Iowa school permit forms from dot

School Permit Information
Iowa Department of Transportation
UPDATED IOWA LAW
July 2024
Under the new law, homeschooled students are eligible for the license in addition to students that attend a public or private school. Public school students are no longer required to live at least one mile from their school to qualify for the license. They can drive to school regardless of the distance, if they live within the district of enrollment.
Also, the SMRL allows students to drive for employment, in addition to farm work, farm related work, school, extracurricular activities, and to stop at a gas station to refuel up to 25 miles from their residence. They can drive unsupervised over the most direct and accessible route in the hour before and after their scheduled classes, activity, or work shift.
While the update has given additional driving privileges to students, it has also increased consequences which are more strict. With an SMRL, license holders will receive a three-month suspension for any traffic violation (excluding parking violations), violation of a restriction of the license, or for causing an accident. For each violation, the license holder will be delayed an additional three months before they are eligible to upgrade to an intermediate license when they turn 16.

Driving yourself to school is an adult responsibility that you need to take seriously to keep you and others safe and protect your privilege to drive.

Be at least 14 1/2 years old.
Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.
Hold a valid instruction permit and a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for your special minor's restricted license.
If you are a public-school student , your parents must download and fill out the Affidavit for Special Minor's Restricted License (form 430021) and sign it with a live signature. Then, they must have your school superintendent, principal, or school board chair sign it with a live signature. This form is available at any DMV or online.
If you are a student at an accredited nonpublic school (private school) , your parents must download and fill out the Affidavit for Special Minor's Restricted License (form 430021) and sign it with a live signature. Then, the authorities in charge of your school must sign it with a live signature. This form is available at any DMV or online.
If you are a home-schooled student (you receice competent private instruction or independent private instruction), your parents must download and fill out the Affidavit for Special Minor’s Restricted License (form 430021) and sign it with a live signature. Then, your primary instructor must sign it with a live signature. This form is available at any DMV or online.
You may be required to complete a drive test at the DMV, if your driver’s education instructor requires it, or if you completed the Parent-Taught Driver’s Education (Home-school) Program.
Once the form is completed, schedule an appointment to bring in the completed form and get your special minor's restricted license issued.
Have your parent or guardian complete a Parental Consent for Special Minor’s Restricted License (form 430022). You must carry this completed form with you in the vehicle. Present it to law enforcement when requested.

Drive from your home to your school(s) of enrollment for class or school sponsored activities using the most direct and accessible route. Public school students are limited to driving within the school district of enrollment and accredited nonpublic school students and students that are home-schooled are limited to driving within a 25-mile driving distance.
Drive to participate in extracurricular activities (school sponsored) using the most direct and accessible route. Activities must be held at a location within a 25-mile driving distance.
Drive for work. The driving distance between the origin and destination must be 25 miles or less.
Drive to complete farm work to assist your parents, guardians, or employers in connection with any farm employment or farm-related work using the most direct and accessible route, if you live on or are employed by a farm in Iowa. The driving distance between the origin and destination must be 25 miles or less.
Drive to and from your home to the closest school bus stop.
Stop for fuel while on route or at the closest filling station off route.

Use a cell phone, smartphone, tablet, or other electronic communication or entertainment device while driving.
You are not allowed to carry more than one minor passenger who is not a relative when driving without adult supervision. A relative includes your brother, sister, step-brother, step-sister, or any other minor living in your household.
The license holder cannot drop off or pick up passengers at any location other than their school of enrollment for classes or school-sponsored activities.
Drive to participate in extracurricular activities if the activities are not at a location within a 25 mile driving distance.
Carry more passengers than the number of seat belts in your vehicle, even when driving with adult supervision.
Drive a commercial motor vehicle, a vehicle with more than two axles, a vehicle towing another vehicle, or a motorcycle (unless you have a motorcycle privileges).
Drop off a sibling at a location other than your own school of enrollment.
Drive to a school or school activity as a spectator at a school where you are not enrolled.

The requirement to maintain a clean driving record for six months before upgrading to the next level will start over after you have reinstated your driving privileges.
You will have to wait an additional three months after your 16th birthday to become eligible to apply for the next level (Intermediate License)

Be at least 16 years old.
Hold a valid instruction permit (or instruction permit and special minor's restricted license) for a total of at least 12 months.
Maintain a clean driving record (while holding a valid instruction permit or special minor's restricted license) for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for an intermediate license.
Your parent or guardian must provide written consent. Either in person at a driver’s license issuance site or complete the Parent’s/Guardian’s Written Consent Form (form 430018).
Complete 20 hours of supervised driving including any driving you completed in driver’s education. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.