Learner's Permit Cost by State
The short answer
- Verified permit fees range from $3 in Virginia to $46 in California, before optional local, testing or REAL ID charges.
- Forty-one jurisdictions publish a current fee we could verify on their own licensing page or statute.
- Ten jurisdictions remain Not stated because no single current statewide learner-permit fee was verified.
By the DMV Prep editorial team Β· Published 2026-08-12 Β· updated 2026-08-23 Β· sources last checked 2026-08-12 Β· Editorial policy
A learner's permit does not have one national price. Some states charge for the permit itself, some bundle the application and knowledge test, and some add county or service charges. This comparison uses the standard statewide amount stated by each licensing agency.
Coverage note: 41 of 51 jurisdictions have a verified permit fee. Ten remain Not stated. Optional REAL ID upgrades, card-processing charges, county surcharges and repeat-test fees are not added unless the official source includes them in the standard permit price.
Learner's permit fees in every state
Every published amount links to the state source that states it. A Not stated cell means we could not verify one current statewide amount from an official source; it does not mean the permit is free.
Why the amount at the counter can differ
- Knowledge-test and permit-card fees may be separate transactions.
- REAL ID, online processing and county-agent surcharges may be optional or location-specific.
- A failed test can trigger another application or testing fee even when no waiting period is published.
Check yourself
During the first 6 months of a Connecticut youth operator license (under 18), which passengers β other than a parent/guardian, a licensed driving instructor, or a supervising adult who is at least 20 years old and has held a license for at least 4 years β are prohibited?
- A. No restriction β any passenger is allowed
- B. All other passengers, including siblings
- C. Only passengers who are not licensed drivers
- D. Only passengers over age 21
Show answer
B. All other passengers, including siblings β During the first 6 months of a Connecticut youth (under-18) operator license, only a parent/guardian, a licensed driving instructor, or a supervising adult who is at least 20 years old and has held a license for at least 4 years may ride along β all other passengers, including siblings, are prohibited. Immediate family members (siblings) are added as permitted passengers only in the second 6-month period.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual β Graduated Driver Licensing Β· verified 2026-06-18
Frequently asked questions
How much does a learner's permit cost?
The verified standard fees in this table range from $3 to $46, but testing, REAL ID and local processing charges can change the total.
Does a Not stated fee mean the permit is free?
No. It means no single current statewide amount was verified from the state's own licensing source.
Do I pay again if I fail the permit test?
It depends on the state. Some charge again for each attempt, while others separate the retest fee from the permit fee.