Category: Iowa

Photo: >Author Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Iowa’s “school license” is officially the special minor’s restricted license. A teen can get one from age 14, after holding an instruction permit for 6 months. It allows unsupervised driving on the most direct route to school, work, farm work and the nearest service station, usually up to 25 miles. This post explains who qualifies, exactly where and when you can drive, and what happens if you break the rules.

Key facts (Iowa Code section 321.194, Iowa Code 2026)

• Ages: 14 to 17.
• Permit: held for at least 6 months, so the earliest practical age is 14 and a half.
• Driver education: an approved course must be completed, unless Iowa DOT accepts that it would cause a hardship.
• School certification: required on the Iowa DOT form.
• Clean record: no suspension, at-fault crash or moving violation in the previous 6 months.
• Distance: up to 25 miles per trip, with no limit between home and school if you attend a public school in your own district.
• Passengers: no more than one unrelated minor.
• License code: shown as restriction 7 (special minor’s restricted license) under Iowa DOT rules.

Who can get an Iowa school license?

1. Hold an Iowa instruction permit, or a comparable permit from another state, for at least 6 months. See the Iowa permit test.
2. Complete an approved driver education course. Iowa DOT can waive this if completing it would be a hardship.
3. Get a certification that you are enrolled at the school for classes or extracurricular activities:
   • Public school: certified by the school board, the superintendent, or the principal if the superintendent authorizes it.
   • Accredited nonpublic school: certified by the school authorities or their representative.
   • Competent private instruction (home school): certified by the primary instructor.
4. Have a parent or guardian sign the consent affidavit.
5. For driving to a job, or to farm work for pay, your parent or guardian must also complete a written consent form naming the employer or farm location.

Where can you drive on an Iowa school license?

You can drive alone only on the most direct and accessible route between these places:

• your residence. Up to three residences are allowed with a parent consent form, which must be kept in the car.
• your school, or where you receive private instruction
• your place of employment
• farm work locations, if you live on a farm or are paid to work on one in Iowa
• the closest service station, to refuel

Each trip can be no more than 25 miles of driving. You must have the license card with you.

Allowed purposes

• Going to scheduled classes, and coming home afterward
• Taking part in extracurricular activities, including at another school for students receiving independent private instruction
• Working a scheduled shift, with parent consent
• Helping parents, guardians or an employer with farm work
• Refueling

When you can drive

Only during the hour before and after your scheduled classes, activities, work shift or farm work begins and ends.

Iowa school license restrictions

Unless a qualified supervisor is beside you, you must not:

• drive outside the time windows above
• carry more than one unrelated minor passenger. Siblings, stepsiblings and children living in your household do not count.
• drive on any highway outside the allowed routes
• drive to work or farm work without the parent consent form in the vehicle

The license is a Class C or Class M license. It does not cover commercial vehicles, vehicles with more than two axles, towing, or driving as a chauffeur.

What happens if you break the rules?

• Breaking these restrictions is a moving violation. That is stricter than on the intermediate license.
• Iowa DOT must suspend the license for three months if you break the restrictions, are at fault in a crash, or are convicted of one moving violation. Parking tickets do not count.
• Each suspension that happens after your 16th birthday delays your intermediate license by another three months.

Scenario

You live 30 miles from the school you attend through open enrollment. The 25-mile limit applies, because the unlimited home-to-school exception only covers students attending a public school in the district where they live.

Common questions

What age can you get a school permit in Iowa?

The law allows it from 14, but you must have held an instruction permit for 6 months first, so 14 and a half is the earliest.

Can I drive to my job on an Iowa school license?

Yes, to a fixed place of employment, if your parent or guardian completes the consent form with the employer’s name and address and you carry a copy.

Can I drive friends to school?

One unrelated minor at most, unless a qualified supervisor is with you.

Can I drive to practice on a Saturday?

Yes, if it is a scheduled extracurricular activity, within the hour before and after, on the direct route.

Does a home-schooled teen qualify?

Yes. Students receiving competent private instruction get the certification from their primary instructor.

Do I still need the intermediate license at 16?

Yes. The school license is a separate, limited license. You still need to meet the intermediate rules. See Iowa intermediate license rules.

Related: supervised driving hours and parent-taught driver education. Full guide: learning to drive in Iowa.

Sources

• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.194: Special minor’s restricted license” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.180B: Graduated driver’s licenses” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 605: License issuance” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Special Minor’s Restricted License” (iowadot.gov)

Photo: >Author TBKS1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Iowa requires 30 hours of supervised driving across the teen licensing process. You need 20 hours, 2 of them at night, before the intermediate license, then 10 more hours, again with 2 at night, before the full license. A parent signs an affidavit at each step. This checklist covers who can supervise, what counts as night driving, how to log it and how to spread the practice.

Key facts (Iowa Code section 321.180B, Iowa Code 2026)

• Permit to intermediate: 20 hours of street or highway driving, at least 2 after sunset and before sunrise.
• Intermediate to full: 10 hours, at least 2 after sunset and before sunrise.
• Proof: an affidavit signed by a parent, guardian or custodian on an Iowa DOT form.
• Parent-taught driver education: 30 hours including 3 at night. 20 of them can count toward the intermediate requirement.

Iowa supervised driving hours by stage

Stage	Total hours	Night hours	Minimum time in stage
Instruction permit, before intermediate license	20	2	12 months on permit
Intermediate license, before full license	10	2	12 months on intermediate
Parent-taught driver education course	30	3	During the permit stage

For other states, see supervised driving hours by state.

Who can supervise practice hours in Iowa?

For the affidavit hours, Iowa law accepts driving with any of these:

• the teen’s parent, guardian or custodian
• a driver education instructor
• a person certified by Iowa DOT
• a person 25 or older with written permission from a parent, guardian or custodian

The supervisor’s driving privileges must not have been suspended, revoked or barred during the period. On a permit, a licensed immediate family member 21 or older can also ride along as a supervisor, but that person is not on the statute’s list for affidavit hours. Ask Iowa DOT before counting their hours.

Iowa parent log: what to record

For the standard route, the law asks for a signed affidavit, not a submitted log. A log makes the affidavit honest and easy to complete. Parent-taught driver education is different: the law requires a log with dates, notes and duration.

Date	Start and end time	Minutes	Day or night	Roads and conditions	Skills practiced	To improve	Supervisor

Iowa DOT also links to a Parent’s Supervised Driving Guide, published by the Safe Roads Alliance in association with Iowa DOT. It covers supervised practice and the GDL restrictions for the permit and newly licensed stages.

Night hours: what counts

Only driving after sunset and before sunrise counts. Sunset times in Iowa change a lot through the year, so winter evenings are the easiest time to get night hours.

