The following topics are covered in this section:
Book an Appointment
Hours of Operation
Renew your license 30 days before or 60 days after your birthday. If your license has been expired for over one year, full testing (computer and skills) will be required.
License/ID Services | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (last appt. at 3:30 pm)
Computer Test | 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
Skills Driving Test | by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursday
- Skills tests can be scheduled after passing the computer exam
- No motorcycles or CDL skills testing in Tama County. You may Contact a state DOT station to find a motorcycle or CDL testing location.
Out-of-County Convenience Fee
As of July 1, 2023, out-of-county residents will be assessed a $10 convenience fee on all driver's license and ID transactions. The convenience fee must be paid by cash. Check and card payments will not be accepted at this time. This fee does not apply to motor vehicle or property tax transactions.
Customers must either reside in Tama County or own land in Tama County to avoid the fee. All Iowa DOT license and ID service fees still apply in addition to this out-of-county convenience fee being managed by the county. The new out-of-county convenience fee was recently approved by the Iowa DOT and is being adopted by a majority of county offices throughout the state.
Transactions at driver's license stations operated directly by the Iowa DOT, such as those in Marshalltown, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids are not subject to the convenience fee, regardless of county of residence.
Under 18: Permits, School License, Intermediate
Operator Permit Requirements
- Certified birth certificate
- Social security card (or completed affidavit by the parent with the minor’s social security number)
- Address verification (must present 2 items):
- Address verification items can include any of the following: student report card or other correspondence showing name & address, birthday card, bank statement, paystub, or any other piece of mail.
- If you can only find one, we may use one with the minor’s parents name (as long as the address is the same).
- A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment or this Parent Consent Form (Iowa DOT Form 430018) must be completed prior to the appointment.
School Permit Requirements
Intermediate License
- Must be at least 16 years old,
- Completed and passed Driver's Education,
- 1 complete year, 365 days, of having a permit with no accidents or citations,
- A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment or this Parent Consent Form (Iowa DOT Form 430018) must be completed prior to the appointment.
- Please bring in your current license or know your social security number to your appointment.
Renewals
Renewals are $4 per year for basic renewals. Motorcycle endorsements are an additional $2 per year.
- Renewal Requirements
- 8-year renewals | 18 to 72-year-olds
- 7-year renewals | 73-year-olds
- 6-year renewals | 74-year-olds
- 5-year renewals | 75-year-olds
- 4-year renewals | 76-year-olds
- 3-year renewals | 77-year-olds
- 2-year renewals | 78-year-olds and older
- Please bring in your current license or know your social security number to your appointment.
Issuance
All drivers, regardless of age, must take and pass drivers education or drive with an examiner to obtain a license.
More information on drivers education can be found here: https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverseducation
For a map showing approved local drivers education instructors: https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverseducation/private-driver-education-schools
Drive Testing
All drive tests must be scheduled by the staff either over the phone or in-person. Tama County offers drive tests by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If your driver's license has been expired for over one year, full testing (written and skills) tests are required.
Also, all parent-taught drivers education students must take the skills drive test.
Duplicate/Replacement Cards
The cost to obtain a duplicate drivers license or identification card is $10. If you lose your card you can have a duplicate card issued as a replacement. Appointments are required for duplicate card transactions.
Identification Cards
In Iowa, you can have an ID card or a driver's license; you are not allowed to have both. Iowa non-operator's ID cards will be issued with an expiration date of eight years.
If you are being issued an Iowa ID without having ever having been issued before, you are required to bring all the documents for the Real ID (see below).
Appointments are required for identification card transactions.
Commercial Drivers Licence (CDL)
CDLs are $8 per year. If you have the hazmat endorsement, testing is required at renewal time. Every five years, fingerprints and background checks are required as well. More information can be found on the Iowa DOT website.
If you have a CDL you must certify if you are interstate or intrastate. Intrastate includes using your CDL only within the state of Iowa while interstate is using your CDL while outside of the state of Iowa. If you certify as interstate you will need the following:
Failure to comply within the required timeline will result in a downgrade of your CDL.
The Iowa DOT made significant changes to the issuance of commercial drivers licenses starting February 7, 2022. To gather information about the new requirements in getting a CDL in the state of Iowa, visit the Iowa DOT page: https://iowadot.gov/mvd/cdl/Entry-Level-Driver-Training-ELDT
To determine if you are required to complete entry-level driver training see the ELDT Applicability Fact Sheet.
Reminder! CDL holders must bring in their birth certificate, passport or INS document to renew if they don’t have a Real ID.
REAL ID Requirements
- Enforcement at airports/federal buildings begins on: May 2025
- Typical documents needed (you will need all three):
- Identity
- Birth certificate, valid US passport, I-551 Resident Card, I-776 Employment Card
- Social security
- Card or 1099/W-2 with full number listed on document
- Residency
- Two pieces of mail or two documents with your name and address appearing together.
- You may also need proof of legal name change, if applicable
- $10 if not at renewal time
*Once you provide your identity documents to obtain the Gold Star/REAL ID, you do not need to provide these documents in the future.
Iowa DOT REAL ID Info View REAL ID flyer
If you are an Iowa resident and have moved to a new residence, the cost to update the address shown on your drivers license or identification card is $10. Make an appointment above and at the appointment you can verbally give us your new address (mail is not required).
If you have moved to Iowa from another state or country, please see the section "New to Iowa" for more information about the requirements to be issued in Iowa. You can also inquire more with the Iowa DOT website for more information.
Learn how to get an Iowa driver's license:
- If you have the REAL ID in the state you’re moving from, you will need to bring:
- Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate, INS documents)
- Proof of social security (social security card, anything listing your full social security number or social security number affidavit for driver's license or identification card services)
- Proof of residency x 2 (2 pieces of mail)
- If you do not have the REAL ID on your out of-state-license, you will need to bring:
- Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate, INS documents)
- Proof of social security (social security card, anything listing your full social security number or social security number affidavit for driver's license or identification card services
- Proof of residency x 2 (2 pieces of mail)
- If your legal name has changed, you will need to bring in your certified legal name change documents (i.e. certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.).
Iowa Department of Transportation
For questions regarding your drivers license or driving record information, please call the Iowa DOT at (515) 244-8725. You also have the option to go to the Iowa DOT website to chat or email.
Certified Driving Records
To obtain a copy of your certified driving record, please visit the Iowa DOT website.
Concerned about a loved one's safety while driving?
Please check out the Iowa DOT's resources on aging and safe driving.
Please Read
For all driver's license appointments, please call the Tama County Treasurer's Office at 641-484-3141, opt. 1. Online scheduling is not available at this time.
Drive Tests
To schedule an appointment for a drive test in Tama County, you must call the Tama County Treasurer’s Office at 641-484-3141 during business hours. Online scheduling is not available for drive tests.
Information regarding testing, REAL ID/Gold Star requirements, commercial and restricted licenses, and much more can be found in the Driver's License section of the Tama County Treasurer's web page or on the Iowa DOT website.
If you have questions regarding driver's license/ID requirements or qualifications please call our office at 641-484-3141 option 1 before scheduling an appointment.
