Photo: J. Passepartout, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting a first driver’s license in the US usually costs somewhere between a few dollars and about $150 in state fees. Driver’s ed and lessons, which states don’t set, often cost more than all the state fees put together. This guide lists official permit, test and license fees by state as of November 2026. It shows which states bundle the tests into one fee and gives sample budgets for planning.
Key facts
- Every state sets its own fees. There is no national driver’s license fee.
- Some states charge separately for the permit, each test and the license. Others charge one fee that covers several steps.
- Retests usually cost extra, often $5 to $40 per attempt.
- Driver’s ed, lessons and private road tests are priced by the school or tester, not the state.
- Fees change. Check your state’s DMV fee page before you go.
How much does a driver’s license cost in each state?
These are state fees for a first permit and license, as published by each state’s licensing agency or set in state law, as of November 2026. A dash means you should check that fee with the state. Some offices add local service or card fees.
| State | Permit and test fees | License and retest fees |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Knowledge test $5 per attempt; learner license $36.25 | Stage II license $36.25 |
| Alaska | Permit $15; DMV road test $15 | License $20 standard, $40 REAL ID |
| Arizona | Permit $7 | License $25 (ages 16 to 39) |
| Arkansas | Knowledge test $5 per attempt, added to the license cost | License fee prorated: check with DFA |
| California | Application fee $46 (original Class C) | Drive retest $9 |
| Colorado | Permit $20 (REAL ID compliant); written retest $11.50 | License $34; driving retest $15.40 |
| Connecticut | Testing fee $40 (vision, knowledge and road test); permit $19 | License $84; each retest $40 |
| Delaware | Class D fee $50, which includes the permit (from October 10, 2025) | Included |
| District of Columbia | Knowledge test $10; permit $20; road test $10 | Provisional license $20; license $47 |
| Florida | Retest $10 (knowledge) | Original Class E $48; skills retest $20 |
| Georgia | Knowledge test $10 per attempt | Class C license $32 (8 years) |
| Hawaii (Honolulu) | Written test $2 in person; permit $5 | Road test $8 |
| Idaho | Knowledge test $5; permit $21.50 ($16.50 parent-led) | Skills test $35 total |
| Illinois | Permit $20 | License $5 at 18 to 20; under-18 fee: check with the SOS |
| Iowa | Permit $6 | Class C $4 per year of validity |
| Kansas | Permit application $2; written retest $1.50 | Driving retest $1.50 |
| Kentucky | Permit $15 ($18 REAL ID) | Intermediate $15 ($18 REAL ID); 4-year license $21.50 ($24 REAL ID) |
| Louisiana | Learner’s permit $32.25 | Class E $32.25; some offices add a service fee |
| Maine | Permit exam $35 | – |
| Maryland | First permit $65, no separate knowledge test fee | The $65 covers the later license conversion |
| Massachusetts | Permit exam $30 | Road test $35; license $50 |
| Michigan | Adult instruction permit (TIP) $25 | Road tests are given by private businesses that set their own price |
| Minnesota | Knowledge test free for the first two attempts, then $10 | Road test free for the first two attempts, then $20 |
| Mississippi | Permit $7 | License $24 (4 years, under 21) |
| Missouri | Instruction permit $10.00 | Intermediate license $14.00; full Class F $16.50 (3 years) or $33.00 (6 years); processing fees may apply |
| Montana | $5 per year of validity | $5 per year of validity |
| Nebraska | Learner’s permit (LPD) $13 | Provisional (POP) $20; 5-year license $29 |
| Nevada | Permit $22.50; testing fee $25 (knowledge test plus the first skills test) | License $22.50; retest $10 |
| New Jersey | Permit $10 plus $4 GDL decals (under 21) | Probationary license prorated: check with the MVC |
| New York | Class D or DJ total from $64.25 to $102.50, by age and whether you live in the MCTD (New York City and nearby counties) | Included in the total; extra fees after two failed road tests |
| North Dakota | Knowledge test $5 per attempt; permit $15 | Road test $5; license $15 |
| Ohio | Temporary permit (TIPIC) $26.50, deputy registrar fee included | First license at 21+ $27.50 (4 years) or $54.00 (8 years); under 21 set by age band |
| Oklahoma | Test free; permit $42.50 | Intermediate license $25, plus $4 for each failed test |
| Oregon | Knowledge test $7 per attempt | DMV drive test $45; issuance fees separate |
| Pennsylvania | $45.50 for the first permit and four-year license | Included in the $45.50 |
| South Carolina | Knowledge test $2; permit $2.50 | – |
| South Dakota | Permit $38 (covers three test attempts in 6 months) | Restricted permit $38; license $38 |
