Iowa Minor Special Restricted License

The below information is directly from the Iowa Department of Transportation regarding the new Iowa Special Restricted License (formerly referred to as a Minor School License). The new Iowa Minor Special Restricted License took the place of the Iowa Minor School License on July 1, 2024.

Driving yourself to school is an adult responsibility that you need to take seriously to keep you and others safe and protect your privilege to drive.

HOW DO I GET A SPECIAL MINOR'S RESTRICTED LICENSE (SCHOOL/WORK PERMIT)?

  • Be at least 14 1/2 years old.

  • Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.

  • Hold an instruction permit and a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for your special minor's restricted license.

  • If you are a public-school student, your parents must download and fill out the Affidavit for Special Minor's Restricted License  (form 430021) and sign it with a live signature. Then, they must have your school superintendent, principal, or school board chair sign it with a live signature. This form is available at any DMV or online.

  • If you are a student at an accredited nonpublic school (private school), your parents must download and fill out the Affidavit for Special Minor's Restricted License (form 430021) and sign it with a live signature. Then, the authorities in charge of your school must sign it with a live signature. This form is available at any DMV or online.

  • If you are a home-schooled student (you receive competent private instruction or independent private instruction), your parents must download and fill out the Affidavit for Special Minor’s Restricted License (form 430021) and sign it with a live signature. Then, your primary instructor must sign it with a live signature. This form is available at any DMV or online.

  • You may be required to complete a drive test at the DMV, if your driver’s education instructor requires it, or if you completed the Parent-Taught Driver’s Education Program.

  • Once the form is completed, schedule an appointment to bring in the completed form and get your special minor's restricted license issued.

  • Have your parent or guardian complete a Parental Consent for Special Minor’s Restricted License (form 430022). You must carry this completed form with you in the vehicle. Present it to law enforcement when requested.


WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS LICENSE?

This license allows you to drive without adult supervision in the hour before and after the beginning and ending of the following:

  • Drive from your home to your school(s) of enrollment for class or school sponsored activities using the most direct and accessible route. Public school students are limited to driving within the school district of enrollment and accredited nonpublic school students and students that are home-schooled are limited to driving within a 25-mile driving distance.

  • Drive to participate in extracurricular activities using the most direct and accessible route. Activities must be held at a location within a 25-mile driving distance.

  • Drive for work. The driving distance between the origin and destination must be 25 miles or less.

  • Drive to complete farm work to assist your parents, guardians, or employers in connection with any farm employment or farm-related work using the most direct and accessible route, if you live on or are employed by a farm in Iowa. The driving distance between the origin and destination must be 25 miles or less.

  • Drive to and from your home to the closest school bus stop.

  • Stop for fuel while on route or at the closest filling station off route.

You may also drive at any time with adult supervision. Adult supervision means your parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21 years of age, a driver education instructor, or a person at least 25 years of age with written permission from your parent, guardian, or custodian. The supervising adult must possess a valid driver’s license.


WHAT CAN'T I DO WITH THIS LICENSE

  • Use a cell phone, smartphone, tablet, or other electronic communication or entertainment device while driving.

  • You are not allowed to carry more than one minor passenger who is not a relative when driving without adult supervision. A relative includes your brother, sister, step-brother, step-sister, or any other minor living in your household.

  • The license holder cannot drop off or pick up passengers at any location other than their school of enrollment for classes or school-sponsored activities.

  • Drive to participate in extracurricular activities if the activities are not at a location within a 25 mile driving distance.

  • Carry more passengers than the number of seat belts in your vehicle, even when driving with adult supervision.

  • Drive a commercial motor vehicle, a vehicle with more than two axles, a vehicle towing another vehicle, or a motorcycle (unless you have a motorcycle privileges).

  • Drop off a sibling at a location other than your own school of enrollment.

  • Drive to a school or school activity as a spectator at a school where you are not enrolled.


WHAT IF I MESS UP?

Each violation will result in the following:

  • The requirement to maintain a clean driving record for six months before upgrading to the next level will start over after you have reinstated your driving privileges.

  • You will have to wait an additional three months after your 16th birthday to become eligible to apply for the next level (Intermediate License)

HOW DO I ADVANCE TO THE NEXT STEP: AN INTERMEDIATE LICENSE?

  • Be at least 16 years old.

  • Hold a valid instruction permit (or instruction permit and special minor's restricted license) for a total of at least 12 months.

  • Maintain a clean driving record (while holding a valid instruction permit or special minor's restricted license) for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for an intermediate license.

  • Your parent or guardian must provide written consent. Either in person at a driver’s license issuance site or complete the Parent’s/Guardian’s Written Consent Form (form 430018).

  • Complete 20 hours of supervised driving including any driving you completed in driver’s education. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.


CAN A MINOR WHO HAS COMPLETED DRIVER EDUCATION IN ANOTHER STATE GET AN IOWA SPECIAL MINOR'S RESTRICTED LICENSE?

To obtain an Iowa special minor's restricted license, the student must provide an Iowa driver education completion certificate from their Iowa school. If a student completed driver education in another state, they can ask their Iowa school district if the course meets the same program requirements as the Iowa school district’s course. If it does, the Iowa school may issue a driver education completion certificate. This decision is made by the local school district and is at their discretion.