Introduction
To legally own and operate a motor vehicle of any kind in the U.S, one must have both a license and registration, to verify their ownership of the vehicle and their competence in operating it.
Generally, the distribution of licenses is handled by state governments, who often charge different prices for preparing a license. States also have different laws regarding how old one must be before they can acquire a license and how long before they have to renew that license. Generally, the minimum age to obtain a license is 18, and anyone under that age is able to obtain a provisional license or a learner’s permit. The latter is for learners and students hoping to acquire their license and has restrictions placed on the motorists like curfews and a limited number of passengers.
To compare driver’s license costs by state, please refer to the data in the charts.
| # | State | Driver's License Cost | Car Dealer Fee | Car Sales Tax | Vehicle Registration Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $89 | $150 | 6.8% | $30 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $72 | $415 | 6.3% | $80 |
| 3 | Maryland | $72 | $500 | 6% | $135 |
| 4 | New York | $64.25 | $175 | 4% | $26 |
| 5 | Oregon | $60 | $115 | 0% | $43 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $50 | $396 | 6.2% | $60 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $50 | $372 | 0% | $31.2 |
| 8 | Florida | $48 | $995 | 6% | $225 |
| 9 | Nevada | $42.25 | $499 | 6.9% | $33 |
| 10 | Montana | $40.5 | $299 | 0% | $217 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $40 | $110 | 6.5% | $17 |
| 12 | Delaware | $40 | $292 | 0% | $40 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $40 | $599 | 3% | $36 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $40 | $175 | 6% | $30 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $38.5 | $299 | 3.2% | $85 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $38.5 | $220 | 7% | $30 |
| 17 | Alabama | $36.25 | $485 | 2% | $23 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $35.5 | $389 | 6% | $36 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $34 | $299 | 5% | $75 |
| 20 | California | $33 | $85 | 7.2% | $46 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $32.25 | $200 | 4.4% | |
| 22 | Georgia | $32 | $545 | 6.6% | $20 |
| 23 | Iowa | $32 | $135 | 5% | |
| 24 | Vermont | $32 | $180 | 6% | $76 |
| 25 | Virginia | $32 | $599 | 4.2% | $40.75 |
| 26 | Idaho | $30 | $265 | 6% | $69 |
| 27 | Illinois | $30 | $303 | 6.2% | $101 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $30 | $450 | 6% | $21 |
| 29 | Maine | $30 | $499 | 5.5% | $35 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $28 | $115 | 4% | $36 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $28 | $500 | 7% | $23.75 |
| 32 | Colorado | $26 | $490 | 2.9% | |
| 33 | Minnesota | $25.25 | $75 | 6.5% | |
| 34 | Arizona | $25 | $410 | 5.6% | $9.5 |
| 35 | Michigan | $25 | $230 | 6% | |
| 36 | Texas | $25 | $150 | 6.2% | $50.75 |
| 37 | Utah | $25 | $299 | 7% | $43 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $24 | $425 | 5% | $15 |
| 39 | New Jersey | $24 | $399 | 6.6% | $33.5 |
| 40 | Kansas | $23 | $399 | 7.5% | $30 |
| 41 | Ohio | $23 | $250 | 5.8% | $34.5 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $21.5 | $299 | 5.5% | $15 |
