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 Doc Fees | Car Sales Tax | Car 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
Ranked in the US
#12
Ranked in the US
#6
Car Registration Fees
$23
Ranked in the US
#8
Alaska
Driver's License Cost
$20
Ranked in the US
#43
Ranked in the US
#38
Ranked in the US
#1
Car Registration Fees
$100
Ranked in the US
#42
Arizona
Driver's License Cost
$25
Ranked in the US
#34
Ranked in the US
#16
5.6%
Ranked in the US
#25
Car Registration Fees
$9.5
Ranked in the US
#1
Arkansas
Driver's License Cost
$40
Ranked in the US
#11
Ranked in the US
#49
6.5%
Ranked in the US
#39
Car Registration Fees
$17
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
Car Registration Fees
$46
Ranked in the US
#32
Colorado
Driver's License Cost
$26
Ranked in the US
#32
Ranked in the US
#11
2.9%
Ranked in the US
#7
Connecticut
Driver's License Cost
$72
Ranked in the US
#2
Ranked in the US
#15
6.3%
Ranked in the US
#38
Car Registration Fees
$80
Ranked in the US
#40
Delaware
Driver's License Cost
$40
Ranked in the US
#12
Ranked in the US
#32
Ranked in the US
#2
Car Registration Fees
$40
Ranked in the US
#26
Florida
Driver's License Cost
$48
Ranked in the US
#8
Ranked in the US
#1
Ranked in the US
#27
Car Registration Fees
$225
Ranked in the US
#46
Georgia
Driver's License Cost
$32
Ranked in the US
#22
Ranked in the US
#4
6.6%
Ranked in the US
#41
Car Registration Fees
$20
Ranked in the US
#5
Hawaii
Driver's License Cost
$20
Ranked in the US
#44
Ranked in the US
#34
Ranked in the US
#10
Car Registration Fees
$45
Ranked in the US
#31
Idaho
Driver's License Cost
$30
Ranked in the US
#26
Ranked in the US
#33
Ranked in the US
#28
Car Registration Fees
$69
Ranked in the US
#36
Illinois
Driver's License Cost
$30
Ranked in the US
#27
Ranked in the US
#24
6.2%
Ranked in the US
#35
Car Registration Fees
$101
Ranked in the US
#43
Indiana
Driver's License Cost
$17.5
Ranked in the US
#47
Ranked in the US
#43
Ranked in the US
#45
Car Registration Fees
$36.35
Ranked in the US
#25
Iowa
Driver's License Cost
$32
Ranked in the US
#23
Ranked in the US
#46
Ranked in the US
#18
Kansas
Driver's License Cost
$23
Ranked in the US
#40
Ranked in the US
#17
7.5%
Ranked in the US
#50
Car Registration Fees
$30
Ranked in the US
#12
Kentucky
Driver's License Cost
$30
Ranked in the US
#28
Ranked in the US
#13
Ranked in the US
#29
Car Registration Fees
$21
Ranked in the US
#6
Louisiana
Driver's License Cost
$32.25
Ranked in the US
#21
Ranked in the US
#39
4.4%
Ranked in the US
#17
Maine
Driver's License Cost
$30
Ranked in the US
#29
Ranked in the US
#9
5.5%
Ranked in the US
#23
Car Registration Fees
$35
Ranked in the US
#21
Maryland
Driver's License Cost
$72
Ranked in the US
#3
Ranked in the US
#5
Ranked in the US
#30
Car Registration Fees
$135
Ranked in the US
#44
Massachusetts
Driver's License Cost
$50
Ranked in the US
#6
Ranked in the US
#19
6.2%
Ranked in the US
#36
Car Registration Fees
$60
Ranked in the US
#35
Michigan
Driver's License Cost
$25
Ranked in the US
#35
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
Ranked in the US
#14
Ranked in the US
#19
Car Registration Fees
$15
Ranked in the US
#2
Missouri
Driver's License Cost
$10
Ranked in the US
#50
Ranked in the US
#6
4.2%
Ranked in the US
#15
Car Registration Fees
$21
Ranked in the US
#7
Montana
Driver's License Cost
$40.5
Ranked in the US
#10
Ranked in the US
#26
Ranked in the US
#3
Car Registration Fees
$217
Ranked in the US
#45
Nebraska
Driver's License Cost
$21.5
Ranked in the US
#42
Ranked in the US
#27
5.5%
