Driving Tests

How Much Does a Driver's License Cost in Arkansas? (Exam Fees and Retakes)

informational·how to guide·Published October 17, 2026

How much does a driver's license cost in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, a Class D driver's license for drivers 21 and older costs $40 and lasts 8 years. Each written knowledge exam costs $5, with no limit on the number of exams, and the exam fees are added to your license cost. Drivers under 21 pay a prorated fee. A 2025 law sets $12 for an intermediate license of up to 2 years.

Where the Arkansas license cost facts come from

The Class D fees, terms and the age 70 option come from the DFA non-commercial license page. The $5 exam fee, the license steps and the skills test penalties come from the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide (Edition 10, October 2026) and the Arkansas State Police 1-2-3 Skills Checklist. The $12 intermediate license comes from Act 928 of 2025. The DFA pages on learner's and intermediate licenses, graduated licenses, Revenue Office appointments, motor vehicle FAQs and underage offenses give the rest. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services (dfa.arkansas.gov) and the Arkansas State Police before you drive.

Arkansas license and exam fees by type

Arkansas license and exam fees by type
License or exam	Fee	Term
Class D, ages 21 and older	$40	8 years
Class D, age 70 (optional)	$20 or $40	4 years or 8 years
Class D, ages 18 to 21	Prorated	Until 1 month past your 21st birthday
Learner's license	Prorated	Until 1 month past your 16th birthday
Intermediate license	$12 under Act 928 of 2025 (DFA fee page: prorated)	Up to 2 years under Act 928 (DFA page: until 1 month past your 18th birthday)
Written knowledge exam	$5 for each exam	Added to your license cost

When do you pay the $5 Arkansas written exam fee?

Each written knowledge exam costs $5 under Act 1289 of 2015. The fee is added to the cost of your driver's license, and DFA collects it when you get your license at a Revenue Office. The law sets no limit on the number of exams charged, so each retake adds another $5. The exam fee is separate from the duplicate fee.
Example: you are 21 or older and pass the written exam on your second try. You pay $40 for the license plus $5 + $5 in exam fees: $50 for the license and the exams. Check the fee on our free question about the Arkansas written exam fee.

What does a prorated fee mean for teens and drivers under 21?

DFA lists the learner's license, the intermediate license and the Class D license for ages 18 to 21 as prorated. A prorated fee is based on how long the license is valid. Each of these licenses ends 1 month past a set birthday (16, 18 or 21), so ask a Revenue Office for your exact price.
For the intermediate license, the law and the DFA page differ. Act 928 of 2025 sets $12 for a license of up to two years, and the DFA fee page still says prorated. Confirm your fee with DFA. Our guide to the Arkansas intermediate license explains its rules.

Steps and costs from the permit exam to the license

1
Pass the knowledge exam and the vision test
Book an Instruction Permit Test on the Arkansas State Police appointment page. You must be at least 14. Every applicant must pass a vision test before a permit or a license. A vision test or an ASP-90 vision referral form is valid for one year.
2
Get your Instruction Permit
The permit is valid for 2 years from the date you pass the knowledge exam. It cannot be renewed or extended.
3
Take the skills test
Book the driving portion on the same ASP appointment page. Bring your permit, a licensed driver 21 or older, current insurance and your vehicle registration. You provide your own vehicle.
4
Get your license at a Revenue Office
After you pass, visit any Arkansas Revenue Office to get your learner's, intermediate or Class D license. Your license fee and exam fees are paid there. You can book an online appointment or walk in. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must assume financial responsibility before DFA issues the license.

Why the 2-year permit limit can raise your cost

Finish the skills test and buy your license before the permit's 2 years end. If you miss that date, you retake all phases of the driver's exam, and each new written exam adds another $5. The Arkansas State Police say the permit cannot be extended for any reason, and bad weather is no exception. Check the date with our free question on how long the permit lasts.

What happens if you fail the Arkansas skills test?

You cannot find vehicle controls such as the horn, the windshield wipers or the emergency flashers

The examiner marks each missed control. The study guide allows three missed controls before the test is failed.

You make two mistakes in the same road test category

That is a failed exam. For example, the examiner warns you at the first rolling stop, and a second rolling stop gives a two-week penalty.

You make an automatic failure

You get a 30-day penalty. Our guide to the Arkansas driving test explains each part of the test.

Reinstatement fees after an Arkansas underage alcohol offense

Underage DUI, BUI or a refused test: a $25 reinstatement fee. A first offense brings a 90-day suspension.
Minor in possession or misrepresentation of ID (alcohol): a $100 reinstatement fee.
Both also require a state-approved drug and alcohol education or treatment program and a Victim Impact Panel class.
A revoked license means you pass all phases of the Arkansas driver's license exam again, with $5 for each written exam.

Key takeaways

A Class D license at age 21 and older costs $40 for 8 years. At age 70, you may choose $20 for 4 years or $40 for 8 years.
Each written exam costs $5, with no limit, and the fees are added to your license cost at the Revenue Office.
Learner's licenses and Class D licenses for ages 18 to 21 are prorated. Act 928 of 2025 sets $12 for an intermediate license of up to 2 years, so confirm your price with DFA.
The Instruction Permit lasts 2 years and cannot be renewed. Finish the skills test and get your license before it ends, or you retake all phases.
Next step: practice on the free Arkansas Class D practice test. It is in English only.

Arkansas license cost: common questions

What does an 18-year-old pay for an Arkansas driver's license?

A Class D license for ages 18 to 21 has a prorated fee. It expires 1 month past your 21st birthday, and you can renew it on or after that birthday. The $40 fee for 8 years applies from age 21. Each written exam you took adds $5. Ask a Revenue Office for your exact prorated price.

Do I have to retest if my Arkansas driver's license expired?

No. You do not need to retest for an expired Class D driver's license. For drivers 21 and older, renewal opens 90 days before the expiration date, and the fee is $40 for 8 years. You can book a Revenue Office appointment to renew, or walk in.

Is an Arkansas driver's license cheaper at age 70?

Yes, if you choose the shorter term. At age 70, DFA lists an optional Class D license for $20 for 4 years, or $40 for 8 years. The standard fee for drivers 21 and older is $40 for 8 years, so the 4-year option costs less but lasts half as long.

Does a veteran designation cost extra on an Arkansas driver's license?

DFA asks for the payment of the fee for the driver's license or ID card. To get the designation, apply to the DFA Office of Driver Services with a military discharge document that shows an "honorable" or "general under honorable conditions" status, such as a DD Form 214. For drivers 21 and older, the license fee is $40 for 8 years.