Does the Permit Test Cost Money? Permit Fees by State

It depends on your state. Some states charge for the knowledge test and the permit separately, some bundle the test into one fee, and a few let you take the written test free at a DMV office. Below are the amounts we could confirm from official sources for each state, plus a note wherever a figure is missing or conflicting.

How much is a permit test?

The test fee varies widely. In Alabama, the knowledge test costs $5.00 per test, and checks are not accepted. Arkansas sets a $5.00 fee for each written exam under Act 1289 of 2015. In Vermont, the knowledge test is $39.00 and is part of a $63.00 total that includes the $24.00 permit fee. Massachusetts charges $30 for the learner's permit exam. In Connecticut, a $40 testing fee covers the vision, knowledge and road tests together. In the District of Columbia, the knowledge test is $10 at a DC DMV Service Center, $39.95 at a test proctoring center, and $49.95 when taken virtually.

Do retakes cost extra?

In several states, yes. These are the retake amounts the official sources list:

• Florida: Re-taking the written exam after failing costs $10, and a driving skills re-test costs $20.
• Massachusetts: If you fail the exam, you pay $30 again for another attempt.
• Colorado: The written knowledge test retest fee is $11.50 per retest, and the drive test retest fee is $15.40.
• Nevada: The initial knowledge or skills test is $25.00, and the retest fee is $10.
• Tennessee: A $2 application fee is charged each time you take a test and fail.
• Kansas: The re-exam fee is $1.50 for the next-working-day retest.
• Minnesota: After two consecutive failed written tests, each third and later test costs $10.
• Connecticut: After a failed road test, you wait at least 14 days and pay another $40 testing fee. The official page does not state a separate knowledge-retest fee, so check before you pay.
• Georgia: The $10.00 test fee is paid before testing and is not refunded if you fail. It must be paid before every attempt.
• Idaho: Retest fees match the original knowledge test fee, according to the 2016 manual. This is not confirmed as current.

Some states do not charge for a retest in the same way. Ohio's handbook allows in-person testing one attempt per day with no limit on attempts, and online testing allows two attempts in six months. North Dakota does not allow a same-day retest after a failed test.

What does the fee cover?

Fees often cover more than one attempt, so read the terms before you pay for a second try.

• Connecticut: The $40 testing fee covers the vision, knowledge and road tests.
• Montana: Test fees are covered by the licensing fee and receipt, which allows three attempts within one year.
• Utah: The fee covers no more than three attempts within 12 months. After three failures, another fee is due for three more attempts.
• South Dakota: The fee covers three test attempts within a six-month period. After that, the fee is due again.
• Illinois: You get three attempts to pass each exam within one year of paying the application fee.
• Delaware: The $40.00 Class D license fee, paid at application for 8 years, also covers the learner permit that comes before it.
• Arkansas: The $5.00 exam fee is added to the license cost and collected by the Department of Finance & Administration. It is separate from the duplicate fee.
• Idaho: The 2016 manual lists a $35.00 skills test, with $6.50 going to the county and up to $28.50 to the examiner. It also says all fees are non-refundable. These figures are not confirmed as current, so check the Idaho Transportation Department before paying.
• Massachusetts: All license fees are non-refundable.

Fees by state

Each entry lists what the official source gives. Where a source does not state a year, the entry says so. If a state's fee is marked not confirmed, the handbook did not give the amount and no official page in our research did either. Check your state DMV before you pay.

