How Much Is a Kansas Driver's License? Permit, Test and License Fees
How much does a Kansas driver's license cost?
A Kansas instruction permit costs $10: the $2 fee in Kansas law plus an $8 photo fee. The exam fee is $3, and a written or driving retest is $1.50. A class C license costs $20 under age 21, $18 at 21 to 64 and $12 at 65 or older, plus the $8 photo fee. With a driver's education completion form, you pay no exam fee.
Where the Kansas fee facts come from
The Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles (people say "Kansas DMV") collects these fees. The amounts in this guide come from Kansas law, K.S.A. 8-240, and from the Division of Vehicles driver's license fee chart, last updated in May 2023. The online test fee comes from the KnowTo Drive Kansas FAQ, which the Division of Vehicles links. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles (ksrevenue.gov) before you drive.
Kansas permit, test and other fees
| What you pay for | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Instruction permit | $2 + $8 photo = $10 | The $2 is the fee in Kansas law (K.S.A. 8-240). The fee chart adds the $8 photo fee. |
| Exam fee (vision, written and driving tests) | $3 | This is one fee for the whole exam. You pay no exam fee if you do not need an exam or if you bring a driver's education completion form. |
| Written or driving test retake | $1.50 each | You pay the fee each time you take the failed test again. |
| Online written test | $6.50 per attempt | You pay it online each time you take the test. |
| After six months without a pass | $3 | Kansas law calls it a reexamination fee. The fee chart calls it an abandonment fee. |
| Replacement license or permit | $16 | The chart shows $8 plus the $8 photo fee. A replacement ID is $12. |
| New resident late penalty | $1 | Kansas law adds it if you apply more than 60 days after you become a Kansas resident. The Division of Vehicles gives new residents 90 days to trade an out-of-state license. |
Class C license fee by age
| Your age | License fee | New license with the exam | New license without the exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 21 | $20 | $31 ($20 + $3 exam + $8 photo) | $28 ($20 + $8 photo) |
| 21 to 64 | $18 | $29 ($18 + $3 + $8) | $26 ($18 + $8) |
| 65 or older | $12 | $23 ($12 + $3 + $8) | $20 ($12 + $8) |
Kansas license fee for drivers under 21
Kansas law sets the license fee at $20 for a class C license or a farm permit issued to a person under 21. The under-21 totals in the table add the $3 exam fee and the $8 photo fee to that $20, because the chart's own under-21 rows do not add up. Ask the clerk for the final amount.
The first license costs $20 no matter how long it is valid, so a 20-year-old pays the same as a 16-year-old. All licenses for people under 21 expire on the 21st birthday.
Total cost of a first Kansas permit and license
You can apply for an instruction permit from age 14 (practice the question on the minimum permit age). A parent or guardian signs the application for an applicant under 16. The permit costs $10.
A later class C license under 21 costs $31 with the exam, so the permit and license come to $41 ($10 + $31). With a DE-99 driver's education completion slip, the license costs $28, and the total is $38 ($10 + $28).
An adult age 21 to 64 pays $29 for a new class C license with the exam, or $26 without the exam.
What a failed Kansas test costs
Kansas online written test fee
The online written test costs $6.50 for each attempt. Any Kansas resident at least 14 years old can take it. If you fail, you can retake it the next day, and you may retake it 4 times within 6 months. For the steps, see the guide to the Kansas permit test.
Ways to avoid extra Kansas license fees
- Use a DE-99 driver's education completion slip. A testing fee is not charged for applicants who use a driver's education form. The completion expires after 2 years, so use it before then.
- Pay the license fee once. After you pay the license fee, it stays paid until you pass the exam.
- Renew before the expiration date. A renewal after the expiration date adds a $1 late fee.
Kansas renewal fees by age
Renewal fees vary by age and class. A class C renewal costs $26 at 21 to 64 ($18 + $8 photo) and $20 at 65 or older ($12 + $8 photo). Under 21, the license fee is $3 for each year extended, plus the $8 photo fee.
If you moved to Kansas, the guide to a license from another state shows the steps.
Key takeaways
- A Kansas permit costs $10: $2 in Kansas law plus an $8 photo fee.
- The exam fee is $3 and a retake is $1.50. A driver's education form means no testing fee.
- A class C license is $20 under 21, $18 at 21 to 64 and $12 at 65 or older, plus the $8 photo fee. The online test is $6.50 for each attempt.
- A replacement license or permit is $16, and a late renewal adds $1.
- Next step: practice on the free Kansas Class C written practice test. Its questions are in English only.
Kansas license fees: common questions
Is there a separate fee for the Kansas driving test?
No. Kansas law sets one $3 examination fee for the exam, which has three tests: vision, written and driving. A retake of the written or driving test is $1.50. You pay no testing fee if you use a driver's education completion form.
How much is a replacement Kansas driver's license?
A replacement license or permit is $16, and a replacement ID is $12. The $16 also applies if your credential never arrives in the mail, unless the address in the system was entered wrongly.
Do I still pay at the DMV office if I take the written test online?
Yes. The online test costs $6.50 for each attempt, paid online. Additional Kansas Department of Revenue fees are collected at the driver's license office, such as the permit or license fee and the $8 photo fee.
How much does it cost to extend a Kansas license before I turn 21?
The license fee is $3 for each year extended, plus the $8 photo fee. One extra year costs $11, and two extra years cost $14. The new license expires on your 21st birthday.
What if my Kansas license expired more than a year ago?
You must take the vision, written and driving exams again. The $3 exam fee applies, and the class C license fee is $18 at 21 to 64 or $12 at 65 or older, plus the $8 photo fee.
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