How to Apply For a Learners Permit in Mississippi
A Mississippi learners permit is required for first-time motorists who wish to obtain a full driver’s license in the state. Overall, there are three types of drivers permits in MS: a permit for applicants who are 14 years of age, a permit for motorists who are 15 years of age, and an intermediate license. The first two permits are designed mainly for educational purposes.
For instance, permit holders who are 14 years of age are only allowed to drive during a drivers education course. Moreover, permits issued to those who are 15 years of age only allow motorists to drive with adult supervision.
On the other hand, the intermediate license is a type of MS DMV learners permit that is designed to slowly introduce drivers to more unrestricted driving privileges. In any case, each permit comes with its own eligibility requirements.
In some cases, this includes age criteria and schooling requirements. In this article, you will learn all you need to know about getting a learning license in Mississippi.
NOTE: Be prepared for the DMV written exam so you are ready on exam day. Take one of our DMV practice tests to familiarize yourself with DMV exam questions.
Mississippi Learners Permit Eligibility Guidelines
Mississippi drivers permit requirements state that you must be at least 14 years of age in order to operate a vehicle. In addition, you must be at least 15 years of age in order to drive with a permit outside a driver education class. Furthermore, you must be 16 years of age or older to obtain an intermediate license.
In order get a learners permit in MS, you will need to pass both a knowledge exam and an eye screening. Moreover, when you apply for the learning license known as the Class Y intermediate license, you will also need to complete a road skills test.
No matter which drivers learners permit you apply for, you will need to prove that you are a resident of Mississippi who has a Social Security Number (SSN). Nonetheless, if you are younger than 18 years of age, you will also be required to be enrolled in school to get a license.
How to Apply for a Learners Permit in Mississippi
When getting a learners permit in Mississippi, you will be required to fill out the “Application for Mississippi Drivers License” form. Despite its name, this application is also used by motorists who apply for a permit. It requires you to disclose personal information about yourself, such as your name, Social Security Number, height and weight.
Along with this application, you will also need to submit several official papers proving your identity. The following are the four documents you need to bring when you apply for a learner permit in MS:
- Birth certificate
- Social Security card
- Two documents proving your address, such as a voter registration card, bank correspondence, utility bills or credit card statements, to name a few.
- In the event that you are younger than 18 years of age, you will also be required to submit a “Certification of School Attendance Status” form.
If you are wondering how to get a driving permit online in Mississippi, be mindful that this application procedure must be conducted in person at a DMV office. That is because the DMV mandates applicants to take the required tests in person.
The Mississippi Drivers Permit Test
The Mississippi DMV permit test is designed to ensure that first-time motorists have the knowledge required to safely operate a vehicle. In general, the drivers permit test contains 20 questions, and applicants must answer 80 percent of them correctly.
Essentially, this means that you cannot get more than four questions wrong. Though the MS learners permit test intimidates many applicants, 80,000 state motorists successfully pass the exam every year.
When determining what to bring to the permit test, be mindful that you will only need to bring a form of identification. However, you may also choose to bring along a driver’s manual, which will allow you to study at the DMV while you wait to take the exam.
Furthermore, you may benefit from taking a practice permit test while studying. In general, a drivers permit practice test will cover the same topics that will be on the official exam, such as:
- Responsible driving habits
- Traffic laws and regulations
Though the learners permit practice test questions will cover material that is similar to what will be on the actual exam, be mindful that you will most likely be given different questions. If you score well on a DMV permit practice test, you should score well during your exam, but that is not guaranteed.
Mississippi Driving Permit Rules and Restrictions
MS driving permit rules are designed to allow inexperienced motorists to practice driving in a safe way. In general, the learners permit rules are stricter for motorists who are 14 years of age, as they are only allowed to operate a car during a driver’s ed course. Conversely, permit holders who are 15 years of age are allowed to drive at any time, despite the fact that they must be accompanied by a licensed resident who is 21 years of age or older.
Furthermore, drivers who are 16 years of age or older do not require a supervisor, unless they are driving outside of permit hours. Generally, permit driving hours in Mississippi run from 6 a.m. through 10 p.m. These hours are extended on Friday and Saturday, when you will be allowed to drive by yourself until 11:30 p.m.
Two of the most common questions regarding these learning credentials are:
- Can you drive with a permit by yourself outside of permit hours? Intermediate license holders may drive outside of permit hours for work purposes.
- How long does a learner’s permit last in Mississippi? You will be able to upgrade your existing permit on your 15th birthday. Otherwise, you may apply for an intermediate license once you have held that permit for a year. Then, you can obtain a regular driver’s license after you have held your intermediate license for six months.
Mississippi Learner Permit Fees
How much does it cost to get your permit in Mississippi? Generally, this fee does not vary based on your age or the period of time that the permit is valid for.
Instead, the learner permit fee will vary based on which sort of permit you are applying for. Below, you will find the MS DMV permit cost that you will be required to pay. In any case, be mindful that the certain DMV locations only accept cash for these transactions.
- DMV permit price – $4
- Mississippi intermediate license – $6
Mississippi Drivers Permit Forms
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- Learner's Permit from MS.us
- Intermediate License - Class Y from MS.us