• Alabama: The knowledge test costs $5.00 per test, and checks are not accepted. The learner license fee is charged after the test, but the handbook gives no amount. The permit fee is not confirmed, and the handbook does not cover an online test. Check alea.gov for fee amounts. Source: Alabama driver manual, year not stated.
• Alaska: The instruction permit fee is $15.00 standard, or $35 federally compliant. The written test can be taken online at ak.knowtodrive.com. The handbook says online testing 'fees may apply,' but a DUI cost list says 'Written Test: Free.' The sources conflict, so confirm with the Alaska DMV before paying. Source: Alaska driver manual, year not stated.
• Arizona: The instruction permit fee is $7, the restricted instruction permit is $3, and a replacement permit is $2. The knowledge test fee is not in the handbook and is not confirmed. A 'Permit Test @ Home' service is listed at AZMVDNow.gov, but the handbook gives no test fee for it. Source: Arizona driver handbook, year not stated.
• Arkansas: Act 1289 of 2015 sets a $5.00 fee for each written exam. The handbook states no cap on how many exams are charged. It gives no permit fee. Source: Arkansas driver manual, year not stated.
• California: The handbook says a non-refundable application fee applies to the permit but gives no amount. The knowledge test fee is not in the handbook. The permit fee is not confirmed on an official DMV page, and third-party figures conflict, so none is listed. Source: California driver handbook, year not stated.
• Colorado: The instruction permit fee is $20 with REAL ID credentials and $23 with standard credentials. The written knowledge test retest is $11.50, and the drive test retest is $15.40. The handbook itself lists no fees. Source: Colorado DMV state fees page, year not stated.
• Connecticut: The learner permit fee is $19. The $40 testing fee covers the vision, knowledge and road tests. The handbook gives no fee amount and says fees can be paid online at ct.gov/dmv. The official teen driver page does not state a knowledge-retest fee separately, so check before paying. Source: Connecticut DMV teen driver page, year not stated.
• Delaware: The Class D license fee is $40.00 for 8 years, paid at application. It covers the learner permit that comes before it. No separate knowledge test fee is listed. The adult permit fee is paid at application, but the handbook gives no separate amount. Source: Delaware driver manual, year not stated.
• Florida: The original learner's license fee is $48, and the renewal fee is also $48. A tax collector office adds a $6.25 service fee. Written exam retakes cost $10, and a driving skills re-test costs $20. Source: Florida driver handbook, year not stated.
• Georgia: The test fee is $10.00, paid before testing, with no refund if you fail. The permit fee table in the handbook is garbled, so the separate permit amount cannot be confirmed. Permit holders who revoke a minor's permit pay a $10.00 non-refundable fee. Source: Georgia driver manual, 2023–2024 edition.
• Hawaii: The handbook gives no permit fees or test fees, so both are not confirmed. Check with the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Source: Hawaii driver manual, year not stated.
• Idaho: The 2016 manual lists an instruction permit at $20.00, a driver training instruction permit at $21.50 (including a $6.50 skills test receipt fee collected in advance), a Class D knowledge test at $5.00, and a skills test at $35.00. All fees are non-refundable. None of these is confirmed as current, so check the Idaho Transportation Department before paying. Source: Idaho driver manual, 2016 edition.
• Illinois: The instruction permit fee is $20. No separate written test fee is listed. A duplicate or corrected permit costs $5, and it is free for some people (see handbook page 18). Source: Illinois driver manual, year not stated.
• Indiana: The learner's permit fee is not in the handbook. The BMV skills exam is free. The knowledge exam fee is not confirmed. Source: Indiana driver manual, year not stated.
• Iowa: The permit fees, test fees and retake fees are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. Source: Iowa driver manual, year not stated.
• Kansas: The permit application fee is not in the handbook. The re-exam fee is $1.50 for the next-working-day retest. The initial test fee is not confirmed. Source: Kansas driver handbook, year not stated.
• Kentucky: The permit fee and knowledge test fee are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. Classroom driver education is free, and the online version costs $11.00. Source: Kentucky driver manual, year not stated.
• Louisiana: The fee figures we found came from an unofficial copy of the driver manual, not an official state source, so no amounts are listed here. The knowledge test fee is not confirmed. Check with the Louisiana motor vehicle office before you pay, since some offices add a service fee on top of the permit fee.
• Maine: The permit fees and test fees are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. Source: Maine driver manual, year not stated.
• Maryland: The permit fees and knowledge test fees are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. There is no MVA fee for an interpreter, but the applicant pays the interpreter. Source: Maryland driver manual, year not stated.
• Massachusetts: The learner's permit exam fee is $30. If you fail, you pay $30 again for another attempt. The permit-to-license conversion fee is $30. All license fees are non-refundable. Source: Massachusetts driver manual, year not stated.
• Michigan: The written knowledge test is free at Secretary of State offices. The online version has a $6.50 convenience fee. The handbook does not give the Level 1 learner's license fee or the TIP fee, so check with the Michigan Secretary of State. Source: Michigan driver handbook, year not stated.
• Minnesota: The handbook gives no permit fee amount. A filing fee of $16 applies to new applications and $11 to renewals, effective Oct. 1, 2023. After two consecutive failed written tests, each third and later test costs $10. Fees are set by law and can change. Source: Minnesota driver handbook, 2024 file with fees effective Oct. 1, 2023.
• Mississippi: The learner's permit fee is $7.00. Offices accept cash and Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards, but not checks. No separate knowledge test fee is listed. Source: Mississippi driver manual, revised Jan. 15, 2025.
• Missouri: The instruction permit fee is $10.00, valid for 0–12 months depending on document verification. A Student Permit costs $1.00. A motorcycle permit costs $12.75 or $10.00 and is valid for 0–6 months. Written test retake fees are not confirmed. Source: Missouri driver guide, year not stated.