Ranked in the US
#24
Car Registration Fees
$15
Ranked in the US
#3
Nevada
Driver's License Cost
$42.25
Ranked in the US
#9
Ranked in the US
#10
6.9%
Ranked in the US
#44
Car Registration Fees
$33
Ranked in the US
#18
New Hampshire
Driver's License Cost
$50
Ranked in the US
#7
Ranked in the US
#21
Ranked in the US
#4
Car Registration Fees
$31.2
Ranked in the US
#17
New Jersey
Driver's License Cost
$24
Ranked in the US
#39
Ranked in the US
#18
6.6%
Ranked in the US
#42
Car Registration Fees
$33.5
Ranked in the US
#19
New Mexico
Driver's License Cost
$18
Ranked in the US
#46
Ranked in the US
#23
Ranked in the US
#11
Car Registration Fees
$27
Ranked in the US
#11
New York
Driver's License Cost
$64.25
Ranked in the US
#4
Ranked in the US
#41
Ranked in the US
#12
Car Registration Fees
$26
Ranked in the US
#10
North Carolina
Driver's License Cost
$40
Ranked in the US
#13
Ranked in the US
#2
Ranked in the US
#8
Car Registration Fees
$36
Ranked in the US
#22
North Dakota
Driver's License Cost
$15
Ranked in the US
#48
Ranked in the US
#28
Ranked in the US
#20
Car Registration Fees
$49
Ranked in the US
#33
Ohio
Driver's License Cost
$23
Ranked in the US
#41
Ranked in the US
#35
5.8%
Ranked in the US
#26
Car Registration Fees
$34.5
Ranked in the US
#20
Oklahoma
Driver's License Cost
$38.5
Ranked in the US
#15
Ranked in the US
#29
3.2%
Ranked in the US
#9
Car Registration Fees
$85
Ranked in the US
#41
Oregon
Driver's License Cost
$60
Ranked in the US
#5
Ranked in the US
#47
Ranked in the US
#5
Car Registration Fees
$43
Ranked in the US
#29
Pennsylvania
Driver's License Cost
$35.5
Ranked in the US
#18
Ranked in the US
#20
Ranked in the US
#32
Car Registration Fees
$36
Ranked in the US
#23
Rhode Island
Driver's License Cost
$38.5
Ranked in the US
#16
Ranked in the US
#37
Ranked in the US
#46
Car Registration Fees
$30
Ranked in the US
#13
South Carolina
Driver's License Cost
$12.5
Ranked in the US
#49
Ranked in the US
#22
Ranked in the US
#21
Car Registration Fees
$40
Ranked in the US
#27
South Dakota
Driver's License Cost
$28
Ranked in the US
#30
Ranked in the US
#48
Ranked in the US
#13
Car Registration Fees
$36
Ranked in the US
#24
Tennessee
Driver's License Cost
$28
Ranked in the US
#31
Ranked in the US
#7
Ranked in the US
#47
Car Registration Fees
$23.75
Ranked in the US
#9
Texas
Driver's License Cost
$25
Ranked in the US
#36
Ranked in the US
#44
6.2%
Ranked in the US
#37
Car Registration Fees
$50.75
Ranked in the US
#34
Utah
Driver's License Cost
$25
Ranked in the US
#37
Ranked in the US
#30
Ranked in the US
#48
Car Registration Fees
$43
Ranked in the US
#30
Vermont
Driver's License Cost
$32
Ranked in the US
#24
Ranked in the US
#40
Ranked in the US
#33
Car Registration Fees
$76
Ranked in the US
#39
Virginia
Driver's License Cost
$32
Ranked in the US
#25
Ranked in the US
#3
4.2%
Ranked in the US
#16
Car Registration Fees
$40.75
Ranked in the US
#28
Washington
Driver's License Cost
$89
Ranked in the US
#1
Ranked in the US
#45
6.8%
Ranked in the US
#43
Car Registration Fees
$30
Ranked in the US
#14
West Virginia
Driver's License Cost
$40
Ranked in the US
#14
Ranked in the US
#42
Ranked in the US
#34
Car Registration Fees
$30
Ranked in the US
#15
Wisconsin
Driver's License Cost
$34
Ranked in the US
#19
Ranked in the US
#31
Ranked in the US
#22
Car Registration Fees
$75
Ranked in the US
#38
Wyoming
Driver's License Cost
$20
Ranked in the US
#45
Ranked in the US
#8
Ranked in the US
#14
Car Registration Fees
$30
Ranked in the US
#16
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