Driver's License

136

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Services & Testing
Skip the Trip Testing
CDL Information
Real ID Requirements
Address Changes
New to Iowa?
Suspensions & Revocations
Iowa DOT Contact Info

Hours

Renew your license 30 days before or 60 days after your birthday. If your license has been expired for more than one year, full testing (computer and skills) are required.

Services can be made by appointment only between 8:15 am and 3:45 pm Monday through Friday. The last appointment for exams is at 3:30 pm. Car drives are available on Tuesday mornings between 8:30 and 11:30 am. A current vehicle insurance card is required as well as a vehicle in good condition.

Appointments are required for Driver's License services including drive skill tests. They can be made by calling our office at 515-462-1542.

Call 515-462-1542

Services & Testing

Permit Test Requirements

Certified birth certificate,
Social security card (or completed Affidavit for Minor School License (Iowa DOT Form 430021) by the parent with the minors social security number),
Address verification:
- Must show 2 items,
- This can include any of the following: student report card or other correspondence showing name & address, birthday card, bank statement, paystub, or any other piece of mail.
  - If you can only find one, we may use one from the the minors parents name (as long as the address is the same).
A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment or this Parent Consent Form (Iowa DOT Form 430018) must be completed prior to the appointment.

Affidavit for Minor School License Parent Consent Form

We offer computer tests starting at 8:15 a.m. and the last test of the day must start by 3:30 p.m.

Iowa DOT Practice Test

Skip the Trip

Most schools in Madison County offer permit testing through the Iowa DOT and local schools called Skip the Trip. If you wish to take the test through your school, inquire further with the school& administration. Once the student passes the test at the school, all the above listed documentation is still required to be issued the permit.

If the student is home schooled or wishes to take the test at home with a home proctor, the application and more information on the process can be found on the Iowa DOT website.

Iowa DOT Take Test From Home

Parent Taught Driver's Education

The Iowa DOT also allows for Parent Taught Driver's Education. You must apply to enter this program, complete the required items, submit those to the DOT at the end and then the student must drive with a licensed DOT examiner. To drive in Madison County, we only drive on Tuesday mornings, by appointment only. If you've completed everything and need to book a 'skills driving test, ' you must call the office at 515-462-1542.

Parent Taught Driver's Education

Moped Licenses

Must have a valid drivers permit,
Must be 14 years old,
- If under age 16, must have completed and passed an Iowa approved moped course.
- If age 16 or older, no additional testing or endorsement is required with a valid Iowa license,
A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment or this Parent Consent Form (Iowa DOT Form 430018) & must be completed prior to the appointment,
Please bring in your current license or know your social security number to your appointment.

List of Moped Instructors Parent Consent Form

Special Minor's Restricted License (SMRL) aka School Permit Requirements

Starting July 1, 2024, minors must:

Be at least 14 1/2 years old,
Completed and passed an Iowa approved Driver's Education course,
Have 6 months of having a permit,
Have 6 consecutive months prior to apply with no accidents or citations,
Be enrolled at a public, private or homeschool,
Have the appropriate school authority AND a parent or legal guardian sign the Affidavit for Special Minor's Restricted License (Iowa DOT Form 430021),
Have parent or legal guardian complete the Parental Consent for Special Minor's Restricted License (Iowa DOT Form 430022),

Please bring in your current license or know your social security number to your appointment.

Affidavit for Special Minor's Restricted License Form Parental Consent for Special Minor's Restricted License Form

Starting July 1, 2024, a new law allows students to drive without adult supervision to:

School sponsored activities,
Extracurricular activities,
Your job or to complete farm-related work if you live or work on an Iowa farm.
Driving is restricted to within one hour before and/or after, using the most direct route and distance is within 25 miles of your home.
Consequences for getting caught outside of these restrictive perimeters can suspend your license for 3 months and will hold you at this license for a longer time frame.

Intermediate License

Must be at least 16 years old,
Completed and passed an Iowa approved Driver's Education course,
Have held your permit for 1 complete year (365 days),
Have a clean driving record (no accidents or citations) for at least 6 consecutive months prior,
A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment or this Parent Consent Form (Iowa DOT Form 430018) must be completed prior to the appointment.
Please bring in your current license or know your social security number to your appointment.

Parent Consent Form

An intermediate license allows you to drive without adult supervision between 5 am - 12:30 am.

You are required to follow the restrictions of each of the above licenses, until you upgrade to the next license. For example, once you turn 17, if you have completed the requirements, its important to make an appointment to come in and upgrade to your full license with no restrictions. If you do not come in and upgrade to your full license, you are still under the restrictions of the intermediate license. This could result in a citation even though you've met the requirements of the full license.

Full License

Must be at least 17 years old,
Keep your intermediate license for at least 12 consecutive months,
Maintain a clean driving record for 12 consecutive months,
Complete 10 hours of supervised driving while holding your intermediate license.
Or upon turning 18 you can obtain a full license without meeting the above requirements.