Checklist: covering the skills, not just the hours

Early hours (permit)

• Mirror, seat and seat belt set-up; starting, steering and braking in an empty parking lot
• Residential streets: stop signs, right of way and four-way stops
• Turns at signals, including a flashing yellow arrow
• Parking: US parking rules

Middle hours

• Multi-lane roads, lane changes and blind-spot checks
• Roundabouts and railroad crossings
• Rural two-lane roads, sharing the road with farm equipment, trucks and cyclists: sharing the road

Later hours

• Interstate merging: freeway driving
• At least 2 night hours, including unlit rural roads
• Rain and, in season, snow: driving in snow, fog and rain

Intermediate stage (the extra 10 hours)

• Trips the teen will soon drive alone: school, work and highway routes
• 2 more night hours

Common questions

How many hours do you need to drive with a parent in Iowa?

20 hours, 2 at night, before the intermediate license, and 10 more, 2 at night, before the full license.

Does Iowa DOT collect my log?

For the standard route, a parent signs an affidavit. For parent-taught driver education, the log is part of the required evidence.

Do driver’s ed hours count toward the 20?

Driving with a driver education instructor is on the list of accepted supervisors. Under parent-taught driver education, 20 of the 30 hours count.

Can a friend’s parent supervise?

Yes, if they are 25 or older and have written permission from your parent, guardian or custodian.

Do I need the 10 extra hours if I am about to turn 18?

The 10-hour rule is part of the full license requirements for 17 year olds under section 321.180B. Check with Iowa DOT if you will be 18 before you qualify.

Related: Iowa intermediate license rules, parent-taught driver education, the Iowa driving test. Full guide: learning to drive in Iowa.

Sources

• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.180B: Graduated driver’s licenses” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.178A: Driver education, teaching parent” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Safe Roads Alliance with Iowa Department of Transportation, “The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program” (iowadot.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “For the parents of teen drivers: a resource for teen licensing” (iowadot.gov)

Photo: >Author Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Iowa lets a parent, guardian or legal custodian teach driver education instead of a school or commercial course. Under Iowa Code section 321.178A, the course includes 30 hours of street or highway driving, 3 of them at night. The student then has to pass an Iowa DOT driving test before getting an intermediate license. This post covers who can teach, what the course must include, the paperwork, and how the hours count toward the GDL requirement.

Key facts (Iowa Code 2026)

• Driving: 30 hours of street or highway driving, including 3 after sunset and before sunrise.
• Required topics: substance use disorder and distracted driving, railroad crossing safety, organ donation, and sharing the road with pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles.
• Course: must come from the Iowa DOT approved list, bought directly from the course vendor.
• Completion: the teaching parent applies for a certificate of completion and signs an affidavit with supporting evidence.
• Driving test: required, given by Iowa DOT.
• 20 of the 30 hours can count toward the 20 supervised hours needed for the intermediate license.

Is it 20 or 30 hours for Iowa parent-taught driver ed?

Both numbers appear because they measure different things.

Requirement	Hours	Night hours	Law
Parent-taught driver education course	30	3	Iowa Code section 321.178A
Supervised driving for the intermediate license (everyone)	20	2	Iowa Code section 321.180B
Supervised driving for the full license (everyone)	10 more	2	Iowa Code section 321.180B

The law lets 20 of the 30 course hours satisfy the 20-hour intermediate requirement, so a parent-taught student does not need 50 separate hours. The 10 hours for the full license still come later, while you hold the intermediate license. See Iowa supervised driving hours and the parent log.

Who can be a teaching parent in Iowa?

• The student’s parent, guardian or legal custodian.
• Their student must be meeting Iowa’s school attendance requirement (Iowa Code section 299.1).
• They must hold a valid license that allows unaccompanied driving. A motorized bicycle license or temporary restricted license does not qualify.
• They must have had a clear driving record for the previous two years. That means not being a habitual-offender candidate, not under suspension, revocation, denial, cancellation, disqualification or bar, and no conviction for a moving violation that caused a crash.

The student must be 14 to 20 and in the teaching parent’s custody and control. The teaching parent does not need separate approval from Iowa DOT before starting. The checks happen at certification.

Step by step: Iowa parent-taught driver education

1. Get the permit. See the Iowa permit test.
2. Choose an approved course from the list on the Iowa DOT parent-taught pages and buy it from the vendor.
3. Teach the course content. It must be equivalent to a school course. Classroom minutes, physical classroom rules and extra vehicle safety equipment are not required.
4. Drive the 30 hours, including 3 at night. The supervisor must be the teaching parent or a person qualified to give street or highway driving instruction.
5. Keep the log as you go. Record the date of each lesson, notes on driving activities including deficiencies and improvements, and how long you drove.
6. Apply for the certificate of completion on the student’s behalf.
7. Pass the Iowa DOT driving test, then apply for the intermediate license once the other requirements are met. See the Iowa driving test.

Evidence the teaching parent must provide

• Documentation that the instructor meets the teaching-parent definition
• Documentation that the attendance requirement is being met
• The name of the approved course
• An affidavit confirming completion of the course work and the driving instruction
• Copies of written tests, or other documentation if Iowa DOT accepts it
• A statement of classroom hours
• The driving log described above

Iowa DOT can deny the certificate if the teacher or student does not qualify, the course is not approved, or the documents are incomplete.

Parent-taught vs school driver education in Iowa

	Approved course (section 321.178)	Parent-taught (section 321.178A)
Classroom	At least 30 clock hours, no more than 180 minutes a day	Equivalent content, no set classroom hours
Driving	6 or more hours of lab instruction, at least 3 on the street or highway	30 hours, 3 at night
Iowa DOT driving test	Usually waived	Required
Can lead to a special minor’s restricted license?	Yes	The statute for that license refers to an approved driver education course. Check with Iowa DOT

Common questions

Do I have to homeschool to do parent-taught driver’s ed in Iowa?

The 2026 Iowa Code ties eligibility to the student meeting Iowa’s school attendance requirement and does not limit it to homeschool families. Check the current rules on the Iowa DOT parent-taught pages before you buy a course.

Can a grandparent teach parent-taught driver ed?

Only if they are the student’s parent, guardian or legal custodian and meet the other conditions.

Does parent-taught driver ed require a road test in Iowa?

Yes. The student must pass a driving test given by Iowa DOT.

How old must the student be?

Between 14 and 20.

Can another adult do some of the 30 hours?

The law allows the teaching parent or a person qualified to give street or highway driving instruction under section 321.178.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Iowa.