• Montana: The learner license fee is $5.00 per year, plus a 3% administrative fee on MVD products. Test fees are covered by the licensing fee and receipt, which allows three attempts within one year. The handbook says fees can change, so check mvdmt.gov/licensing-fees. Source: Montana driver manual, year not stated.
• Nebraska: The permit and test fee amounts are not in the handbook, which points to dmv.nebraska.gov/licenses-and-permits. The fees are not confirmed on an official page in our research. Source: Nebraska driver manual, year not stated.
• Nevada: The instruction permit fee is $22.25 for drivers under 65 and $17.25 for drivers 65 and older. The initial knowledge or skills test is $25.00, and the retest is $10. Source: Nevada driver handbook, year not stated.
• New Hampshire: The permit fees and knowledge test fees are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. Check with the New Hampshire DMV.
• New Jersey: The basic automobile permit fee is $10. The probationary permit fee is $10 plus $4 for red decals, and additional decal pairs cost $4 at any MVC Licensing Center. The motorcycle permit is listed as a $5 permit fee on one page and as $10 plus $4 in decals on another, so verify before paying. The knowledge test fee is not confirmed. Source: New Jersey driver manual, year not stated.
• New Mexico: The permit fees and test fees are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. Source: New Mexico driver manual, year not stated.
• New York: The handbook gives no dollar amount for the learner permit, and the fee depends on age and location. No separate written test fee is listed. Official dollar amounts are not confirmed, and third-party ranges conflict, so none is listed. Source: New York driver manual, year not stated.
• North Carolina: The learner permit fee is $25.50, and the Level One limited learner permit costs the same. The handbook says no separate test fee is listed. Fees are subject to change by the General Assembly. Source: North Carolina driver handbook, year not stated.
• North Dakota: The permit fee and knowledge test fee are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. No same-day retest is allowed after a failed test. Source: North Dakota driver manual, year not stated.
• Ohio: The handbook gives no fee for the temporary instruction permit (TIPIC) or the knowledge test. Online testing allows two attempts in six months. In-person testing allows one attempt per day with no limit on attempts. Source: Ohio driver handbook, year not stated.
• Oklahoma: The Class D learner permit costs $42.50 total, made up of a $4 application fee and a $38.50 license fee. The retest fee for the Class D learner permit is $4, and the replacement fee is $25. The fees are effective 6-01-2025. The handbook also says nothing is paid to take the tests, with fees collected at issuance. That conflicts with the $4 retest fee, so verify before paying. Source: Oklahoma driver manual, fees effective 6-01-2025.
• Oregon: The test fees and permit fees are not in the handbook, which points to ODOT DMV fee pages. The amounts are not confirmed on an official page in our research. Source: Oregon driver manual, year not stated.
• Pennsylvania: The handbook does not state test or permit fees. The fee schedule is on the back of the DL-180 form. The dollar amount is not confirmed. Source: Pennsylvania driver manual, year not stated.
• Rhode Island: The instructional permit fee is $12.50, paid by cash, check or money order. The driver education (CCRI) fee is $85.00. The road test fee is $25.00 plus a $2.50 technology surcharge. The knowledge test fee is not confirmed. Source: Rhode Island driver manual, year not stated.
• South Carolina: The permit fee, knowledge test fee and retake fee are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. Source: South Carolina driver manual, year not stated.
• South Dakota: The instruction permit fee is $28.00. The fee covers three test attempts within a six-month period, after which it is due again. A motorcycle instruction permit is also $28. Source: South Dakota driver manual, year not stated.
• Tennessee: The learner permit fee is $10.50 for one year if you are under 18, and $5.50 if you are over 18. A $2 application fee is charged each time you take a test and fail. Source: Tennessee driver manual, year not stated.
• Texas: The learner license fee is $15 plus a $1 administrative fee, for a total of $16. Adults 18 and older who want a Class C learner-type license pay $32 plus a $1 fee. A $10 exam fee applies when changing to a higher class or removing restrictions. For an original license, fees must be paid before the exams. Source: Texas driver handbook, year not stated.
• Utah: The learner permit fee is $19.00. The fee covers no more than three attempts within 12 months. No separate written test fee is listed. Source: Utah driver handbook, year not stated.
• Vermont: The knowledge test fee is $39.00, part of a $63.00 total with the $24.00 permit fee. The learner's permit renewal is $24.00. The handbook says fees are accurate as of July 1, 2024 and may change. The permit test is now online at mydmv.vermont.gov. Source: Vermont driver manual, fees as of July 1, 2024.
• Virginia: The permit fees and knowledge test fees are not in the handbook and are not confirmed. Source: Virginia DMV form, year not stated.
• Washington: The 2020 driver guide, in a third-party copy and not an official Washington DOL source, says an application or examination fee applies to the instruction permit but gives no amount. Treat this as unverified and check with the Washington Department of Licensing before you pay.
• West Virginia: The Level 1 GDL fee is $7.50. The knowledge test is $7.50 per attempt, but the fee chart is garbled and shows a $5.00 figure whose row is unclear, so verify before paying. The adult instruction permit fee is $7.50. A REAL ID card costs $10.00 extra. Source: West Virginia driver handbook, year not stated.
• Wisconsin: The knowledge test and highway signs test are free at DMV service centers. Ages 15–17 can take the knowledge test online for a $10 fee through knowtodrive.com/wisconsin. The instruction permit fee is not in the handbook, so check wisconsindmv.gov. Source: Wisconsin driver handbook, year not stated.
• Wyoming: Permit and knowledge test fees are not confirmed. The handbook's fee table could not be matched reliably, so check with WYDOT Driver Services. A $5 technology fee applies to all driver license classes and CDL skills tests. Source: Wyoming driver manual, 2021 edition.
• District of Columbia (not a state): The learner permit fee is $20, and a duplicate learner permit is $20. The knowledge test is $10 at a DC DMV Service Center, $39.95 at a test proctoring center, and $49.95 virtually. A 2.5% service fee applies to debit and credit card payments made online, in the app, or in person, effective Dec. 15, 2025. The retake policy and waiting period are not confirmed. Source: DC DMV driver license fees, year not stated.

