/Guardians Written Consent Form (form 430018).
Complete 20 hours of supervised driving in addition to any driving you completed in drivers education. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.
Minor school license (optional):
Be at least 14 1/2 years old.
Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.
Hold an instruction permit and a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for your minor school license.
Live 1 mile or more from the school you are enrolled in, unless a special need exists. If you have more than one residence, where you live is the location you reside the majority of the time.
You must have your school superintendent, principal, or school board chair AND your parent or guardian sign Affidavit for School License (form 30021) available at any drivers license issuance site or online.
Along with providing your completed Affidavit for School License, you may be required to complete a drive test at the drivers license issuance site.
Next step: Intermediate license:
Be at least 16 years old.
Hold an instruction permit (or instruction permit and minor school license) for at least 12 consecutive months.
Maintain a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for an intermediate license.
Your parent or guardian must provide written consent. Either in person at a drivers license issuance site or complete the Parents/Guardians Written Consent Form (form 430018).
Complete 20 hours of supervised driving in addition to any driving you completed in drivers education. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.
Final step: Full license:
Be at least 17 years old.
Keep your intermediate license for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for a full license.
Maintain a clean driving record for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for a full license.
Complete 10 hours of supervised driving while holding your intermediate license. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.
Once you turn 18 you can obtain a full license without meeting these requirements.
C (noncommercial - operator): Two years/Five to eight years
D (noncommercial - chauffeur): Two years/Five to eight years
L (motorcycle license -added to existing license): Same as current license
M (motorcycle license only - new issuance): Two years/Five to eight years
Restriction 1 (motorcycle instruction permit) Must be added to an existing license: Same as current license
C - restriction 1 (motorcycle permit only - new issuance): Four years
C - restriction 2 (instruction permit) : Four years
Restriction 3 (commercial instruction permit) Must be added to an existing license: Six months
C - restriction 4 (chauffeur's instruction permit) : Four years
C - restriction 5 (motorized bicycle license - moped) : Two years
C - restriction 6 (minor's restricted license): Two years
C - restriction 7 (minor's school license): Two years
Upgrade from operator license to chauffer or commercial license: Prorate duplicate license
Starting Jan. 1, 2014, and continuing through Dec. 31, 2018, Iowa will transition from a standard five-year license term to an eight-year license term. During this time, Iowa driver's licenses will be issued with a randomly assigned expiration date between five and eight years.
Notes:
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 issued to persons 72 and over will be valid for two years.
Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M".
Even if you are still a teenager, you can apply for a drivers license fitting to your age. What is important is that you have passed the minimum qualifications set by the law.
Gather all documents you will need to submit or present to apply for the procedure. Use the link provided on the 'Required Documents' section to create a checklist of documents you should bring when you apply.
Go to a drivers license station.
Complete the required form and submit all necessary documents.
Iowa DOT
General information: 515-239-1101
Drivers license information : 800-532-1121 (toll free in Iowa) or 515-244-8725
Commercial vehicle information : 800-925-6469 (toll free in Iowa)
Different types of licenses for drivers under age 18:
Instruction permit:
Be at least 14 years old.
Your parent or guardian must provide written consent, either in-person at a drivers license issuance site or complete the Parents/Guardians Written Consent Form (form 430018).
Pass the written and vision test.
Provide a primary form of identification, proof of residency, and proof of Social Security number.
Next Step: Intermediate license:
Be at least 16 years old.
Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.
Must hold an instruction permit for at least 12 consecutive months and maintain a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for an intermediate license.
Parent or guardian of the applicant must provide written consent. Either in-person at a drivers license issuance site or complete the Parents/Guardians Written Consent Form (form 430018).
Complete 20 hours of supervised driving in addition to any driving you completed in drivers education. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.
Minor school license (optional):
Be at least 14 1/2 years old.
Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.
Hold an instruction permit and a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for your minor school license.
Live 1 mile or more from the school you are enrolled in, unless a special need exists. If you have more than one residence, where you live is the location you reside the majority of the time.
You must have your school superintendent, principal, or school board chair AND your parent or guardian sign Affidavit for School License (form 30021) available at any drivers license issuance site or online.
Along with providing your completed Affidavit for School License, you may be required to complete a drive test at the drivers license issuance site.
Next step: Intermediate license:
Be at least 16 years old.
Hold an instruction permit (or instruction permit and minor school license) for at least 12 consecutive months.
Maintain a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for an intermediate license.
Your parent or guardian must provide written consent. Either in person at a drivers license issuance site or complete the Parents/Guardians Written Consent Form (form 430018).
Complete 20 hours of supervised driving in addition to any driving you completed in drivers education. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.
Final step: Full license:
Be at least 17 years old.
Keep your intermediate license for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for a full license.
Maintain a clean driving record for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for a full license.
Complete 10 hours of supervised driving while holding your intermediate license. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.
Once you turn 18 you can obtain a full license without meeting these requirements.
C (noncommercial - operator): Two years/Five to eight years
D (noncommercial - chauffeur): Two years/Five to eight years
L (motorcycle license -added to existing license): Same as current license
M (motorcycle license only - new issuance): Two years/Five to eight years
Restriction 1 (motorcycle instruction permit) Must be added to an existing license: Same as current license
C - restriction 1 (motorcycle permit only - new issuance): Four years
C - restriction 2 (instruction permit) : Four years
Restriction 3 (commercial instruction permit) Must be added to an existing license: Six months
C - restriction 4 (chauffeur's instruction permit) : Four years
C - restriction 5 (motorized bicycle license - moped) : Two years
C - restriction 6 (minor's restricted license): Two years
C - restriction 7 (minor's school license): Two years
Upgrade from operator license to chauffer or commercial license: Prorate duplicate license
Starting Jan. 1, 2014, and continuing through Dec. 31, 2018, Iowa will transition from a standard five-year license term to an eight-year license term. During this time, Iowa driver's licenses will be issued with a randomly assigned expiration date between five and eight years.
Notes:
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 issued to persons 72 and over will be valid for two years.
Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M".
Even if you are still a teenager, you can apply for a drivers license fitting to your age. What is important is that you have passed the minimum qualifications set by the law.
An intermediate license allows the license holder to:
Drive without adult supervision between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.
Drive at any time with adult supervision. Adult supervision means your parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21 years of age, a driver education instructor, or a person at least 25 years with written permission from your parent, guardian, or custodian. The supervising adult must possess a valid driver's license.
A minor school license allows you to drive without adult supervision between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. for the following:
Drive from your home to your school(s) of enrollment or school sponsored activities using the most direct and accessible route. Activities must be at the school(s) you are enrolled in.
Drive to a school that is not your school of enrollment to participate in extracurricular activities conducted at that school under a sharing agreement with your school of enrollment.
Drive to and from your home to the closest school bus stop.
Stop for fuel while on route or at the closest filling station off route.
License holders may also drive at any time with adult supervision. Adult supervision means your parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21 years of age, a driver education