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Iowa · Permit test

Iowa driver's ed and the DOT parent-taught program

Under 18, you need a state-approved driver education course before you can drive alone in Iowa. Public school districts must offer one, licensed private companies teach it, and a parent can teach it through the Iowa DOT parent-taught driver's ed program. That route takes an approved course plus 30 hours of driving with the parent, three of them at night, and it always ends with a drive test at the DMV.

Where to study

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

School and private driver's ed

Every Iowa school district has to offer driver education to students who live there, unless they're open enrolled somewhere else. Districts may charge tuition and fees. Licensed private driving schools teach it too, and the DOT has a search page for them.

Finishing an approved course also matters for the drive test: the DOT says over 93% of students who complete one don't have to take it, though a parent, guardian, instructor or licensing staff can still ask for one.

Iowa DOT: Find a driver education school ↗

Who can use the Iowa DOT parent-taught driver's ed program?

  • The student holds a valid instruction permit, is 14 to 21, is in the teaching parent's legal custody, and goes to a public, accredited nonpublic or home school.
  • The teaching parent is the student's parent, guardian or legal custodian, with a valid Iowa license (not a moped or temporary restricted license) and a clear driving record for the past two years.
Getting your Iowa driver's records →

The approved courses, including online ones

The student takes one of these DOT-approved courses, bought straight from the provider. The DOT doesn't list their prices.

  • AAA How to Drive
  • Driver Ed in a Box
  • Driver Education 101
  • National Driver Training
  • NICC High School Driver's Ed
  • Safe2Drive

How to finish and apply

  1. Finish the course and 30 hours of driving, three of them between sunset and sunrise. Coursework and driving can start at the same time.
  2. Keep a log with the date, the skills covered, notes on problems and improvements, start and end times, total time and night hours for each drive. The DOT says most applications are turned down because of missing or incomplete log entries.
  3. Send the online application with the course certificate or final grade report and a copy of the log.
  4. Wait 7 to 10 business days for review. The DOT emails a Letter of Completion.
  5. Book the drive test with the under-18 scheduler. Bring proof of insurance, the permit, a consent form if no parent comes, and $8 for license fees.

The free RoadReady app can keep the log, but the DOT warns it may round driving time up, so check the hours.

Iowa DOT: Parent-taught driver's education ↗The Iowa DOT driving test →
Sources: Iowa DOT and 2 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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