Sources

• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.178A: Driver education, teaching parent” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.178: Driver education” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.180B: Graduated driver’s licenses” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 634: Driver education” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 604: License examination” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Teach Driver’s Education to my Child” (iowadot.gov)

Photo: McGhiever, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Many Iowa teens never take a driving test with the DOT. Iowa waives it for students who complete an approved driver education course, unless a parent, guardian or instructor asks for one. You do need the test if you did parent-taught driver education, if you are an adult getting a first license without approved driver ed, or if a parent or instructor requests it. This post explains when the test applies, what the vehicle needs, and what the examiner looks for.

Key facts (Iowa Administrative Code 761, chapter 604)

• The driving test checks your ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of a vehicle in real traffic. It is also called a road test, field test or driving demonstration.
• Before the test you get form 430024, which explains the test criteria.
• The examiner directs you over one of several preselected routes.
• The examiner explains your score at the end. A result stays valid for 180 days.
• If you fail, the examiner decides when you can retest.

When do you need a driving test in Iowa?

Your situation	Drive test with Iowa DOT?
Under 18, passed an approved driver education course	Usually waived. Required if your parent, guardian or course instructor asks for one
Under 18, parent-taught driver education	Required before the intermediate license
Instruction permit only	No driving test for a permit
16 or 17, moving to Iowa after a year of licensed driving in another state	Written and driving tests as required by Iowa DOT
Holding a valid equivalent out-of-state Class C license, or one expired within a year	May be waived
Vision measured below 20/40 for the first time	Required before issuance

The waiver for approved courses only applies to your first Class C license that allows unaccompanied driving. The administrative rules exclude teaching-parent driver education from it. See Iowa parent-taught driver education explained.

What vehicle do you need for the Iowa driving test?

You provide a vehicle that is typical of the license class you want, plus proof of financial responsibility (insurance) for it. Autocycles cannot be used for a Class C test. The examiner inspects the vehicle first and will not start the test if it is illegal, unsafe or the wrong type.

Vehicle checklist (Iowa DOT)

• Two license plates. A single out-of-state plate or a temporary plate is accepted.
• Unexpired registration and insurance. Printed or electronic proof is accepted.
• A working horn, front and rear turn signals, and brake lights.
• At least one rearview mirror.
• Driver and front passenger doors that open normally, and a driver-side window that opens.
• Working seat belts.
• Working wipers, headlights and taillights if conditions require them.

Bring your permit, plus the vehicle’s registration and insurance.

Driver-assist features

Iowa DOT allows safety features such as back-up cameras during the test, but not convenience features such as adaptive cruise control.

What does the Iowa examiner check?

The examiner watches how you follow the rules of the road, signs and signals, and notes areas to improve. Form 430024 sets out the criteria for your test, so read it carefully when you get it. Practice the skills taught in chapters 4 and 5 of the Iowa Driver’s License Manual:

• Starting, smooth braking and steering control.
• Full stops at stop signs and correct yielding at intersections.
• Signaling, checking mirrors and blind spots, and changing lanes.
• Choosing a safe speed and following distance.
• Turning into the correct lane.
• Parking. See US parking rules for new drivers.

Ask Iowa DOT or your examiner for the full list of maneuvers. For how other states run their tests, see US road test by state and common reasons people fail.

Practice plan before an Iowa drive test

1. Finish your 20 supervised hours, including 2 at night. See Iowa supervised driving hours.
2. Drive the kinds of roads near your test location: residential streets, signal-controlled intersections and multi-lane roads.
3. Do a mock test with a parent using the criteria on form 430024.
4. Check the vehicle against the list above the day before.

Common questions

Do I have to take a driving test in Iowa if I took driver’s ed?

Not usually. Approved driver education lets Iowa DOT waive it, unless your parent, guardian or instructor asks for a test.

Does parent-taught driver’s ed need a road test?

Yes. Iowa Code section 321.178A requires a parent-taught student to pass a driving test given by Iowa DOT before getting an intermediate license.

Can I use a backup camera on the Iowa driving test?

Yes. Iowa DOT allows driver-assist safety features like back-up cameras, but not convenience features like adaptive cruise control.

What happens if I fail the Iowa driving test?

You can retest at the examiner’s discretion. The examiner explains your score at the end of the test, so you know what to work on.

Can I use a car with one license plate?

Only if it has a single out-of-state plate or a temporary plate. Otherwise Iowa DOT expects two plates.

How long is a passed driving test valid?

180 days.

For the full route from permit to license, see learning to drive in Iowa. For the rules that apply after you pass, see Iowa intermediate license rules.

Sources

• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Prepare for Your Driving Test” (iowadot.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 604: License examination” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.178: Driver education, restricted work license, reciprocity” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.178A: Driver education, teaching parent” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Iowa Driver’s License Manual” (iowadot.gov)

Photo: >Author Thesavagenorwegian, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An Iowa intermediate license lets 16 and 17 year olds drive alone between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. For the first six months, you may carry only one unrelated minor passenger unless a parent waives that limit. This post covers who qualifies, every restriction, the waivers, and how to move up to a full license at 17. It is written for Iowa teens and the parents who sign their forms.

Key facts (Iowa Code section 321.180B, Iowa Code 2026)

• Age: 16 or 17.
• Permit held for at least 12 months immediately before you apply.
• 20 hours of supervised driving, including 2 after sunset and before sunrise, confirmed by a parent affidavit.
• Approved driver education completed, either a course or parent-taught.
• No crashes or violations, and no suspension, in the 6 months before you apply.
• Hours: an accompanying driver is required between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m.
• Passengers: one unrelated minor for the first 6 months unless a parent waives it, and never more than the number of seat belts.

Who can get an Iowa intermediate license?

Requirement	Detail
Age	16 or 17
Permit	Iowa instruction permit, or a comparable permit from another state, held 12 months immediately before you apply
Supervised driving	20 hours, 2 of them at night, with a parent, guardian, custodian, instructor, person certified by Iowa DOT, or person 25 or older with written parent permission
Driver education	Approved course (Iowa Code section 321.178) or parent-taught course (section 321.178A)
Clean record	No crashes, violations, suspension, revocation or bar in the previous 6 months
Driving test	Waived after an approved course unless your parent, guardian or instructor asks for one; required after parent-taught driver education
Fee	License fee paid at issuance (Class C is $4 per year of validity under Iowa Code section 321.191)

Details: supervised hours, parent-taught driver ed and the Iowa driving test.

