Driver's License

Operator Permit Requirements

• Certified birth certificate
• Social security card (or completed affidavit by the parent with the minor’s social security number) 
• Address verification (must present 2 items):
  • Address verification items 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 with the minor’s 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.
• Cost: $6.00 / $16.00 for out of county convenience.

School Permit Requirements

• Completed and passed Driver's Education,
• 6 months of having a permit with no accidents or citations,
• 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.
• Completed Affidavit for Minor School License (Iowa DOT Form 430021)
• Please bring in your current license or know your social security number to your appointment.
• Cost: $16.00 / $26.00 for out of county convenience.

Intermediate License

• Must be at least 16 years old, 
• Completed and passed Driver's Education, 
• 1 complete year, 365 days, of having a permit with no accidents or citations,
• 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.
• Cost: $8.00 / $18.00 for out of county convenience.

Driver’s License/ID Manuals & Practice Tests

https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverslicense/manuals-and-practice-tests

Renewals are $4 per year for basic renewals. Motorcycle endorsements are an additional $2 per year.

• 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.
• Additional $10 transaction fee for out of county convenience.

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

More information on drivers education can be found here: https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverseducation

For a map showing approved local drivers education instructors: https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverseducation/private-driver-education-schools

All drive tests must be scheduled by the staff either over the phone or in-person. Monona County offers drive tests are offered daily, by appointment only.

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. 

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.

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.

Commercial Learners Permit (CLP)

Must be at least 18 years old

Valid for 1 year upon issuance, no renewal or grace period. If expired you will be require to do testing again.

If you do not have the Real ID you will need to provide a birth certificate, passport or INS document to get your CLP. See real ID requirements, if you want to get the gold star so you do not have to show your birth certificate each time you do anything with your CLP/CDL.

Must hold for a minimum of 14 days before completing skills test. ELDT will need completed prior to skills testing.

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: https://iowadot.gov/mvd/cdl/Entry-Level-Driver-Training-ELDT

Cost: $12 /$22 for out of county convenience.

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

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. 

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: https://iowadot.gov/mvd/cdl/Entry-Level-Driver-Training-ELDT

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 do not have a Real ID.

Cost: $8 per year of issuance / plus additional $10 transaction fee for out of county convenience.

• 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

Veteran Designation

Honorably discharged veterans are eligible to have a “veteran” designation placed on their driver’s license or non-operator identification (ID).

The veteran designation is a completely voluntary initiative designed to assist Iowa veterans. There are thousands of businesses throughout Iowa and the United States, including restaurants, hotels and even home improvement stores that give discounts to veterans. Some of those businesses require proof of veteran status. The veteran designation on a driver's license or ID card allows you to be quickly identified as a veteran, eliminating the need to carry official military papers for these purposes.

There are two ways to receive the designation.

1.  Take a copy of your DD 214 Copy 4 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty from the Department of Defense) directly to a driver’s license issuance location.

2.  Ask your county Veterans Affairs office to complete the required Iowa DOT application form 432035, and then bring it to a driver's license issuance location.

Organ Tissue Donor Designation

Organ and tissue donation is a gift that saves and heals thousands of lives each year. It can provide comfort and solace to donor families as their loved ones leave a lasting legacy of hope and healing. For transplant recipients and patients on the transplant waiting list, the gift of donation offers a second chance at life; a chance to move forward and fulfill the legacy left behind by their gracious and courageous donor.

When applying for your Iowa ID or driver’s license, we will ask you if you are interested in being listed as an organ & tissue donor and having that reflected on your card. Anyone, including minors with parental/guardian consent, can register to be a donor when getting your Iowa ID or driver’s license. Your consent is captured when we review your information, preferences, and have you sign for your ID or license. Please remember that you are never too young, never too old, and don’t rule yourself out because of a medical issue or condition.

You can always update your preference to be an organ and tissue donor when you are issued your ID or driver’s license during an in-person or online issuance transaction. You can also get more information about donation and register to be a donor on the Iowa Donor Network’s website, https://www.iowadonornetwork.org/.

Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Indicator

During an in-person or online issuance transaction, you can request that your license or ID indicate your status as “deaf” or “hard-of-hearing.” If you choose to add this to your license or ID, it will also be visible in the database used by law enforcement to lookup a driver’s information during a traffic stop. This information may help officers better understand a customer’s behavior if they appear to be non‐responsive to verbal questions due to their hearing status, resulting in a more successful interaction with a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual. This is a voluntary indicator and is not a restriction of driving privileges.

Medical Advance Directive Indicator

During an in-person or online issuance transaction, you can request that your license or ID indicate that you have a medical advance directive. An advance directive, sometimes known as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care, is a legal document that allows you to convey your wishes and decisions for end-of-life care. Indicating that you have a medical advance directive on your license may be helpful to medical providers in the event of a crash. This is a voluntary indicator and is not a restriction of driving privileges.

Medical Alert Indicator

During an in-person or online issuance transaction, you can request that your license or ID display a “medical alert” indicator. The presence of this indicator signals that you have a medical condition that may require urgent attention in the event of a crash, which may help law enforcement or emergency medical personnel provide the appropriate aid to you. This is a voluntary indicator and is not a restriction of driving privileges.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Indicator

During an in-person or online issuance transaction, you can request that your license or ID indicate on the front of the card that you have an autism spectrum disorder. If you choose to add this to your license or ID, it will also be visible in the database used by law enforcement to lookup a driver’s information during a traffic stop. This is to help avoid miscommunication issues and negative interactions for people with an autism spectrum disorder, simply because they may not behave in a way that is expected. The information assists in alerting law enforcement that the driver may exhibit a demeanor or display behaviors that could otherwise be misinterpreted. This is a voluntary indicator and is not a restriction of driving privileges.

Iowa DOT REAL ID Info    View REAL ID flyer