| Tennessee | Learner permit $10.50 (under 18) | Intermediate Restricted $24.50 at 16, $21.00 at 17 (July 2022 manual figures; check with the state DMV for current fees) |
| Texas | Learner license $15 plus a $1 administrative fee ($16 in the DL-7 handbook fee table) | Provisional license $15 plus a $1 administrative fee ($16 in the DL-7 handbook fee table) |
| Utah | Learner permit $19 | – |
| Vermont | Knowledge test $39; permit $24 | Road test $23; 2-year junior license $39 |
| Virginia | Permit $3 | License $2.40 per year of validity |
| Washington | Permit application $35 (from January 1, 2026); test fee set by the testing site | – |
| West Virginia | Knowledge test $7.50 per attempt; Level 1 permit $5.00 (2026 handbook fee chart; the handbook text still says $7.50) | Road skills test $7.50; Level 2 license $5.00; Level 3 $2.50 per year at 17, $5.00 per year at 18 |
| Wisconsin | Permit $35; DMV tests free ($10 online knowledge test at 15 to 17) | Probationary license $28; skills test $15 per appointment |
| Wyoming | Permit $45 (restricted permit $25) | Class C license $45 |
Not in the table: Indiana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Rhode Island. Check the fee page of each state’s DMV or BMV before you go.
Fees change, so treat the Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Nebraska figures as a guide and confirm them with the state before you pay.
Which states bundle the road test into the license fee?
In these states, one payment covers more than one step:
- Connecticut: the $40 testing fee covers the vision, knowledge and road tests. Each retest is another $40.
- Pennsylvania: $45.50 covers the learner’s permit and the four-year license.
- Maryland: the $65 first-permit fee also covers converting to a license later.
- Delaware: the $50 Class D fee includes the learner’s permit.
- Nevada: the $25 testing fee covers the knowledge test and your first skills test.
- California: the $46 application fee is paid once. Only a failed drive test adds a $9 retest fee.
- South Dakota: the $38 fee covers up to three test attempts within 6 months.
- Florida: the first skills test is free for learner’s license holders. Retests cost $20.
What do retests cost?
Failing adds cost in most states. Some examples from the table: Connecticut $40, Colorado $11.50 (written) and $15.40 (driving), Florida $10 and $20, Nevada $10, California $9, Oklahoma $4 per failed test, and Kansas $1.50. In Georgia, Oregon, Idaho and North Dakota you pay the full test fee again each time. Minnesota charges only after two failures in a row. Wait times also apply: see retake waiting periods by state.
How much do driver’s ed and lessons cost?
States rarely set course prices, so these costs vary the most. A few official reference points:
- North Carolina: the public school driver education course costs no more than $65, with hardship waivers.
- Kentucky: the RightLane online course is $12.50, and Alive at 25 is free.
- Georgia: DDS says certified Joshua’s Law courses generally start at around $250. Online courses cost less.
- Texas: parent-taught driver education costs a $20 authorization fee, plus the course itself.
Private lessons and driving school road tests are priced by each business. Get two or three quotes and ask what’s included, such as car use on test day, fuel and rebooking. For choosing a course, see choosing driver’s ed.
Sample budgets
These add up the state fees only, assuming you pass first time. Course and lesson costs come on top.
| Example | State fees | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania teen | $45.50 permit and license | $45.50 |
| Wisconsin teen | $35 permit + $15 skills test + $28 probationary license | $78 |
| Massachusetts teen | $30 permit exam + $35 road test + $50 license | $115 |
| Vermont teen | $39 test + $24 permit + $23 road test + $39 junior license | $125 |
| Connecticut teen | $40 testing fee + $19 permit + $84 license | $143 |
| Connecticut teen, one road test fail | $143 + $40 retest | $183 |
When you budget, also allow for:
- REAL ID upgrades, where a state charges more for them
- document copies, such as a certified birth certificate
- a vision report, if you fail the DMV screening
- adding a new driver to car insurance, which often costs more than every DMV fee combined (see car insurance for new drivers)
State fee and booking guides
For the largest states, see the detailed fee and booking guides: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan. Every other state is covered in its guide via learning to drive in the USA.
Common questions
What is the cheapest state to get a driver’s license?
On state fees alone, Virginia ($3 permit, then $2.40 per year of license), and South Carolina ($2 test, $2.50 permit) are among the lowest. A required driver’s ed course can cost far more than any fee, so compare full costs.
