How Much Does It Cost To Get A License

Here's how much it costs to get a driver's license in 20 different countries around the world

road trip car beach driving — The cost of a license varies as much as the difficulty of the test.

Depending on what country you're in, a driver's license can either cost next to nothing, or it can burn a real hole in your pocket.

In fact, there's no universal standard for getting a driver's license, meaning that both the difficulty and cost will vary greatly. Some countries require hours of classes and training, and these extra fees can add up.

INSIDER gathered the cost of getting a driver's license in 20 countries, then used the current exchange rate to see each cost in US dollars.

Keep scrolling to see just how much a license costs in 20 different countries

Shelby Slauer contributed to a previous version of this article.

There's no set price on an American driver's license, as the requirements vary from state to state.

Each state has its own teen driver laws.

In the US, costs can range anywhere from $20 to $1,000. The upper end of that range, $1,000, supposes that a student driver will be taking some form of private driver's education class, which many people do across the country, but it doesn't mean that every new driver needs to spend a small fortune.

32 states across the country require teenagers from ages 14 to 18 to take some form of driver's ed, whether it's in a classroom, behind the wheel, or even online. Usually, a teen will first take a test to get a learner's permit, which allows them to drive with restricted hours, a limited amount of passengers, and leads to driver's ed.

Once a teen completes their curriculum and passes a road test — or simply passes the road test — they'll be free to drive.

Canada is similar — the requirements and costs vary from province to province.

It can take up to two years to get a full driver's license in Canada.

As in the US, Canadians must complete a series of tests before they can get a license. These include a vision test, knowledge test, and two road tests.

To qualify for a driver's license, applicants must be 16 years old, though the process to get a full license normally takes 20 to 24 months. Just like the US, though, the nitty gritty laws can change from province to province.

According to a 2019 Quora thread, it cost around $85 Canadian dollars to renew a license — $18.10 for the actual license fee, $56.87 for insurance, and an admin fee of $4.60. In American dollars, that's $67.27.

A Russian driver's license cost around $20 in 2012, without factoring in lessons.

In Russia you must be 18 to drive a car, 16 to ride a motorcycle.

The Russian Empire was one of the first countries to create a driver's license, issuing their first licenses in 1900.

Just taking the test back in 2012 cost $19.84, or $1,460 rubles, according to one website, with fees attributed to taking both the practical and theoretical exams, actually issuing the license, and a state fee.

But just being able to take the Russian driving test requires 130 hours of classes, and 56 hours of driving lessons. Expat.com predicted that lessons could cost between $35,000 and 50,000 rubles, which comes out to between $475 and $679 USD.

The minimum cost for getting a driver's license in the UK is about £119, which is $163.

The UK is one of the more expensive countries in which to get a driver's license.

To get a driver's license in the UK, you must be a minimum of 17 years old. Otherwise, the required tests are similar to that of the US.

At minimum, it costs £119. Here's a breakdown of all the fees: £34.00 to apply for a provisional license at 16, £23 to take a theory test, and £62 to £75 for your practical test, according to the the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency).

You can take lessons with a driving instructor for a fee, or drive with friends or family that meet the requirements.

In France, a driver's license costs about €1,300, which is $1,507.

The process for obtaining a driver's license in France is very competitive, as well as expensive.

In France, there are a limited amount of driving tests per year, and these tests are allocated to driving schools, which can thus be picky with whom they admit.

Getting a license in France is super competitive, and can take up to two years.

A driver's license in Germany ranges from €2,000 to €3,200, or $2,300 to $3,700.

You have to be 18 to get a driver's license in Germany.

Germany is one of the hardest places in the world to get a license. One of the requirements, for example, is an eight-hour first aid course. In addition, the driver's exam is very difficult. For each of the 30 multiple choice questions, there could be several answers at the same time, and there are questions on car mechanics as well as road rules.

Driver's licenses in Brazil can range in cost from R$800 to R$1,500, or about $198.64 to $372.90.

The process for getting a driver's license in Brazil is fairly standard.

To get a permanent driver's license in Brazil, drivers must be 18 years of age or older. The process requires that applicants take a dictation test first to prove their literacy. After that, drivers take the usual theoretical and practical tests.

Getting a driver's license in Argentina costs 930 ARS, or $22.97.

In Argentina, drivers can get their license at the age of 16, provided a parent is with them.

Most everyone drives in Argentina, because the country is so large and many areas are only accessible by car. Luckily, the process for getting a driver's license is pretty straightforward.

In Denmark, a driver's license costs 10,000 DKK, which is $1,552.

Teenagers can get a moped license at the age of 15.

The process for obtaining a driver's license in Denmark is fairly standard, though expensive. The cost includes theory lessons and a theory test, as well as driving lessons and a driving test.

A Swedish driver's license can range from about 4,000 SEK to 15,000 SEK, which is anywhere from $444.40 to $1666.50.

Swedish driver's licenses can take a long time to obtain.

The price of a Swedish driver's license varies depending on the amount of lessons drivers need to take, and the costs of the school they're enrolled in. Like most things, licenses are more expensive in cities than in the suburbs.

A driver's license in Saudi Arabia costs 200 SR, or $53.34.

Saudi Arabia only recently lifted a ban on women driving.

Until June 24, 2018, Saudi Arabia had a ban on women driving. However, the prices for driving lessons in order to get a license are still more expensive for women than for men. For women, driving lessons can cost between 2,000 SR and 3,000 SR, or between $533 to $800, while men only need to pay 450 SR, or $120.

Italian driver's licenses cost about €118, which is $136.99.

Italy requires people to drive through certain historic areas.

Italy has some beautiful roads that make driving there worth it. Drivers must be at least 18 years old before they can get their full licenses.

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