Iowa intermediate license hours: the 12:30 a.m. rule

You can drive without a supervisor from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Between 12:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., one of these people must sit beside you and hold a license valid for the vehicle:

• your parent, guardian or custodian
• an immediate family member 21 or older
• an approved driver education instructor
• a person 25 or older with written permission from your parent, guardian or custodian

School and work waiver (form 431170)

The law lets you drive alone between 12:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. to and from school-related extracurricular activities and work, if you have a waiver on the Iowa DOT form. Iowa DOT identifies this as form 431170. Keep the completed form in the vehicle whenever you drive during those hours.

Passenger limits on an Iowa intermediate license

• Always: no more passengers than there are seat belts.
• First 6 months: no more than one unrelated minor passenger when you drive without a qualified supervisor.
• Who counts as unrelated: anyone under 18 who is not your sibling or stepsibling and does not live in your household.
• Parent waiver: a parent or guardian can waive the six-month passenger limit only when the license is issued. If they do not, the license carries restriction code 9.

Scenario

Two months after getting your license, you drive your younger brother and two friends from school with no adult in the car. Your brother does not count, but two unrelated minors is one too many, unless your parent waived the limit at issuance.

Phones on an intermediate license

Iowa’s hands-free law (Iowa Code section 321.276) applies to every driver. You may not hold, view or manipulate an electronic device while driving. Voice-activated or single-touch hands-free use is allowed, but video calls, streaming and reading messages are not. See hands-free and texting laws for US drivers.

What happens if you break the rules?

• Breaking the hour or passenger restrictions is cited under section 321.180B. It is not treated as a moving violation, but Iowa DOT can suspend your license on evidence that you broke the restrictions.
• A moving violation or crash can lead to remedial driver improvement action or suspension.
• After a violation or crash, you cannot get a full license until you complete any remedial action and then stay accident and violation free for 12 months in a row.

Getting your full Iowa license at 17

1. Be 17 or older.
2. Hold the intermediate license, or a comparable one from another state, for at least 12 months immediately before you apply.
3. Have a parent affidavit for 10 more hours of supervised driving, 2 of them at night.
4. Have no crashes, violations or suspension in the previous 12 months.
5. Pay the license fee.

Iowa DOT rules let you apply for the upgrade electronically if your intermediate license was issued in person and you meet the other conditions. Otherwise, visit a service center. A license issued before age 17 years 11 months lasts two years from your birthday; after that age, it lasts up to eight years.

Common questions

Can I drive after midnight on an Iowa intermediate license?

Yes, until 12:30 a.m. From 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. you need a qualified supervisor, unless you are driving to or from work or a school activity and carry the waiver form.

How many friends can I drive with on an intermediate license in Iowa?

One unrelated minor for the first six months, unless your parent waived it when the license was issued. After that, the seat belt limit is the only passenger rule.

Can my parent remove the passenger limit later?

The law allows the waiver only at the time the intermediate license is issued.

Do siblings count toward the passenger limit?

No. Siblings, stepsiblings and children who live in your household do not count.

I moved from another state. Does my out-of-state permit time count?

A comparable instruction permit from another state counts toward the 12 months. If you held a license in another state for a year, see moving to a new state and Iowa DOT’s page for minors moving to Iowa.

What if I turn 18 before getting a full license?

The GDL rules in section 321.180B apply to people under 18. Check with Iowa DOT how your license converts.

For the whole route, see learning to drive in Iowa. To compare states, see GDL laws by state.

Sources

• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.180B: Graduated driver’s licenses for persons aged fourteen through seventeen” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.196: Expiration of license, renewal” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.276: Use of electronic device while driving” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.191: Fees for driver’s licenses” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 605: License issuance” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Intermediate License” and “Full License” (iowadot.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Passenger Restriction for an Intermediate License” (iowadot.gov)

Photo: Crcjfly, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Iowa permit test is a knowledge test on Iowa traffic laws and highway signs. Iowa DOT’s official practice test has 25 questions with an 80% pass mark. Teens can take the real test at a driver’s license service center, a county treasurer office, or at home online with a parent as proctor. This post covers eligibility, the home-test process and what happens after you pass.

Key facts

• Minimum age for an Iowa instruction permit: 14.
• Test content: Iowa traffic laws and the signs that regulate, warn and direct traffic, plus a vision screening (Iowa Administrative Code 761, chapter 604).
• Practice test: 25 questions drawn from a pool that includes real test questions, with 80% needed to pass. Iowa DOT sets the passing score for the real test and can revise the test at any time.
• A passing score stays valid for 180 days.
• Home testing: apply online; allow 7 to 14 days for approval.
• Permit fee: $6 under Iowa Code section 321.191 (Iowa Code 2026).

Who can take the Iowa permit test?

• You must be at least 14. Iowa Code section 321.180B allows instruction permits for ages 14 to 18.
• Under 18, a parent, guardian or custodian must sign a consent affidavit on the Iowa DOT form.
• You must pass the vision screening, unless you file a vision report from an eye specialist. Without corrective lenses, 20/40 or better in at least one eye means no vision restriction.

Can you take the Iowa permit test at home?

Yes. Iowa DOT runs an online permit test that a parent or guardian proctors at home (search for “Skip the Trip” on iowadot.gov).

Requirements

• The student is within 30 days of their 14th birthday or older, and under 18.
• The test runs on a computer connected to the internet. Phones and tablets are not allowed.
• The parent or guardian giving the test holds a valid Iowa driver’s license.

How it works

1. The parent submits the Application to Proctor Knowledge Exam. Iowa DOT says to allow 7 to 14 days for processing.
2. Once approved, the parent and the student each get an email with instructions.
3. The test link expires after 72 hours. If it lapses, you have to apply again.
4. Results arrive by email.
5. After passing, schedule a visit to a driver’s license service center or county treasurer office to get the permit issued.

The instructions email sets out the test-day rules for the proctor and student, so read it before you start.

Taking the test in person

• You can test at a driver’s license service center or a county treasurer office that offers driver’s license services.
• If you cannot read or understand the written test, you can ask for an oral test, given by an examiner or an automated device.
• If you fail, the examiner decides when you can try again.

How to study for the Iowa knowledge test

• Read the Iowa Driver’s License Manual, especially chapter 2 (Traffic Signs and Rules of the Road) and chapter 5 (Applying Your Driving Skills).
• Take the free Iowa DOT practice test until you pass it comfortably. The practice questions come from the same pool as the real test.
• Know the Iowa-specific rules: the GDL stages, supervisor rules, the 0.02 limit for drivers under 21 and the hands-free law.
• Learn signs by shape and color: US road signs by shape and color and pavement markings.

To see how Iowa compares with other states, see how many questions are on the permit test in each state.