Do I pay again if I fail the permit test?
In many states, yes. Georgia, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota and West Virginia charge the test fee for every attempt. In other states the first fee covers several attempts, for example South Dakota (three within 6 months) and California (three per application).
Is a REAL ID more expensive?
In some states it is. Kentucky charges $3 more for a REAL ID permit and $2.50 more for a 4-year REAL ID license. Alaska charges $40 instead of $20. Other states charge the same. See REAL ID and your first license.
Can I pay DMV fees by card?
It depends on the state and office. Alabama takes cash or money order but no checks. Pennsylvania takes cards, checks and money orders but not cash. Check your office’s payment rules before you go.
Are third-party road tests more expensive?
Usually. Private testers set their own fee, for example up to $100 in DC. In Idaho the $35 total includes up to $28.50 for the examiner. In Michigan every road test is private and priced by the business.
Sources
- California DMV, “Licensing Fees” (dmv.ca.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Document Requirements and Fees” and “Graduated Driver License” (alea.gov)
- Alaska DMV, “License Fee Info” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Arizona Department of Transportation, “Fees: Driver License” and “Driver License Manual 99-0117” (azdot.gov)
- Colorado DMV, “Fees” (dmv.colorado.gov)
- Connecticut DMV, “Driver’s Manual” and fee pages (portal.ct.gov)
- Delaware DMV, fee notice, October 2025 (dmv.de.gov)
- DC DMV, “Knowledge Tests” and “Road Skills Test” (dmv.dc.gov)
- Florida Legislature, “Florida Statutes s. 322.12 and s. 322.21” (leg.state.fl.us)
- Georgia DDS, “Tests and Exams” and license fee pages (dds.georgia.gov)
- City and County of Honolulu, driver licensing pages (honolulu.gov)
- Idaho Transportation Department, “Driver’s License Fees” (itd.idaho.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Basic Fees” (ilsos.gov)
- Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code section 321.191” (legis.iowa.gov)
- Kansas Legislature, “K.S.A. 8-240” (kslegislature.gov)
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, “Fees” (drive.ky.gov)
- Louisiana OMV, “Class E Driver’s Guide” and permit pages (expresslane.org)
- Maine BMV, “Learner’s Permit” (maine.gov)
- Maryland MVA, “License and ID Fees” (mva.maryland.gov)
- Massachusetts RMV, “Learner’s Permit” and “Road Test” (mass.gov)
- Michigan Department of State, July 2025 announcement on online knowledge testing (michigan.gov)
- Minnesota DPS Driver and Vehicle Services, testing fee pages (dps.mn.gov)
- Mississippi Driver Service Bureau, “Mississippi Driver’s Manual” and fee pages (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov)
- Missouri DOR, “Missouri Driver Guide” (dor.mo.gov)
- Ohio BMV, fee list (bmv.ohio.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety, “Comprehensive Driver License Manual” (tn.gov)
- Montana Legislature, “MCA 61-5-111” (mca.legmt.gov)
- Nebraska DMV, “Driver License Fees” (dmv.nebraska.gov)
- Nevada DMV, “Driver License Fees” (dmv.nv.gov)
- New Jersey MVC, “New Jersey Driver Manual” (nj.gov)
- New York DMV, “License fees” (dmv.ny.gov)
- North Dakota DOT, “Driver License Fees” (dot.nd.gov)
- Service Oklahoma, “Driver License Fees” (oklahoma.gov)
- Oregon DMV, “Driver License Fees” (oregon.gov)
- PennDOT, “Driver License Fees” (pa.gov)
- SCDMV, “Fee Schedule” (dmv.sc.gov)
- South Dakota Legislature, “SDCL 32-12-16” (sdlegislature.gov)
- Texas Legislature, “Transportation Code Chapter 521” (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, “Parent Taught Driver Education” (tdlr.texas.gov)
- Utah Driver License Division, “Learner Permit” (dld.utah.gov)
- Vermont DMV, “Fees” (dmv.vermont.gov)
- Virginia DMV, “Learner’s Permit” and fee pages (dmv.virginia.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.055” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- West Virginia DMV, “Driver’s Licensing Handbook” (dmv.wv.gov)
- Wisconsin DMV, “Driver license fees” (wisconsindot.gov)
- Wyoming DOT, “Driver License FAQ” (dot.state.wy.us)
- North Carolina DPI, “Driver Education” (dpi.nc.gov)
- Kentucky State Police, “Driver Testing” (kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov)