Iowa · Permit testHow do you get a chauffeur license in Iowa?
- Book a Driver's License/ID appointment, choose Other, and note "Adding a Chauffeur endorsement."
- Pass the vision screening at the visit.
- The DOT checks for a clear driving record over the past two years.
- Pay the Class D fee of $8 a year, against $4 a year for an ordinary Class C license, as of October 2026.
Class D or a CDL?
Class D stops at 15 passengers including the driver. A vehicle built to carry 16 or more people, the driver included, needs a commercial license with the passenger endorsement, and a school bus needs the school bus endorsement too.
| License | Who it's for | Passengers | Fee (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class C operator | Cars, pickups and trucks of 26,000 pounds or less | - | $4 a year |
| Class D chauffeur | Small passenger-for-hire vehicles | 15 or fewer, including the driver | $8 a year |
| CDL with passenger endorsement | Vehicles built to carry 16 or more people | 16 or more, including the driver | $8 a year (Class A, B or C) |
Sources: Iowa DOT · Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 604 and 1 more. Checked October 2026.
- Iowa DOT: License types, restrictions and endorsements ↗
- Iowa DOT: Driver's license fees ↗
- Iowa Administrative Code 761, Chapter 604: Examinations (PDF) ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.