| 43 | Alaska | $20 | $200 | 0% | $100 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $20 | $250 | 4% | $45 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $20 | $500 | 4% | $30 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $18 | $339 | 4% | $27 |
| 47 | Indiana | $17.5 | $150 | 7% | $36.35 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $15 | $299 | 5% | $49 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $12.5 | $350 | 5% | $40 |
| 50 | Missouri | $10 | $500 | 4.2% | $21 |
Driver's License Cost by State
Alabama
Driver's License Cost
$36.25
Ranked in the US
#17
$485
Ranked in the US
#12
Ranked in the US
#6
Ranked in the US
#8
Alaska
Driver's License Cost
$20
Ranked in the US
#43
$200
Ranked in the US
#38
Ranked in the US
#1
Ranked in the US
#42
Arizona
Driver's License Cost
$25
Ranked in the US
#34
$410
Ranked in the US
#16
5.6%
Ranked in the US
#25
Ranked in the US
#1
Arkansas
Driver's License Cost
$40
Ranked in the US
#11
$110
Ranked in the US
#49
6.5%
Ranked in the US
#39
Ranked in the US
#4
California
Driver's License Cost
$33
Ranked in the US
#20
Ranked in the US
#50
7.2%
Ranked in the US
#49
Ranked in the US
#32
Colorado
Driver's License Cost
$26
Ranked in the US
#32
$490
Ranked in the US
#11
2.9%
Ranked in the US
#7
Connecticut
Driver's License Cost
$72
Ranked in the US
#2
$415
Ranked in the US
#15
6.3%
Ranked in the US
#38
Ranked in the US
#40
Delaware
Driver's License Cost
$40
Ranked in the US
#12
$292
Ranked in the US
#32
Ranked in the US
#2
Ranked in the US
#26
Florida
Driver's License Cost
$48
Ranked in the US
#8
$995
Ranked in the US
#1
Ranked in the US
#27
Ranked in the US
#46
Georgia
Driver's License Cost
$32
Ranked in the US
#22
$545
Ranked in the US
#4
6.6%
Ranked in the US
#41
Ranked in the US
#5
Hawaii
Driver's License Cost
$20
Ranked in the US
#44
$250
Ranked in the US
#34
Ranked in the US
#10
Ranked in the US
#31
Idaho
Driver's License Cost
$30
Ranked in the US
#26
$265
Ranked in the US
#33
Ranked in the US
#28
Ranked in the US
#36
Illinois
Driver's License Cost
$30
Ranked in the US
#27
$303
Ranked in the US
#24
6.2%
Ranked in the US
#35
Ranked in the US
#43
Indiana
Driver's License Cost
$17.5
Ranked in the US
#47
$150
Ranked in the US
#43
Ranked in the US
#45
Ranked in the US
#25
Iowa
Driver's License Cost
$32
Ranked in the US
#23
$135
Ranked in the US
#46
Ranked in the US
#18
Kansas
Driver's License Cost
$23
Ranked in the US
#40
$399
Ranked in the US
#17
7.5%
Ranked in the US
#50
Ranked in the US
#12
Kentucky
Driver's License Cost
$30
Ranked in the US
#28
$450
Ranked in the US
#13
Ranked in the US
#29
Ranked in the US
#6
Louisiana
Driver's License Cost
$32.25
Ranked in the US
#21
$200
Ranked in the US
#39
4.4%
Ranked in the US
#17
Maine
Driver's License Cost
$30
Ranked in the US
#29
$499
Ranked in the US
#9
5.5%
Ranked in the US
#23
Ranked in the US
#21
Maryland
Driver's License Cost
$72
Ranked in the US
#3
$500
Ranked in the US
#5
Ranked in the US
#30
Ranked in the US
#44
Massachusetts
Driver's License Cost
$50
Ranked in the US
#6
$396
Ranked in the US
#19
6.2%
Ranked in the US
#36
Ranked in the US
#35
Michigan
Driver's License Cost
$25
Ranked in the US
#35
$230
Ranked in the US
#36
Ranked in the US
#31
Minnesota
Driver's License Cost
$25.25
Ranked in the US
#33
Ranked in the US
#51
6.5%
Ranked in the US
#40
Mississippi
Driver's License Cost
$24
Ranked in the US
#38
$425
