Arkansas Permit Payment Methods at DFA: Cash, Checks and Cards

You cannot pay Arkansas DFA permit fees online. All permit fee payments happen in person at the counter. All payments must happen in person at a DFA Revenue Office after you pass the written test at an Arkansas State Police location. Download the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide to prepare for testing.

What Payment Methods Does Arkansas DFA Accept for Permit Fees?

Cash, personal check with valid ID, money order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Card payments add a 1.6% processing surcharge. Some offices go debit-only without notice, bring cash as backup every time.

DFA Revenue Offices accept cash, cards, and Arkansas personal checks. Each method has different rules.

• Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, and Discover accepted with a non-refundable 1.6% processing surcharge added to your total
• Debit Cards: Same 1.6% surcharge applies as credit cards
• Cash: No additional fees
• Personal Checks: Must be from an Arkansas bank with your pre-printed name and physical address, temporary checks get rejected

Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay work at some offices but not all. Always carry a physical card as backup.

Can a parent pay an Arkansas teen's license fees?

The published Arkansas fee guidance focuses on the transaction and accepted payment methods rather than requiring the payment card or cash to belong to the teen. A parent or guardian can generally handle the payment at the DFA counter while the applicant completes the licensing transaction.

Can Arkansas DFA split a payment between cash and card?

Arkansas's published driver-license guidance does not clearly state a statewide split-payment rule. If you need to divide one transaction between payment methods, check with the specific Revenue Office before your visit.

Arkansas Permit Fee Payment Process

The process uses two agencies, but not two separate fee counters. Arkansas State Police administers the written examination. The $5 charge for each written examination is added to the licensing transaction and collected by DFA.

1. ASP testing step: Take the written exam at the appropriate ASP testing location.
2. DFA payment step: Pay the accumulated written-exam charges plus the applicable credential fee at DFA.

The credential amount depends on age and license stage. For the current fee structure, see the Arkansas permit and license fees page.

Do you pay anything at the ASP testing site?

For the written examination, ASP administers the test but DFA collects the $5 exam charge through the licensing transaction. Do not assume the ASP testing counter is a separate payment stop for that fee.

Common Payment Problems at Arkansas DFA

Debit-only days happen without advance notice. Card machines fail at rural offices more than you'd expect. Fee amounts change on January 1 and the DFA website sometimes lags behind. Confirm the current fee and payment options with your specific office the day before.

Card readers crash more often than you'd think. Plan accordingly.

A parent in Fort Smith showed up Friday afternoon with only a credit card. The card reader was down, happens a lot during peak hours. They came back Monday with a check, losing three days.

In Jonesboro, one applicant failed the written test twice and did not budget for the additional $5 charge for each written examination. The extra exam charges were added to the DFA licensing transaction.

A Fayetteville applicant arrived without enough to cover the applicable credential fee. Because DFA credential fees vary by age and license stage, confirm the current amount before visiting.

What happens if your card is declined at DFA? Use another accepted payment method if the office can take it. Because payment procedures and card systems can vary by location, carrying a backup method can prevent a second trip.

Avoid Payment Issues at Arkansas DFA Offices

Bring a backup payment method and confirm the current fee and accepted payment options with the DFA office you plan to use. Credential amounts vary by age and license stage.

• If paying by card, allow for the existing card-processing surcharge.
• Budget another $5 for each additional written-exam attempt.
• Keep a second accepted payment method available in case the preferred option is unavailable.

Where Should You Check Current Arkansas Permit and License Fees?

This page focuses on how to pay, not the full fee schedule. The written examination costs $5 per attempt and is collected by DFA. Learner's, Intermediate, and Class D licenses for ages 18–21 are prorated; Class D ages 21+ is $40 for eight years.

See the Arkansas permit and license fees page for the current fee breakdown.