Missouri Instruction Permit Fees: $10 Total and Other Costs (2026)

A Missouri Class F Instruction Permit costs $10 total. That is a $1 permit fee plus a $9 license-office processing fee. MSHP testing is free; you pay at the license office after passing the required tests.

Download the complete fee chart for all license types and costs.

What's Included in Missouri's Instruction Permit Fee?

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) administers the vision, road sign, and written knowledge tests at no charge. After you pass, the license office collects the Class F instruction-permit fee.

Payment methods: Cash, personal check, cashier's check, money order, and major credit/debit cards are accepted. Card transactions add a 2.0% + $0.25 convenience fee.

Payment plan: Missouri DOR does not offer payment plans for driver-license fees.

Fee help: Missouri does not publish a broad low-income waiver for the standard $10 permit fee. Separate assistance programs may help some applicants with driving-related costs.

Is a Missouri REAL ID instruction permit more expensive?

No. Missouri charges the same Class F instruction-permit fee whether you choose a REAL ID-compliant or standard permit. REAL ID changes the documents you must provide, not the $10 permit fee.

How much does a duplicate Missouri instruction permit cost?

A duplicate Class F instruction permit currently costs $10. Use the separate lost-or-stolen permit guide for replacement steps and document requirements.

How much does it cost to renew a Missouri instruction permit?

A Class F instruction permit renewal is $10. The permit is valid for 12 months and can be renewed; the separate renewal guide covers timing and eligibility.

How Much Do Missouri MSHP Permit Tests and Retests Cost?

Missouri charges $0 to take or retake the written knowledge test. The $10 permit fee is paid only after you pass and apply for the permit at a license office.

• Initial written test: $0.
• Written retest: $0. MSHP allows a written test up to twice in one day if needed.

Failing the written test does not increase the permit fee. The separate three-test limit that can require special DOR permission applies to the skills test, not the written test.

What Hidden Costs Should You Budget for a Missouri Permit?

The state permit fee stays $10, but a few optional or transaction-specific costs can raise what you spend overall.

• Card convenience fee: 2.0% + $0.25 per card transaction.
• Private driving lessons or transportation: Optional costs that vary by provider and family situation.
• Replacement documents: If you need to replace identity or residency documents, the issuing agency may charge its own fee.
• REAL ID: Choosing a REAL ID-compliant permit does not add a separate Missouri DOR permit surcharge.

For a full permit-to-license budget, use the dedicated total-cost and training-cost guides rather than treating those optional expenses as part of the permit fee.

How Can You Avoid Extra Costs and Payment Problems?

Keep the payment step simple: bring an accepted payment method and the correct documents before you go to the license office.

• For a personal check, use a check with the check writer's required preprinted information and include the check writer's driver-license or nondriver-ID number, date of birth, and daytime phone number.
• If paying by card, budget for the 2.0% + $0.25 convenience fee.
• Check the separate eligibility/document guide before the visit so a document issue does not force another trip.

MSHP testing and DOR payment are separate steps. You do not pay the $10 permit fee until you have passed the required tests and apply for issuance.