Practice before you test

Paying for a retest is easier to avoid when you pass the first time. GetMyPermit has practice tests for the knowledge test, and you can use them on the app or the website.

Sources

• Alabama driver manual
• Alaska driver manual
• Arizona driver handbook
• Arkansas driver manual
• California driver handbook
• Colorado DMV state fees page
• Connecticut DMV teen driver page
• Delaware driver manual
• Florida driver handbook
• Georgia driver manual
• Hawaii driver manual
• Idaho driver manual
• Illinois driver manual
• Indiana driver manual
• Iowa driver manual
• Kansas driver handbook
• Kentucky driver manual
• Maine driver manual
• Maryland driver manual
• Massachusetts driver manual
• Michigan driver handbook
• Minnesota driver handbook
• Mississippi driver manual
• Missouri driver guide
• Montana driver manual
• Nebraska driver manual
• Nevada driver handbook
• New Jersey driver manual
• New Mexico driver manual
• New York driver manual
• North Carolina driver handbook
• North Dakota driver manual
• Ohio driver handbook
• Oklahoma driver manual
• Oregon driver manual
• Pennsylvania driver manual
• Rhode Island driver manual
• South Carolina driver manual
• South Dakota driver manual
• Tennessee driver manual
• Texas driver handbook
• Utah driver handbook
• Vermont driver manual
• Virginia DMV form
• West Virginia driver handbook
• Wisconsin driver handbook
• Wyoming driver manual
• DC DMV driver license fees