What your Iowa permit lets you do

• You can drive anything except a commercial vehicle or a vehicle of 16,001 pounds or more GVWR. Keep the permit with you.
• Under 18, you must have a supervisor in the seat beside you. That can be a licensed parent, guardian or custodian; a licensed immediate family member 21 or older; an approved driver education instructor; or a licensed person 25 or older with written parent permission.
• You can carry only as many passengers as the vehicle has seat belts.
• The permit is valid for up to four years from your birthday in the year it was issued.

Next steps: log your supervised hours and plan driver education. The full route is in learning to drive in Iowa.

Common questions

How many questions are on the Iowa permit test?

Iowa DOT’s practice test has 25 questions. Check with Iowa DOT or at the service center.

What score do you need to pass the Iowa permit test?

The practice test needs 80%. Iowa DOT rules say the department declares the passing score for each test.

Can I take the Iowa permit test on my phone?

No. The at-home test needs a computer with internet access, not a phone or tablet.

Can I take the online test before I turn 14?

You can take it once you are within 30 days of your 14th birthday.

How long is my passing score good for?

180 days, under Iowa Administrative Code 761, chapter 604.

Do I get the permit right away after the home test?

No. You get the result by email, then go to a driver’s license service center or county treasurer office to have the permit issued.

Sources

• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Iowa Driver’s License Practice Test” (iowadot.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Online Permit Test (Skip the Trip)” (iowadot.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Instruction Permit for Under Age 18” (iowadot.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 604: License examination” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.180B: Graduated driver’s licenses” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.191: Fees for driver’s licenses” (legis.iowa.gov)

Photo: >Author Thesavagenorwegian, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Iowa you can get an instruction permit at 14, an intermediate license at 16 and a full license at 17. Between those steps you need approved driver education, 30 hours of logged supervised driving and clean driving records. This guide is for Iowa teens and their parents. It sets out each stage of the graduated driver licensing (GDL) system, what the Iowa Driver’s License Manual covers, and which detailed post to read next.

Key facts (Iowa Code 2026 and Iowa DOT)

• Agency: Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Motor Vehicle Division. Licenses are issued at driver’s license service centers and county treasurer offices.
• Instruction permit: ages 14 to 17. You pass a vision screening and a knowledge test, but no driving test.
• Intermediate license: 16 or 17. You need the permit for 12 months, 20 supervised hours (2 at night), driver education and 6 months with no crashes or violations.
• Full license: 17. You need the intermediate license for 12 months, 10 more supervised hours (2 at night) and 12 months with no crashes or violations.
• Special minor’s restricted license (the “school license”): from 14 once you have held the permit for 6 months. It is limited to routes to school, work and farm work.
• A parent, guardian or custodian must sign a consent form each time a permit or license is issued to someone under 18.

Iowa GDL stages at a glance

Stage	Age	What you need	Main limits
Instruction permit	14 to 17	Knowledge test, vision screening, parent consent	Always with a qualified supervisor in the front seat; passengers no more than seat belts
Special minor’s restricted license (optional)	14 to 17	Permit for 6 months, driver education, school certification	Most direct route to school, work or farm, up to 25 miles; one unrelated minor passenger
Intermediate license	16 to 17	Permit for 12 months, 20 hours (2 night), driver education, 6 months clean	Supervisor needed 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.; one unrelated minor passenger for the first 6 months unless a parent waives it
Full license	17	Intermediate license for 12 months, 10 more hours (2 night), 12 months clean	No GDL limits

Step by step: from Iowa permit to full license

1. Study the manual and pass the knowledge test. You can take it at a driver’s license service center or county treasurer office. You can also take it at home online with a parent as proctor. See the Iowa DOT permit test, including taking it at home.
2. Practice with a supervisor. Until 18, a permit holder must drive with one of these people in the front seat: a licensed parent, guardian or custodian; a licensed immediate family member 21 or older; an approved driver education instructor; or a licensed person 25 or older who has written permission from a parent.
3. Complete driver education. You can take an approved course at school or a licensed driving school. Parent-taught driver education is the other option. See Iowa parent-taught driver education explained.
4. Log your supervised hours. You need 20 hours (2 after sunset) before the intermediate license and 10 more (2 after sunset) before the full license. See Iowa supervised driving hours and the parent log.
5. Optional: get a school license. If you need to drive yourself to school or work before 16, see the Iowa minor school license explained.
6. Get the intermediate license at 16. A driving test is waived after approved driver education, unless your parent, guardian or instructor asks for one. Parent-taught students must take it. See when you need an Iowa driving test and what is checked.
7. Follow the intermediate rules for 12 months. See Iowa intermediate license rules for teen drivers.
8. Upgrade to a full license at 17. Iowa DOT rules let eligible teens apply to upgrade electronically if their intermediate license was issued in person.

What the Iowa Driver’s License Manual covers

The English manual on the Iowa DOT site is split into five chapters. Each chapter is also available as a separate PDF.

1. Your Driver’s License: who needs a license, carrying your license and insurance, and health screenings.
2. Traffic Signs and Rules of the Road: signs, signals, work zones, parking and intersections.
3. Preparing to Drive: vehicle maintenance, seat and mirror set-up, driver-assistance systems, seat belts, distractions, drowsy driving and Iowa 511.
4. Basic Driving Skills: starting, braking, steering, lane changes, passing and defensive driving.
5. Applying Your Driving Skills: intersections, highways, roundabouts, night and weather driving, sharing the road with trucks, motorcycles and bicyclists, crashes, and law enforcement stops.

The manual is also published in Spanish and French.

Iowa rules every new driver should know

Phones and electronic devices

Under Iowa Code section 321.276, no driver may hold, view or manipulate an electronic device while driving. Hands-free or voice-activated use is allowed. Video calls, video streaming and reading messages are not. The warning-only period ended on January 1, 2026, so officers now issue citations, and a violation counts as a moving violation. The same rule now covers teen drivers: the separate under-18 phone ban in section 321.180B was repealed in 2025. Some copies of the July 2026 manual still say permit, intermediate and school license holders may not make or take calls unless stopped off the road, so the safest habit for a new driver is no calls at all. For other states, see hands-free and texting laws for US drivers.

Alcohol and drugs

• Iowa’s operating while intoxicated (OWI) limit is 0.08 alcohol concentration. Any amount of a controlled substance in your blood or urine is also OWI.
• Drivers under 21 lose their license at 0.02 or more (Iowa Code section 321J.2A): at least 60 days, or at least 180 days at 0.08 or more.
• Even without a criminal conviction, operating while intoxicated means at least a 180-day revocation. Refusing a test means a one-year revocation and a fine of at least $1,250.
• A first OWI offense carries at least 48 hours in jail and a $1,250 fine under Iowa Code section 321J.2.
• An open container of alcohol, or a beverage containing THC, is not allowed in the passenger area. That area includes the glove compartment. The fine can be up to $200 for the driver and for each passenger.

