Select Your Free 2021 IA Practice Permit Test to Get Started

Iowa has instituted a Graduated Driver’s License Program for first time drivers. Here are the stages and age requirements:

• 14 years old – Learner’s Permit
• 14 ½ years old – Minor School License
• 16 years old – Provisional License
• 17 years old – Full Driver’s License

You will need:

• Written consent from a parent or legal guardian
• Proof of identity (example: birth certificate or passport)
• Proof of residency
• Social Security Number, such as your Social Security Card
• $6 for fee payment

Here is more information on acceptable proof.

At the local Iowa Department of Transportation office.

Call (800) 532-1121, (515) 244-8725 or (515) 244-8725. You can also visit https://iowadot.gov/mvd/iowa-dot-locations.

Yes, Iowa requires completion of driver’s education as part of its Graduated Driver’s License Program.

To transfer your out-of-state Learner’s Permit, Intermediate Driver’s License or Full Driver’s License to an Iowa Learner’s Permit or Driver’s License, you need to be at least 16 years old, have held your out-of-state permit or license for 12 months, have completed driver’s ed, have at least 20 hours of driving practice and not have had any accidents or moving violations in the last six months.

The Iowa permit test covers road signs, traffic laws and other rules of the road covered in the Iowa Driver’s Handbook. Here are two examples of content from the driver’s manual that could be covered on the test:

• When starting to parallel park, you should signal and stop with the rear bumper of your vehicle even with the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of the place you want to park.

• Accelerate gradually and smoothly. Trying to start too fast can cause the drive wheels to spin, particularly on slippery surfaces, and cause the vehicle to slide.

It is multiple choice.

No, there are no trick questions on the test. All questions are drawn from the driver’s manual – so you should be careful to study it page by page.

There are 35 questions on Iowa written test and you need to answer at least 28 of them correctly to pass.

It is best to take a two-pronged attack: 1) study the Iowa Driver’s Manual thoroughly and 2) take practice tests online to gauge your progress and direct your studies. Take a practice test now.

We offer the handbook for free on this website.

Study the state driver’s manual carefully from cover to cover and also take online practice tests, which can help you identify problem areas and ensure you focus more of your studies on the content you need to know. To assess your current knowledge of Iowa’s driving rules, take a practice test.

You should review the driver’s manual and take another practice test so that you are confident you know the material. You should also plan on getting plenty of rest so that you are energetic and thinking clearly the next day. One more thing: be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to get to the test so you are not feeling rushed and stressed when you sit down to take it.

If is recommended that you make an appointment, if possible.

You will take the test at a local Iowa DOT office.

• Written consent from a parent or legal guardian
• Proof of identity (example: birth certificate or passport)
• Proof of residency
• Social Security Number, such as your Social Security Card
• $6 for fee payment

Here is more information on acceptable proof.

You should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Yes, you will need to pay a $6 fee.

The test will contain 35 questions covering traffic laws, road signs and general safe driving techniques. You will need to answer at least 28 of the questions correctly to pass. You cannot refer to the driver’s manual or any notes while taking the test. You can complete the test on your schedule – there is no time limit. Take a practice test formatted like the real thing.

You will receive your Learner’s Permit and can begin your behind-the-wheel driving practice. You need to log 50 total hours of practice driving, with 10 of those hours coming at night.

You can retake the test.

You can retake it as soon as the next business day.

Now you can begin your driving practice with a licensed driver who is a parent or legal guardian, an immediate family member age 21 or older, a driver’s ed teacher or a licensed adult age 25 or older.

You need to log 20 hours of driving practice, with two of those hours at night.

You will also need to complete driver’s education.

This course will include 30 hours of classroom instruction, 20 minutes on railroad crossing safety and organ donation and six hours of laboratory instruction.

To apply for a provisional license you:

• Need to be at least 16 years old
• Must have held your Learner’s Permit for at least 1 year and have no traffic violations
• Need to have completed 20 hours of driving practice, with two hours at night

Yes, as long as you are accompanied by a qualified driving supervisor.

No, you must also complete at least 2 hours of driving at night.

Yes, you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, an immediate family member age 21 or older, a driver’s ed teacher or a licensed adult age 25 or older.

You can replace a lost Learner’s Permit by visiting a local Iowa driver license office. You will need to present identification like when you applied for your permit.

Be sure to practice driving as much as possible and also be sure to pay attention during your driver’s ed course. You should also study your Iowa Driver’s Manual and apply the tips and concepts revealed in the book to your driving efforts. Finally, don’t forget to listen to your driving supervisors and be sure to implement their tips and critiques.

You should practice turns, parking, changing lanes, braking, accelerating, checking your mirrors, following at a safe distance and other common driving maneuvers.

Ask people who have taken the test to describe what they had to do and practice those maneuvers, such as parking and turning. Your driver’s ed teacher should also have insight into what you will be tested on during the driving test. Finally, if possible drive the roads that are included on the test to better familiarize yourself with them.

Contact your local driver’s license office.

The test will be administered at a driver’s license office near you.

Be sure to bring the following with you to the DOT office:

• Learner’s Permit
• Parent or guardian or completed consent form (Form 430018).
• $8 payment for provisional license

You will also need to bring:

• A properly functioning vehicle
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance

A licensed parent or legal guardian should bring you.

During the driving test you will be asked to display competency at both making common driving maneuvers on a course and driving on the road in actual traffic. Some of the maneuvers you may have to perform include parking, turns, stopping, accelerating and more. When driving in traffic you will need to display a good understanding of defensive driving techniques..

Reasons for failure can range from nerves to failing to signal to not checking mirrors to improper hand position on the wheel, speeding and more. When taking the test remember to stay calm and focused on the task at hand.

• Not paying attention to speed and going over the limit
• Failing to come to a complete stop
• Not checking mirrors when changing lanes
• Overcorrecting during a turn
• Not driving according to road conditions

You can retake the test as soon as you like.

No, there is not fee to take the retest.

You will receive your provisional license.

Restrictions include:

• You can drive without supervision from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• You can drive with the supervision of a parent or guardian, immediate family member age 21 or older or designated adult 25 or older during the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Iowa requires all drivers to carry auto insurance. The state’s minimum requirements are:

• $20,000 bodily injury per person per accident
• $40,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident
• $20,000/$40,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

You can renew your Iowa driver’s license up to 30 days before the expiration. The Iowa DOT is currently transitioning from a license validity period of 5 years to 8 years and during that period you will be assigned a random expiration date anywhere between 5 and 8 years.

If your license is lost or stolen, you can get a duplicate license for a $10 fee at your local DOT office. You will need to bring identification documents.

You can renew your Iowa license online or in person at the local driver’s license office.

If required to renew in person, the answer to this question is yes.

The state of Iowa considers good vision to be essential for safe driving in the state and requires license holders to have a minimum of 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.