How Much Does It Cost to Get a License in Missouri?

Getting a driver’s license in Missouri costs about $43.50 for a standard six-year Class F license: a $25.50 transaction fee plus an $18 office processing fee. Missouri overhauled its fee schedule in August 2025, so figures you find on older pages may be out of date. Permits, teen licenses, motorcycle endorsements, commercial licenses, and nondriver IDs each carry their own prices, and the office processing fee applies on top of every transaction.

Standard Class F License

The Class F license is what most Missouri drivers hold. Under the schedule effective August 2025, a six-year Class F license carries a transaction fee of $25.50, and a three-year license costs $16.50.¹ Neither figure includes the office processing fee, which adds $18 for a six-year issuance or $9 for a three-year issuance.²

Drivers aged 70 and older are issued a three-year license only, so they pay the $16.50 transaction fee plus the $9 processing fee.³ Written and road test fees are billed separately.

The Office Processing Fee

Every license transaction in Missouri includes a processing fee charged by the license office on top of the transaction fee. Six-year issuances add $18. Three-year issuances and permits add $9.² The fee applies to new licenses, renewals, and duplicates, so factor it into any cost estimate.

A first-time adult applicant getting a six-year Class F license pays $25.50 plus $18, totaling $43.50 before any exam fees.

Learner’s Permit and Intermediate License

A Class F instruction permit is the first step for new drivers, available starting at age 15. The transaction fee is $10.¹ With the $9 processing fee, the total is about $19.

After holding a permit and meeting supervised driving requirements, teen drivers move to a Class F intermediate license at age 16. The transaction fee is $14,¹ which brings the out-the-door cost to roughly $23 with processing.

Motorcycle License (Class M)

Under the pre-August-2025 chart, a Class M motorcycle instruction permit cost $3.50 for applicants aged 16 and older, or $6.25 for applicants aged 15½ who completed an approved rider training course. A full Class M license cost $10 for three years or $20 for six years. Missouri’s August 2025 overhaul raised fees across all license categories, so current motorcycle fees are likely higher. Check the Department of Revenue’s current fee chart before visiting a license office.¹

Commercial Driver’s License

Commercial licensing costs more because exam fees are built into the process:

Commercial learner’s permit (CLP): $44 total, which includes a $25 written examination fee, a $10 permit transaction fee, and a $9 office processing fee.
First CDL issuance: approximately $83 total, which includes a $25 skills test fee, a $40 license transaction fee, and an $18 office processing fee. The exact amount varies with the term of issuance and whether additional knowledge tests are completed.

These figures come from the Missouri Department of Revenue.⁴ A $25 examination fee applies each time you take a written or driving test, including endorsement tests for hazardous materials, passenger transport, or school bus operation.⁵ The exam fee is waived for drivers 70 and older renewing a school bus endorsement.

Nondriver ID Card

If you don’t drive but need a state-issued photo ID, Missouri offers a Class ND nondriver identification card. The transaction fee is $24 whether you choose a three-year, six-year, or non-expiring card,¹ and the office processing fee applies on top.

REAL ID: Same Price, More Paperwork

Since May 7, 2025, a non-REAL-ID driver’s license no longer gets you through a TSA airport checkpoint.⁶ A REAL ID-compliant license costs the same as a standard license; the transaction and processing fees are identical.²

The added cost is in documents. To get a REAL ID, you need original documents proving your identity and date of birth, lawful U.S. status, Social Security number, and two proofs of your Missouri residential address. If your name has changed since the name on your identity document, you also need a certified marriage license or court order.² Ordering replacement copies can add to your total expense.

If you already have a standard Missouri license and want to switch to a REAL ID before your renewal date, Missouri law allows a one-time waiver of the duplicate transaction fee. You still pay the office processing fee of $9 or $18, depending on the term of your current license.² Without a REAL ID, you can still fly domestically using a U.S. passport, passport card, or military ID, among other federal alternatives.⁷

Duplicates and Reinstatement

If your license is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can get a duplicate at any Missouri license office.³ The transaction fee for a duplicate depends on the license type and remaining term, and the $9 or $18 office processing fee still applies.

Drivers whose license has been suspended or revoked face a $20 reinstatement fee on top of any new license fees. If you go two years after the suspension date without paying, the reinstatement fee is waived automatically for most suspension types. The waiver does not apply to alcohol-related offenses or certain other serious violations.⁸

Costs for Supporting Documents

Gathering the documents you need for a license application, especially a REAL ID, can add to the total bill:

Certified birth certificate: $15 per copy from Missouri vital records. If you were born in another state, fees vary but typically fall between $10 and $35.⁹
Social Security card: free. The Social Security Administration charges nothing for a replacement card, and any private company offering to do it for a fee provides no advantage.¹⁰
U.S. passport card: $65 for a first-time applicant, which is a $30 application fee plus a $35 acceptance facility fee. A passport card doubles as a REAL ID alternative at the airport if you already have one.¹¹

How to Pay

You pay license fees in person at any Missouri Department of Revenue license office at the time of your application. Accepted payment methods include cash, personal checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover).³

Card payments carry a convenience fee of 2% of the transaction plus $0.25, charged by the card processing vendor rather than the state.³ On a $43.50 license transaction, that adds roughly $1.12. Cash or check avoids the fee.

What Skipping the License Costs

Driving without a valid license creates legal exposure that dwarfs any fee. Under Missouri law, driving without a valid license is a Class D misdemeanor on a first offense. A second offense is a Class A misdemeanor, and a third or subsequent offense is a Class E felony.¹²

Driving while your license is specifically suspended or revoked is treated more seriously. A first conviction for driving while revoked is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to a year in jail. Repeat offenders face a Class D felony, which includes a minimum of 48 hours of imprisonment or 40 hours of community service.¹³

1
Missouri Department of Revenue. Permit/Driver License/Nondriver ID Fees
2
Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri REAL ID Information
3
Missouri Department of Revenue. Driver License – Resources – License
4
Missouri Department of Revenue. Commercial Drivers
5
Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo Section 302.720
6
Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025
7
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
8
Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo Section 302.304
9
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Order a Copy of a Vital Record
10
Social Security Administration. What Does It Cost to Get a Social Security Card
11
Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees
12
Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo Section 302.020
13
Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo Section 302.321