Driving Tests

Louisiana Permit Test Cost, Retakes and Class E License Fees

informational·how to guide·Published September 19, 2026

How much does a Louisiana permit and license cost, and what if I fail the test?

As of 2026, a Louisiana Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP) or Class E license costs $32.25 to $40.25 at the Office of Motor Vehicles: a $20.25 license fee, a $12.00 handling fee and a $0 to $8.00 service fee that depends on the office. Changing the TIP to a learner's permit is free. If you fail the knowledge test, you may retake it once on the same day, if time allows.

Where these numbers come from

The fees come from the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) fee policy 2.00, revised in July 2026, and the fee chart in OMV policy 1.00. The OMV new licenses page gives the license term and the payment methods. The retest fee limit and the late fee come from state law, R.S. 32:412. The retake and road test rules come from OMV policies 10.00 and 12.00, and the test and course details from the OMV Permits and Student/Parent pages. Where an older OMV page gives a different service fee, this guide follows the newer policy. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (expresslane.org) before you drive.

What each Louisiana permit and license step costs

What each Louisiana permit and license step costs
Step	OMV cost (as of 2026)
First Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP)	$32.25 to $40.25 ($20.25 license fee + $12.00 handling fee + $0 to $8.00 service fee)
Class E license (6 years)	$32.25 to $40.25, the same three fees
TIP or Class E license, applicant 70 or older	$18.75 to $26.75
TIP to learner's permit (any age)	No charge
TIP to full license (17 and older)	No charge
Learner's permit to full license (17 and older)	No charge
Learner's permit to intermediate license	Duplicate fee: $17.00 to $25.00 on a 6-year card, $13.00 to $21.00 on a 4-year card
Intermediate license to full license	Duplicate fee, as above
Road skills test at the OMV	No fee
Road skills test with a third-party tester	A fee that varies by location

What is in the $32.25 to $40.25 price?

The OMV fee table has the same three parts for a Class E license and for a TIP. State law sets the $20.25 basic license fee. The handling fee is $12.00. A service fee of up to $8.00 applies at certain field offices, so the total depends on where you apply. A Class E license expires on your birthday about 6 years after it is issued. You can pay with cash, a credit or debit card, or a personal check.

When does a Louisiana permit change cost the full price?

The free changes in the table apply while your TIP or permit is not expired and is more than 180 days from its renewal date. If it has expired, or is within 180 days of renewal, the same change costs the full price, plus the delinquent fee if it applies. The delinquent fee is $15.00, added to all other fees when a license has been expired more than 10 calendar days. Applicants 70 or older and non-permanent residents do not pay it. You can renew a license at any time within 180 days before the expiry date.

What if I fail the Louisiana permit test?

You fail the knowledge test

You may retake it once on the same day, if time allows. The pass mark is 80%.

You fail the same-day retake too

The policy allows only one retake on the same day. Ask your driving school or the OMV office for your next test date.

You try to cheat on the test

The exam stops. A Class E applicant may return for a new exam only after at least 30 days.

You fail the road skills test

You need 80 out of 100 to pass. The examiner gives you a return date, and you cannot retest before it. Return dates range from 1 to 30 days, depending on the reason for the failure.

You have no learner's permit and fail the road skills test

The examiner may recommend a learner's permit. It is the only legal way to practice driving on the road before you test again.

Is there a fee to retake the permit test?

Louisiana law lets the OMV charge a testing fee when you take an OMV written or driving test a second or later time. The OMV sets the amount by rule, the law caps it at $10, and the fee is not refundable. Ask the office what it charges before you retest. Most students take the knowledge test at their driving school, so ask the school about its own retest price. To prepare, review free practice questions, such as the one on the knowledge test format and passing score.

How much does the Louisiana road skills test cost?

At an OMV office, the road skills test has no fee.
At the OMV, you bring the vehicle. It must be licensed, inspected and insured, and you cannot be listed as an excluded driver on the insurance.
A third-party tester (TPT) charges a fee, and prices vary by location. Every private driving school must give the road skills test.
A TPT may provide a vehicle for the test, and rental fees may apply.
A public school driver education program does not have to give the road test. If it does not, book the test at an OMV field office or with another TPT.
Our guide to the Louisiana road skills test explains what the examiner checks.

What does Louisiana driver education cost?

The price of driver education varies by school and location, and the OMV tells students to contact each school for its price. The courses run at driving schools that the OMV licenses and at some secondary schools. Our guide to the 38-hour driver education course explains what the course covers, so you can compare schools on the same content.

Key takeaways

As of 2026, a Louisiana TIP or Class E license costs $32.25 to $40.25: $20.25 + $12.00 + a $0 to $8.00 service fee.
Changing a TIP to a learner's permit or a full license is free while the TIP is not expired and not within 180 days of renewal. A learner's permit to an intermediate license costs a duplicate fee.
You may retake a failed knowledge test once on the same day, if time allows. Cheating means a wait of at least 30 days.
The law lets the OMV charge up to $10 for a second or later OMV test. The road skills test is free at the OMV; a third-party tester charges its own price.
Next step: practice on the free Louisiana Class E practice test.

Louisiana permit and license fees: common questions

How much is a Louisiana learner's permit?

A first-time driver starts with a TIP, which costs $32.25 to $40.25 at the OMV, as of 2026. When you finish driver education and pass the tests, the OMV changes the TIP to a learner's permit at no charge, as long as the TIP has not expired and is not within 180 days of renewal. So the permit itself adds nothing to what you paid for the TIP.

How long is a Louisiana driver's license good for?

A Class E license expires on your birthday about 6 years after it is issued. You may renew it up to 180 days before that date. If you renew more than 10 calendar days after it expires, you pay a $15.00 delinquent fee on top of the normal fees, unless you are 70 or older.

How many questions can I miss on the Louisiana permit test?

The OMV says the knowledge test has 40 questions and the pass mark is 80%. That means 32 correct answers, so you can miss up to 8 questions. If you fail, you may take the test one more time on the same day, if time allows.

Do I pay again when I retake an OMV test?

Possibly. Louisiana law lets the OMV charge a testing fee when you take an OMV written or driving test a second or later time. The OMV sets the amount by rule, the law caps it at $10, and the fee is not refundable. Ask the office what it charges before you retest.

How can I pay at the Louisiana OMV?

OMV offices accept cash, credit and debit cards, and personal checks. Plan for the higher total, $40.25 for a TIP or Class E license, because a service fee of up to $8.00 applies at certain field offices.