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Free Iowa DOT practice tests

Free Iowa driver's license practice questions from the official driver handbook, with every answer explained.

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Driver's license tests

6 tests, 150 questions

Iowa written test facts

Facts checked against official sources.

Iowa Department of Transportation handles driver licensing in Iowa. The minimum age for a permit is 14. Our practice questions come from the Iowa Driver's License Manual. We checked these facts against official sources on October 2, 2026.

Agency
Iowa Department of Transportation
Minimum age for a permit
At least 14 years old
Official handbook
Iowa Driver's License Manual

Sources

Checked on October 2, 2026

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How to get an Iowa driver's license

This is how Iowa describes a first license for drivers under 18, based on the Iowa Driver's License Manual (July 2026) and the Iowa DOT's pages on the graduated driver's license. Check with the Iowa DOT for current fees and documents before you go.

  1. Get your instruction permit

    At 14 or older, pass the knowledge and vision tests at a DMV, a county treasurer's office, at home with a parent as proctor, or at a Skip the Trip school. A parent or guardian gives written consent, and you bring proof of identity, residency, and your Social Security number. You may drive only with a supervising adult.

  2. Finish driver education

    Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course. The manual says the driving test isn't required once you meet the driver's education requirement. You still take a drive test at the DMV if your instructor requests it or if you used the Parent-Taught Driver's Education Program.

  3. Move to an intermediate license

    At 16, after 12 months with your permit and 6 clean months in a row, apply at a DMV with parental consent. You can drive alone from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., with no phone use behind the wheel and a possible passenger limit for the first six months.

  4. Upgrade to a full license

    At 17, after 12 months in a row on the intermediate license and 10 hours of supervised driving (two of them at night), you can get a full license with no restrictions. Until you turn 18 or 21, the license says "under eighteen" or "under twenty-one".

Based on:Iowa Driver's License Manual (Iowa DOT, July 2026)Instruction Permit for Under Age 18 (Iowa DOT)Intermediate License (Iowa DOT)Full License (Iowa DOT)

Checked on October 2, 2026

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Frequently asked questions

How old do you have to be for an Iowa instruction permit?

You can get one at 14. You'll need to pass the knowledge and vision tests, and a parent or guardian has to give written consent, either in person at the DMV or on the consent form (form 430018). Bring proof of identity, Iowa residency, and your Social Security number.

Where can I take the Iowa permit test?

You have three options: at a DMV or an Iowa county treasurer location, at home with a parent as proctor, or at a school that takes part in the Skip the Trip program. For the home test, a parent applies first (allow 7 to 14 days), and the student needs a computer, since phones and tablets aren't allowed. After you pass, you still make an appointment to have the permit issued.

How many questions are on the Iowa permit test?

The Iowa DOT doesn't give a question count for the real test in its manual or on its license pages. Its own online practice test has 25 questions drawn from a pool that includes questions from the real test, and it asks for 80% or higher to pass.

Who can supervise a driver with an Iowa instruction permit?

A parent, guardian, or custodian, an immediate family member who is at least 21, a driver education instructor, or someone at least 25 with written permission from your parent or guardian. The supervising adult must have a valid driver's license. You can't use a phone or other electronic device while driving, and you can't carry more passengers than there are seat belts.

What do I need for an Iowa intermediate license?

You must be at least 16, finish an Iowa-approved driver education course, and have held your instruction permit for a total of 12 months. You also need a clean driving record for the 6 months in a row right before you apply, plus written consent from a parent or guardian.

What limits come with an intermediate license?

You can drive alone between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. Outside those hours you need adult supervision, unless a parent fills out the waiver form (form 431170) for school or work. If your license carries the passenger restriction, you can't drive with more than one unrelated minor during the first six months without adult supervision. Parents can waive that restriction, but only when the license is issued.

When can I get a full Iowa driver's license?

At 17, once you've held your intermediate license for at least 12 months in a row. You also need 10 hours of supervised driving while on the intermediate license, with at least two of those hours between sunset and sunrise. A crash, a conviction, or a broken restriction delays the upgrade.