Background: zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21, implied consent and DUI and drugged driving and cannabis.

Iowa numbers from the manual

• Carry with you: your license or permit, current registration and an insurance card (printed or electronic).
• Speed limits where none is posted: 20 mph in a business district, 25 mph in a residential or school district, 45 mph in a suburban district, 60 mph on primary roads and urban interstates, 70 mph on rural interstates. The interstate minimum is 40 mph.
• Signals: at least 100 feet before a turn where the limit is 45 mph or less, and at least 300 feet where it is higher.
• Parking: within 18 inches of the curb. Not within 5 feet of a hydrant, 10 feet of a stop sign, 20 feet of a fire station entrance or 50 feet of a railroad crossing, and not on a bridge outside city limits.
• School buses: on a road of three lanes or fewer, traffic in both directions stops. On four or more lanes, only traffic behind the bus stops. Stop at least 15 feet from the bus, and slow to 20 mph or less when you see amber lights. Passing illegally can cost your license for up to 180 days.
• Move Over or Slow Down: change lanes for any stopped emergency, tow, maintenance, construction or garbage and recycling vehicle with flashing lights, or slow down and be ready to stop if you cannot. Breaking it can mean a suspension of up to one year.
• Emergency vehicles: stay at least 500 feet behind one using lights and siren.
• Steer It, Clear It: after a crash with no injuries, move a drivable car out of the traffic lanes. Report a crash with injury, death or more than $1,500 of damage to police; failing to report within 72 hours costs your license.
• Passing: not within 100 feet of an intersection, a railroad crossing or a signed narrow bridge, viaduct or tunnel.
• Headlights: on from sunset to sunrise and whenever you cannot see 500 feet ahead.
• Seat belts: a primary offense, with fines up to $50 per passenger and $100 per passenger under 18.
• Pedestrians: since 2024 you must yield to pedestrians on foot and to anyone using a human-powered device (a pedestrian conveyance).
• Slow-moving vehicles: a reflective orange triangle means the vehicle travels at 35 mph or less.
• Window tint: the windshield and front side windows must let through at least 70 percent of light, with no medical exemption.
• Hot cars: Iowa law lets you break a window to help a person or animal trapped inside.

Crashes and violations during GDL

A moving violation or crash while you hold a permit or intermediate license can lead to remedial driver improvement action or suspension. It also restarts the clean-record clock before your next stage: 6 months for the intermediate license and 12 months for the full license.

General US topics in the Iowa manual

These chapters follow national standards. Our national guides cover them in detail:

• Signs and markings: US road signs by shape and color, US pavement markings, traffic signals
• Right of way: four-way stops, roundabouts, pedestrians and crosswalks, right on red
• School buses and trains: school bus stopping laws, railroad crossings
• Emergency vehicles: move over laws, pulling over for emergency vehicles
• Sharing the road and conditions: trucks, motorcycles and bicycles, snow, fog and rain, freeway driving
• After a crash: what to do after a car accident

To compare Iowa with other states, see how to get a driver’s license in the US and GDL laws by state.

Moving to Iowa as a teen driver

For licensing, you count as an Iowa resident once you have lived in Iowa for 30 days in a row, taken a permanent job here, enrolled a child in an Iowa public school, registered to vote, claimed a homestead or military property tax exemption, or receive Iowa public assistance. Visitors and students can drive on a current license from home.

A 16 or 17 year old Iowa resident who drove for at least a year as a resident of another state can get a Class C license without Iowa driver education. Up to 6 months of that year can be on a permit. You must live with a parent or guardian, have no moving violations on your record, and pass the written and driving tests. General advice: transferring your license to another state.

Common questions

How old do you have to be to drive in Iowa?

You can get an instruction permit at 14 and drive with a qualified supervisor. Unsupervised driving starts with the special minor’s restricted license, from 14 after 6 months on a permit, or the intermediate license at 16.

Do I need driver’s ed to get a license in Iowa?

Yes, if you are under 18. The intermediate license requires an approved driver education course or approved parent-taught driver education.

How long is an Iowa instruction permit valid?

Up to four years from your birthday in the year it was issued.

Can I carry friends on an Iowa permit?

Only as many passengers as there are seat belts, and only with your qualified supervisor in the front seat.

When can I drive alone at night in Iowa?

With an intermediate license you can drive alone from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. you need a qualified supervisor, unless you carry a waiver for school activities or work. A full license has no hour limits.

How much does an Iowa instruction permit cost?

Iowa Code section 321.191 sets the instruction permit fee at $6 and a Class C license at $4 per year of validity (Iowa Code 2026). Check the current figure with Iowa DOT before you visit.

Sources

• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.180B: Graduated driver’s licenses for persons aged fourteen through seventeen” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.194: Special minor’s restricted license” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.178: Driver education, restricted work license, reciprocity” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.191: Fees for driver’s licenses” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.276: Use of electronic device while driving” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Sections 321J.2 and 321J.2A” and “Section 321.284: Open containers” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 605: License issuance” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Driver’s Manual” and “Iowa Driver’s License Manual” (iowadot.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Under 18 Permit, License or ID” (iowadot.gov)

Photo: Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Iowa knowledge test checks Iowa traffic laws and the signs that regulate, warn and direct traffic. Iowa DOT’s own practice test has 25 questions with an 80% pass mark, so this page starts with a 25-question mock at that standard, then adds 15 questions on Iowa-specific figures taken straight from the Iowa Code. Everything here is original and unofficial; none of it is an Iowa DOT question.

Iowa permit test basics

• Minimum age: 14. Under 18, a parent, guardian or custodian signs a consent form.
• Content: traffic laws, signs and a vision screening (20/40 in at least one eye without lenses means no vision restriction).
• Iowa DOT’s practice test: 25 questions, 80% to pass. Iowa DOT sets the real test’s passing score, so ask Iowa DOT for the real question count.
• A passing score stays valid for 180 days.
• Teens can test at home online with a parent as proctor, from within 30 days of their 14th birthday.

Home testing and what happens after you pass: the Iowa DOT permit test guide.

Mock test (questions 1 to 25)

1. A sign shaped like an octagon always means:

• A. No passing
• B. Stop
• C. Yield
• D. Railroad

Answer: B. Only STOP signs have eight sides. Manual chapter: Traffic Signs and Rules of the Road.

2. Signs that regulate traffic, such as ONE WAY and speed limits, are mostly:

• A. Yellow diamonds
• B. Orange diamonds
• C. Blue squares
• D. Black and white rectangles

Answer: D. Regulatory signs tell you the law. See US road signs by shape and color.

3. A yellow diamond showing a truck on a slope warns of:

• A. A steep hill
• B. No trucks allowed
• C. A weigh station
• D. A truck stop

Answer: A. Shift to a lower gear and control your speed on the way down.

4. A slow-moving vehicle emblem, an orange triangle with red edges, is common on Iowa roads on:

• A. Farm equipment and other slow vehicles
• B. School buses
• C. Police cars
• D. Ambulances

Answer: A. The emblem marks vehicles that travel far below highway speed. Slow down early and pass only where it is legal and safe. See rural two-lane roads.

5. The round yellow sign with an X and RR is placed:

• A. At train stations
• B. At the crossing itself
• C. Ahead of a railroad crossing, as a warning
• D. Only on abandoned lines

Answer: C. The round sign is the advance warning; the white crossbuck stands at the crossing. See railroad crossings.

6. A flashing yellow light means:

• A. The road is closed
• B. Go faster to clear the intersection
• C. Stop and wait
• D. Slow down and proceed with caution

Answer: D. Flashing yellow is a caution signal. See traffic signals in the US.

7. A solid white line along the right edge of the road marks:

• A. The center of the road
• B. A no-passing zone
• C. A bike lane in every case
• D. The edge of the travel lane

Answer: D. Edge lines help you stay in your lane at night and in bad weather. See US pavement markings.

8. A broken yellow center line with a solid yellow line on the far side means:

• A. You may pass when safe; traffic on the other side may not
• B. Both sides may pass
• C. You must turn left
• D. Neither side may pass

Answer: A. The broken line on your side allows passing when it is safe.

9. You are first to stop at a four-way stop. Another car stops after you. Who goes first?

• A. The other car
• B. You do
• C. The larger vehicle
• D. The car turning left

Answer: B. The first vehicle to stop goes first. See four-way stops explained.

10. You want to turn left from a two-way road. You should start from:

• A. The shoulder
• B. The lane closest to the center line
• C. Any lane
• D. The right lane

Answer: B. Position yourself just right of the center line and yield to oncoming traffic. See left-turn yield rules.

11. You enter a roundabout. Who has the right of way?

• A. Traffic already in the roundabout
• B. Whoever is going fastest
• C. The biggest vehicle
• D. You, because you are entering

Answer: A. Yield on entry and go counterclockwise. See how to drive a roundabout.

12. Iowa’s basic speed rule says you must drive no faster than will let you:

• A. Stop within the assured clear distance ahead
• B. Pass slower vehicles
• C. Keep up with the fastest car
• D. Reach your destination on time

Answer: A. Iowa Code 321.285 requires a careful and prudent speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see is clear. See the basic speed law.

13. An emergency vehicle with a siren and red lights is approaching. Iowa law says to:

• A. Pull into the left lane
• B. Speed up and stay ahead
• C. Stop in your lane
• D. Pull to the right edge of the highway, clear of intersections, and stop until it passes

Answer: D. Iowa Code 321.324. See pulling over for emergency vehicles.

14. You approach a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights on a four-lane highway. You must:

• A. Keep your speed in your lane
• B. Stop behind it
• C. Change to a lane not next to it if safe; otherwise slow below the limit and be ready to stop
• D. Honk as you pass

Answer: C. Iowa Code 321.323A, which also covers tow trucks, utility, highway maintenance and similar vehicles with flashing lights. See move over laws.

15. In Iowa, who must wear a seat belt under the main seat belt law?

• A. Only children under 6
• B. Only the driver
• C. The driver and front seat passengers, and every child under 18 in any seat
• D. No one on rural roads

Answer: C. Iowa Code 321.445 covers the driver and front seat. Section 321.446 requires everyone under 18 to be secured by a child restraint or belt. See seat belt and child seat laws.

16. A child under 1 year old who weighs under 20 pounds must ride in:

• A. A rear-facing child restraint
• B. A forward-facing booster
• C. An adult seat belt
• D. A parent’s lap

Answer: A. Iowa Code 321.446. Children under 6 who are not in that group must still use a child restraint.

17. What is the first thing to do if your rear wheels skid on ice?

• A. Shift into park
• B. Steer hard the other way
• C. Ease off the gas and steer gently where you want to go
• D. Slam the brakes

Answer: C. Smooth, small inputs let the tires grip again. See driving in snow, fog and rain.

18. A deer runs out in front of you on a rural road. The safest general advice is to:

• A. Swerve hard into the oncoming lane
• B. Speed up
• C. Brake firmly and stay in your lane rather than swerve
• D. Turn off your headlights

Answer: C. Swerving often causes worse crashes than hitting the animal. See deer and animal collisions.

19. In Iowa, what blood alcohol concentration is OWI for a driver 21 or older?

• A. 0.02
• B. 0.04
• C. 0.05
• D. 0.08

Answer: D. 0.08 is OWI under Iowa Code 321J.2. Any amount of a controlled substance in blood or urine is also OWI. See implied consent and DUI.

20. An Iowa driver under 21 loses their license at what alcohol concentration?

• A. 0.02 or more
• B. 0.04 or more
• C. 0.05 or more
• D. 0.08 or more

Answer: A. Iowa Code 321J.2A applies at 0.02. See zero tolerance laws.

21. Under Iowa’s hands-free law, which is allowed while driving?

• A. A voice-activated or single-touch hands-free call
• B. A video call with the phone mounted
• C. Reading a text at a stop sign
• D. Holding the phone to check directions

Answer: A. Iowa Code 321.276 bans holding, viewing or manipulating a device. Video calls, streaming and reading messages are banned too. Since January 1, 2026, officers issue citations. See hands-free and texting laws.

22. Before backing out of a driveway, you should:

• A. Back quickly so cars do not wait
• B. Honk and go
• C. Rely on your mirrors only
• D. Walk around or look behind the car, then back slowly while looking over your shoulder

Answer: D. Small children and objects can be hidden behind the car. See backup cameras and the road test.

23. You feel drowsy on a long drive. The best response is to:

• A. Drive faster to get there sooner
• B. Stop somewhere safe and rest
• C. Open the window and keep going
• D. Turn the radio up

Answer: B. Fresh air and music do not fix fatigue. See drowsy driving.

24. Fog is reducing visibility. You should use:

• A. Hazard lights while moving at full speed
• B. No lights
• C. Low beam headlights
• D. High beams

Answer: C. High beams bounce off fog and cut what you can see.

