Driving Tests

How Much Is a Learner's Permit in Alabama? $5 Test and $36.25 License Fees

informational·how to guide·Published September 24, 2026

How much is a learner's permit in Alabama?

An Alabama learner's permit (Stage I learner license) costs $41.25 as of 2026: a $5 knowledge test fee plus $36.25 for the license after you pass. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) takes cash or money orders, not checks, and a credit card adds a 4% convenience fee. Each new try at the test costs another $5, and fees may be slightly higher in some counties.

Where the Alabama permit fees come from

The fees come from the ALEA Document Requirements and Fees page and the ALEA Graduated Driver License page. The per-test fee, the county fee note and the license term come from the Alabama Driver Manual (November 2024 edition). The ALEA License and ID Cards page lists the credit card fee and the transfer fee. The Stage II fee rule and the fee exemption come from Code of Alabama Sections 32-6-8, 32-6-4, 32-6-6 and 16-28-40. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (alea.gov) before you drive.

Alabama learner's permit fees at a glance

Alabama learner's permit fees at a glance
Fee	Amount (U.S. dollars)	What you get
Knowledge test	$5 for each test	One try at the permit test
Stage I license (learner's permit)	$36.25	The learner license, after you pass
Total for a first try that passes	$41.25	Test fee plus license fee
Credit card	4% of the total charge	Extra fee, only when you pay by card

What do you pay for, and when?

You pay in two steps. First, you pay $5 to take the knowledge test. After you pass, the examiner issues the learner license when you pay the $36.25 license fee. You must be 15 or older. A learner license issued at 15 is valid for four years and can be renewed once. The Alabama knowledge test guide explains what is on the test.

What does a failed knowledge test cost?

The $5 fee is for each knowledge test, so every new try costs another $5. If you fail once and pass on the second try, you pay $5 + $5 + $36.25 = $46.25. The test has questions on Alabama traffic laws, road signs and safe driving, taken from the Alabama Driver Manual. Study the Manual before you go, and check the subjects with the free Alabama knowledge test subjects question.

Which fee applies to you?

You are 15 and want your first learner license

Pay the $5 test fee and, after you pass, the $36.25 license fee. Bring a certified U.S. birth certificate (no photocopies).

Your county has a local fee law

Some counties charge slightly more where local law permits a higher fee. Ask the office for the exact amount.

You move to Alabama with a license from another state

Pay a $5 transfer fee and $36.25 for the license at an ALEA office, with no checks. The Alabama out-of-state license guide has the deadline and the steps.

You are a homeless student

Ask the homeless liaison at your school for the state fee-exemption form before you go to ALEA.

How can you pay at the ALEA office?

The ALEA Driver License Division does not accept checks. It takes cash and money orders, and also MasterCard, Visa and Discover cards. A card adds a 4% convenience fee to the total charge. For example, 4% of $41.25 is $1.65, so $41.25 paid by card becomes $42.90. Bring cash or a money order to avoid the fee.

What do Stage II and Stage III cost?

The ALEA Graduated Driver License page lists a Stage II license fee of $36.25. Code of Alabama Section 32-6-8 says a Stage II or Stage III license is issued for the rest of the learner license's four-year term at no additional fee, and the Driver Manual also says no cost. Because the sources differ, ask ALEA which amount applies before your road skills test. The same ALEA page lists Stage III at $31.25 if you show a Stage II license and get a restriction-free duplicate, and $36.25 if you did not get a Stage II license before age 18.

Key Takeaways

An Alabama learner's permit costs $41.25 as of 2026: $5 for the knowledge test and $36.25 for the license.
Bring cash or a money order. ALEA takes no checks, and a credit card adds 4%.
Each knowledge test costs $5, so one failed try raises the total to $46.25.
For later stages, ALEA lists $36.25 for Stage II and $31.25 or $36.25 for Stage III.
Next step: practice on the free Alabama Class D learner license practice test before you pay the $5 test fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Alabama permit test?

The Alabama knowledge test costs $5 for each try, paid in cash or by money order, because ALEA takes no checks. The $5 covers the test only. If you pass, you then pay $36.25 for the learner license, so a pass on the first try costs $41.25 in all.

Can I pay for an Alabama learner's permit with a credit card?

Yes. ALEA accepts MasterCard, Visa and Discover, with a 4% convenience fee on the total charge. On the $36.25 license fee alone, the fee is $1.45, so you pay $37.70. Cash and money orders carry no convenience fee, and ALEA does not take checks.

Where do I pay for my Alabama learner's permit?

At an ALEA Driver License office. Under Code of Alabama Section 32-6-4, you apply to ALEA for your first Alabama license, and the county probate judge or license commissioner handles renewals. You pay $5 before the knowledge test and $36.25 for the license after you pass.

Does a 16-year-old pay the same for an Alabama learner's permit?

Yes. For a learner license at 16 or older, ALEA lists the same $5 test fee and $36.25 license fee, with no checks. A learner license issued at 16 or older is also valid for four years, the same as one issued at 15.

Is there a fee exemption for a homeless student in Alabama?

Yes. Under Code of Alabama Sections 32-6-4 and 32-6-6, a qualified student is exempt from the license issuance fee. A qualified student is a homeless child or youth verified by the school district's liaison for homeless children and youth. On request, the liaison gives a form approved by the State Department of Education, which you show to ALEA.