Renewals

Renewals are $4 per year for basic renewals. Motorcycle endorsements are an additional $2 per year.
Out-of-county customers will be charged a $10.00 convenience fee.

Renewal Requirements

8-year renewals | 18 to 72-year-olds
7-year renewals | 73-year-olds
6-year renewals | 74-year-olds
5-year renewals | 75-year-olds
4-year renewals | 76-year-olds
3-year renewals | 77-year-olds
2-year renewals | 78-year-olds and older

Please bring in your current license or know your social security number to your appointment.

Issuance

All drivers, regardless of age, must take and pass drivers education or drive with an examinor to obtain a license.

Iowa DOT Drivers Education Map of Local Instructors

Drive Testing

All drive tests must be scheduled by the staff either over the phone or in-person. Madison County offers drive tests by appointment only on Tuesdays.

If your driver's license has been expired for over one year, full testing (written and skills) tests are required. Also, all parent-taught drivers education students must take the skills drive test.

Duplicate/Replacement

The cost to obtain a duplicate drivers license or identification card is $10. If you lose your card you can have a duplicate card issued as a replacement. Appointments are required for duplicate card transactions.

Out-of-county customers will be charged a $10.00 convenience fee.

Identification Cards

Identification card is $8.00.
Out-of-county customers will be charged a $10.00 convenience fee.

In Iowa, you can have an ID card or a driver's license; you are not allowed to have both. Iowa non-operator's ID cards will be issued with an expiration date of eight years.

If you are being issued an Iowa ID without having ever having been issued before, you are required to bring all the documents for the Real ID (see below).

Appointments are required for identification card transactions.

Payment Options

Cash
Checks made out to Treasurer, State of Iowa
Debit/credit cards for an additional $1.50

Commercial Drivers Licence (CDL)

CDLs are $8 per year. If you have the hazmat endorsement, testing is required at renewal time. Every five years, fingerprints and background checks are required as well. More information can be found on the Iowa DOT website.

If you have a CDL you must certify if you are interstate or intrastate. Intrastate includes using your CDL only within the state of Iowa while interstate is using your CDL while outside of the state of Iowa. If you certify as interstate you will need the following:

Medical card from your Doctor
Completed Certification for Commercial Drivers License

Failure to comply within the required timeline will result in a downgrade of your CDL.

Certification for Commercial Drivers License

The Iowa DOT made significant changes to the issuance of commercial drivers licenses starting February 7, 2022. To gather information about the new requirements in getting a CDL in the state of Iowa, visit the Iowa DOT page. To determine if you are required to complete entry-level driver training see the ELDT Applicability Fact Sheet.

Reminder! CDL holders must bring in their birth certificate, passport or INS document to renew if they don’t have a Real ID.

REAL ID Requirements

Enforcement at airports/federal buildings begins on: May 2025
Typical documents needed (you will need all three):
- Identity
  - Birth certificate, valid US passport, I-551 Resident Card, I-776 Employment Card
- Social security
  - Card or 1099/W-2 with full number listed on document
- Residency
  - Two pieces of mail or two documents with your name and address appearing together.
- You may also need proof of legal name change, if applicable
$10 if not at renewal time

Iowa DOT REAL ID Info View REAL ID flyer

Once you provide your identity documents to obtain the Gold Star/REAL ID, you do not need to provide these documents in the future.

Address Change

If you are an Iowa resident and have moved to a new residence, the cost to update the address shown on your drivers license or identification card is $10. Make an appointment above and at the appointment you can verbally give us your new address (mail is not required).

If you have moved to Iowa from another state or country, please see the section "New to Iowa" for more information about the requirements to be issued in Iowa. You can also inquire more with the Iowa DOT website for more information.

New to Iowa?

Learn how to get an Iowa driver's license:

If you have the REAL ID in the state you’re moving from, you will need to bring:
- Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate, INS documents)
- Proof of social security (social security card, anything listing your full social security number or social security number affidavit for driver's license or identification card services)
- Proof of residency x 2 (2 pieces of mail)
If you do not have the REAL ID on your out of-state-license, you will need to bring:
- Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate, INS documents)
- Proof of social security (social security card, anything listing your full social security number or social security number affidavit for driver's license or identification card services
- Proof of residency x 2 (2 pieces of mail)
- If your legal name has changed, you will need to bring in your certified legal name change documents (i.e. certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.).

Please note, if you plan on transferring your drivers license and motor vehicle records, you will need two appointments; one with drivers license and one with motor vehicle title transfers.

Suspensions / Revocations

OWI Brochure Iowa DOT Suspensions and Revocations

Iowa Department of Transportation

For questions regarding your drivers license or driving record information, please call the Iowa DOT at 515-244-8725. You also have the option to go to the Iowa DOT website to chat or email.