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.

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.

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.

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.

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

More information on driver's education can be found at Iowa DOT - Driver's Education

A map showing approved local driver's education instructors can be found at Iowa DOT - Private Driver Education Schools

All drive tests must be scheduled by the staff either over the phone or in person. Keokuk County offers drive tests 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 driver education students must take the skills drive test.

The cost to obtain a duplicate driver's license or identification card is $10. If you lose your card you can have a duplicate card issued as a replacement.

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 ever having been issued before, you are required to bring all the documents for the Real ID (see below).

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.

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.

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.