Welcome to the new Guthrie County Website!

Driver's License

Renew your license 30 days before or 60 days after your birthday. If your license has been expired for over one year, full testing (computer and skills) are required.

General Hours & Appointments

Driver's license services are available Monday through Friday. Please see the appointment list below for specifics.

Appointments are available; please call our office to make appointments.

  • Renewals:  8:00 a.m. – 3:40 p.m. (walk-ins are accepted behind scheduled appointments)
  • Computer Knowledge Test:  8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (last appointment at 3:30)
  • Skills Driving Test:  Tuesday & Thursday mornings by appointment only.
    • Skills tests can be scheduled after passing the computer knowledge exam
    • No motorcycles or CDL skills testing in Guthrie County. 

Please note:  Effective July 1, 2023 –  any non-resident of Guthrie County will be charged a $10 convenience fee for issuance of a driver's license of ID card.

Permit Test Requirements

  • Birth certificate
    • Certified state copy of the birth certificate (the hospital birth certificate with baby footprints will not be sufficient)
  • Social security card
  • 2 pieces of mail showing name and physical address
  • A parent must be present at the appointment or this Parent Consent Form (Iowa DOT Form 430018) must be completed prior to the appointment

School Permit Requirements

  • Completed and passed Driver's Education
  • 6 months of having a permit with no accidents or citations
  • Completed Affidavit for Minor School License (Iowa DOT Form 430021)

Renewals

Renewals are $4 per year for basic renewals. Motorcycle endorsements are an additional $2 per year.

  • Renewal Requirements
    • 8-year renewals: 18 to 72-year-olds
    • 7-year renewals: 73-year-olds
    • 6-year renewals: 74-year-olds
    • 5-year renewals: 75-year-olds
    • 4-year renewals: 76-year-olds
    • 3-year renewals: 77-year-olds
    • 2-year renewals: 78-year-olds and older

Payment Options

  • Cash
  • Check made out to Treasurer, State of Iowa
  • Debit/credit cards for an additional $1.50

Duplicate/Replacement

  • Duplicates cost $10

Identification Cards

  • In Iowa, you can have an ID card or a driver's license; you are not allowed to have both.
  • Iowa non-operator’s ID cards will be issued with an expiration date of eight years.
  • The cost for an identification card is $8.00

Commercial Drivers Licence (CDL)

CDLs are $8.00 per year.  If you have the hazmat endorsement, testing is required at renewal time. Every five years, fingerprints and background checks are required as well. More information can be found on the Iowa DOT website.

If you have a CDL you must certify if you are interstate or intrastate. Intrastate includes using your CDL only within the state of Iowa while interstate is using your CDL while outside of the state of Iowa. If you certify as non-excepted interstate you will need the following:

Failure to comply with the required timeline will result in a downgrade of your CDL.

See the diagram below for more information on interstate vs intrastate.

CDL diagram clarifying the difference between interstate and intrastate.

Reminder! CDL holders must bring in their birth certificate, passport or INS document to renew if they don’t have a Real ID.

REAL ID Requirements

  • Deadline: May 7, 2025
  • Typical documents needed (you will need all):
    • Identity
      • Birth certificate or valid passport
    • Social security
      • Card or 1099/W-2 with full number listed on document
    • Residency
      • Two items with your name and physical address in Iowa
    • You may also need proof of legal name change, if applicable
      • If your legal name has changed, you will need to bring in your certified legal name change documents (i.e. certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.).
    • To change your existing license to the Real ID license it is $10 if not at renewal time.

Address Change

In-state address changes cost $10 and can be done through a verbal address update.

New to Iowa?

Learn how to get an Iowa driver's license.

  • You will need to bring:
    • Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate, INS documents)
    • Proof of social security (social security card, anything listing your full social security number or social security number affidavit for driver's license or identification card services
    • Proof of residency (Two things showing your name and physical address in Iowa)
    • If your legal name has changed, you will need to bring in your certified legal name change documents (i.e. certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.)
    • Your out of state driver's license or identification card

County Courthouse

200 N. 5th St.
Guthrie Center, IA
Contact Us

Courthouse Hours

M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed Holidays
Department Hours May Vary