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Iowa · Permit test

The Iowa Driver's License Manual

The DOT's study guide for the knowledge test is the Iowa Driver's License Manual. The current English edition, form M1170, is dated July 23, 2026 and runs 68 pages. It's free on the DOT's Driver's Manual page, as one PDF or one chapter at a time. The knowledge test checks the same two things the manual teaches: Iowa traffic laws and road signs.

Download the manual (PDF)

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

Where can you download the Iowa driver's license manual?

  • The complete book, an 8.59 MB PDF.
  • Each of the five chapters as its own PDF, from 0.9 MB to 4 MB, handy on a phone.
  • Translations in 25 languages, from Albanian to Vietnamese. The DOT marks these as archived, so the July 2026 English edition is the current one.
Iowa DOT: Driver's Manual page ↗Complete manual (PDF) ↗Spanish manual (PDF) ↗

What's in each chapter

ChapterPagesWhat it covers
1. Your Driver's License4-5Who needs a license, what to carry, the screenings and tests
2. Traffic Signs and Rules of the Road6-22Sign colors and shapes, signals, railroad crossings, work zones, lane markings, right-of-way, school buses, parking, Move Over or Slow Down
3. Preparing to Drive23-38Vehicle upkeep, seats and mirrors, driver-assistance systems, seat belts and child seats, the hands-free law, alcohol and drugs
4. Basic Driving Skills39-49Braking, following distance, speed limits, steering, backing, turning, lane changes, passing
5. Applying Your Driving Skills50-64Rural four-lane roads, interstates, reduced-conflict intersections, roundabouts, gravel roads, deer, trucks, weather, emergencies, crashes

Is it the Iowa DOT permit test study guide?

Yes. The DOT's instruction permit page lists the Driver's Manual as the study guide, and its last page sends you to the DOT's practice test before you book. Read chapter 2 slowly: it holds the signs, and the manual teaches some shapes in an Iowa way, such as a round sign for a railroad crossing ahead.

Searching for Iowa driving laws? The manual says its contents follow the Iowa Code and Administrative Rules, but it's general information, not legal advice. The laws themselves are on the Iowa Legislature's website.

Iowa DMV practice test and study plan →Iowa Legislature: Iowa Code ↗

The DOT's other manuals

  • Motorcycle Manual, for the motorcycle knowledge test. The DOT marks it as archived.
  • Moped Operator's Manual, for moped riders.
  • CDL Manual (11.95 MB) and the shorter CDL Quick Guide, for commercial permits.
  • The Parent's Supervised Driving Program, a March 2026 guide for parents teaching a teen, with a driving log and Iowa's licensing steps.
Motorcycle Manual (PDF) ↗Moped Operator's Manual (PDF) ↗CDL Manual (PDF) ↗Parent's Supervised Driving Program (PDF) ↗
Sources: Iowa DOT · Iowa Driver's License Manual and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

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

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