25. A school bus coming toward you on a two-lane road switches on its flashing amber lights. You must:

• A. Stop immediately, wherever you are
• B. Slow to no more than 20 mph and be ready to stop
• C. Speed up to pass before it stops
• D. Ignore it; amber is only for traffic behind

Answer: B. Iowa Code 321.372 requires 20 mph or less when meeting a bus with amber lights, then a full stop once it stops with the stop arm out. See school bus stopping laws.

Mark the mock

Correct out of 25	Against the 80% practice standard
23 to 25	Strong pass
20 to 22	Pass. Review what you missed.
Under 20	Below 80%. Reread chapter 2 of the Iowa manual, Traffic Signs and Rules of the Road.

Extra: Iowa Code figures and GDL rules (questions 26 to 40)

26. When a school bus is stopped with its stop arm out, how close may you stop behind it?

• A. No closer than 50 feet
• B. No closer than 15 feet
• C. No closer than 5 feet
• D. No closer than 10 feet

Answer: B. Iowa Code 321.372 says no closer than 15 feet, and stay stopped until the arm retracts and the bus moves.

27. On a highway with two or more lanes in each direction, a school bus stops on the other side. Must you stop?

• A. Only if the bus has amber lights on
• B. Yes, always
• C. No; Iowa law does not require it for traffic going the opposite way on such a highway
• D. Only if children are visible

Answer: C. Iowa Code 321.372(4). Traffic behind the bus must still stop. Passing a stopped bus illegally carries a fine of at least $345 for a first offense.

28. How close to a fire hydrant may you park under Iowa law?

• A. 5 feet
• B. 10 feet
• C. 15 feet
• D. 20 feet

Answer: A. Iowa Code 321.358 bans parking within five feet of a hydrant. Many states use 15 feet, so this is an Iowa number to learn. See US parking rules.

29. How far from a stop sign, flashing beacon or signal at the roadside must you park?

• A. 5 feet
• B. 10 feet
• C. 20 feet
• D. 30 feet

Answer: B. Iowa Code 321.358 sets 10 feet on the approach to a stop sign, beacon or traffic signal.

30. How far from the nearest rail of a railroad crossing must you park?

• A. 15 feet
• B. 25 feet
• C. 50 feet
• D. 100 feet

Answer: C. 50 feet under Iowa Code 321.358, apart from parking parallel to the rail without a red light showing.

31. On a road with a speed limit above 45 mph, how far before turning must you signal?

• A. 100 feet
• B. 200 feet
• C. 300 feet
• D. 500 feet

Answer: C. Iowa Code 321.315: 300 feet above 45 mph, and 100 feet at 45 mph or less.

32. Unless posted otherwise, the Iowa Code speed limit in a residence or school district is:

• A. 20 mph
• B. 25 mph
• C. 35 mph
• D. 45 mph

Answer: B. 25 mph. Business districts are 20 mph and suburban districts 45 mph (Iowa Code 321.285).

33. Iowa law requires you to dim your high beams when an oncoming vehicle is within:

• A. 300 feet
• B. 500 feet
• C. 800 feet
• D. 1,000 feet

Answer: D. Iowa Code 321.415: within 1,000 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and within 400 feet when following one. See night driving.

34. What is the minimum age for an Iowa instruction permit?

• A. 14
• B. 15
• C. 15 and a half
• D. 16

Answer: A. Iowa Code 321.180B allows instruction permits from 14. See the Iowa learner driver guide.

35. Which person may NOT supervise an Iowa permit holder under 18?

• A. A licensed parent or guardian
• B. A licensed person 25 or older with written parent permission
• C. A licensed 19-year-old friend
• D. A licensed immediate family member aged 21 or older

Answer: C. The allowed supervisors are a licensed parent, guardian or custodian; a licensed immediate family member 21 or older; an approved driver education instructor; or a licensed person 25 or older with written parent permission.

36. How many supervised hours must an Iowa teen log before the intermediate license?

• A. 10, with 2 at night
• B. 20, with 2 at night
• C. 40, with 10 at night
• D. 50, with 10 at night

Answer: B. 20 hours, 2 after sunset, confirmed by a parent affidavit. Then 10 more (2 at night) before the full license. See Iowa supervised driving hours.

37. How long must you hold an Iowa instruction permit before the intermediate license?

• A. 6 months
• B. 9 months
• C. 12 months
• D. 18 months

Answer: C. 12 months immediately before you apply, with no crashes or violations in the last 6 months.

38. When must an Iowa intermediate license holder have a qualified adult beside them?

• A. 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• B. 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• C. 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.
• D. 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Answer: C. From 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m., unless driving to or from work or a school activity with the waiver form. See Iowa intermediate license rules.

39. During the first 6 months of an Iowa intermediate license, how many unrelated minor passengers may ride without a qualified supervisor (unless a parent waived the limit)?

• A. 0
• B. 1
• C. 2
• D. 3

Answer: B. One unrelated minor. Siblings, stepsiblings and household members do not count. A parent can waive the limit only when the license is issued.

40. What is Iowa’s special minor’s restricted license (the school license) for?

• A. Driving the most direct route to school, work or farm work, within set limits
• B. Driving only with a parent
• C. Driving anywhere after school hours
• D. Driving farm equipment only

Answer: A. From 14, after 6 months on a permit, for routes to school, work and farm work. See the Iowa school license.

Common questions

Are these the real Iowa DOT test questions?

No. They are original, unofficial practice. Iowa DOT’s own practice test draws from a pool that includes real test questions, so take it as well.

How many questions are on the Iowa permit test?

Iowa DOT’s practice test has 25. Ask Iowa DOT or the service center for the real test’s count.

Can I take the Iowa permit test at home?

Yes, from within 30 days of your 14th birthday until 18, on a computer with a parent as proctor. Allow 7 to 14 days for approval, and use the link within 72 hours.

Which chapters matter most?

Chapter 2 (Traffic Signs and Rules of the Road) and chapter 5 (Applying Your Driving Skills) of the Iowa Driver’s License Manual.

Do I need driver’s ed?

Under 18, yes, for the intermediate license: an approved course or parent-taught driver education. See Iowa parent-taught driver education and when you need an Iowa driving test.

Practice for other states?

See US permit practice tests by state.

Sources

• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026”, sections 321.180B, 321.276, 321.285, 321.315, 321.323A, 321.324, 321.358, 321.372, 321.415, 321.445 and 321.446 (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026”, sections 321J.2 and 321J.2A (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Administrative Code, “761, chapter 604, Driver’s license examination” (legis.iowa.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Iowa Driver’s License Manual” (iowadot.gov)
• Iowa Department of Transportation, “Take a practice test” (iowadot.gov)