Ranked in the US
#14
Ranked in the US
#19
Ranked in the US
#2
Missouri
Driver's License Cost
$10
Ranked in the US
#50
$500
Ranked in the US
#6
4.2%
Ranked in the US
#15
Ranked in the US
#7
Montana
Driver's License Cost
$40.5
Ranked in the US
#10
$299
Ranked in the US
#26
Ranked in the US
#3
Ranked in the US
#45
Nebraska
Driver's License Cost
$21.5
Ranked in the US
#42
$299
Ranked in the US
#27
5.5%
Ranked in the US
#24
Ranked in the US
#3
Nevada
Driver's License Cost
$42.25
Ranked in the US
#9
$499
Ranked in the US
#10
6.9%
Ranked in the US
#44
Ranked in the US
#18
New Hampshire
Driver's License Cost
$50
Ranked in the US
#7
$372
Ranked in the US
#21
Ranked in the US
#4
Ranked in the US
#17
New Jersey
Driver's License Cost
$24
Ranked in the US
#39
$399
Ranked in the US
#18
6.6%
Ranked in the US
#42
Ranked in the US
#19
New Mexico
Driver's License Cost
$18
Ranked in the US
#46
$339
Ranked in the US
#23
Ranked in the US
#11
Ranked in the US
#11
New York
Driver's License Cost
$64.25
Ranked in the US
#4
$175
Ranked in the US
#41
Ranked in the US
#12
Ranked in the US
#10
North Carolina
Driver's License Cost
$40
Ranked in the US
#13
$599
Ranked in the US
#2
Ranked in the US
#8
Ranked in the US
#22
North Dakota
Driver's License Cost
$15
Ranked in the US
#48
$299
Ranked in the US
#28
Ranked in the US
#20
Ranked in the US
#33
Ohio
Driver's License Cost
$23
Ranked in the US
#41
$250
Ranked in the US
#35
5.8%
Ranked in the US
#26
Ranked in the US
#20
Oklahoma
Driver's License Cost
$38.5
Ranked in the US
#15
$299
Ranked in the US
#29
3.2%
Ranked in the US
#9
Ranked in the US
#41
Oregon
Driver's License Cost
$60
Ranked in the US
#5
$115
Ranked in the US
#47
Ranked in the US
#5
Ranked in the US
#29
Pennsylvania
Driver's License Cost
$35.5
Ranked in the US
#18
$389
Ranked in the US
#20
Ranked in the US
#32
Ranked in the US
#23
Rhode Island
Driver's License Cost
$38.5
Ranked in the US
#16
$220
Ranked in the US
#37
Ranked in the US
#46
Ranked in the US
#13
South Carolina
Driver's License Cost
$12.5
Ranked in the US
#49
$350
Ranked in the US
#22
Ranked in the US
#21
Ranked in the US
#27
South Dakota
Driver's License Cost
$28
Ranked in the US
#30
$115
Ranked in the US
#48
Ranked in the US
#13
Ranked in the US
#24
Tennessee
Driver's License Cost
$28
Ranked in the US
#31
$500
Ranked in the US
#7
Ranked in the US
#47
Ranked in the US
#9
Texas
Driver's License Cost
$25
Ranked in the US
#36
$150
Ranked in the US
#44
6.2%
Ranked in the US
#37
Ranked in the US
#34
Utah
Driver's License Cost
$25
Ranked in the US
#37
$299
Ranked in the US
#30
Ranked in the US
#48
Ranked in the US
#30
Vermont
Driver's License Cost
$32
Ranked in the US
#24
$180
Ranked in the US
#40
Ranked in the US
#33
Ranked in the US
#39
Virginia
Driver's License Cost
$32
Ranked in the US
#25
$599
Ranked in the US
#3
4.2%
Ranked in the US
#16
Ranked in the US
#28
Washington
Driver's License Cost
$89
Ranked in the US
#1
$150
Ranked in the US
#45
6.8%
Ranked in the US
#43
Ranked in the US
#14
West Virginia
Driver's License Cost
$40
Ranked in the US
#14
$175
Ranked in the US
#42
Ranked in the US
#34
Ranked in the US
#15
Wisconsin
Driver's License Cost
$34
Ranked in the US
#19
$299
Ranked in the US
#31
Ranked in the US
#22
Ranked in the US
#38
Wyoming
Driver's License Cost
$20
Ranked in the US
#45
$500
Ranked in the US
#8
Ranked in the US
#14
Ranked in the US
#16