How to Apply For a Learners Permit in Missouri
You need a learners permit in Missouri if you are younger than 21 years of age and you want to get driving privileges. This Missouri drivers permit is available to residents who are at least 15 years of age.
Once you are 16 years of age and have had the permit for a minimum of 182 days, you will be eligible for the learning license. This license restricts you to certain hours and conditions, but otherwise, you are able to drive a vehicle by yourself.
In this article, you will learn how to get both a Missouri DMV learners permit and license: the eligibility requirements you must meet, the fees you will have to pay and the identity documentation you will need to submit. By following the below instructions, you will be able to get your driving privileges.
Did you know? Almost 50 percent of all driving applicants fail the Missouri written exam. Greatly increase your chances of passing the test by taking one of our DMV practice tests.
Missouri Learners Permit Eligibility Guidelines
Missouri drivers permit requirements state that you must be at least 15 years of age in order to get an instruction permit. You will need the consent of a guardian, a parent or a representative for a government training program.
When you apply for a permit, you will be given two knowledge tests and an eye exam. Once you have passed these exams, you will be able to get your permit.
To get a learning license in Missouri, also known as an intermediate license, you must be at least 16 years of age. Your guardian, parent, grandparent or government job training representative will need to sign to the fact that you have driven for at least 50 hours. If you took the eye exam and knowledge tests over a year ago, these will need to be retaken.
You will be given a road exam when you apply. Once you have passed this road exam, you will be able to get your intermediate license. To get either the drivers learners permit or the intermediate license, you will need to be a resident of Missouri who is legally allowed to be in the United States.
How to Apply for a Learners Permit in Missouri
Missouri learner’s permits are not available online. You will need to go to an official licensing agency in the state in order to take the required tests and provide documentation proving your identity. When getting your learners permit in Missouri, you will also need to fill out an application stating your name, Social Security Number and other basic information. This application is not available online, so you will need to fill it out in person.
When determining where to get a learners permit, you will be able to choose from any of the DMV locations across the state. In order to apply for a learner permit in Missouri, you will need to bring evidence of:
- Your identity. This document needs to show your name, birth date and birth place: common documents include a birth certificate, passport or Certificate of Naturalization
- Your Missouri residency. This document needs to show your name and address, meaning it can be a paycheck, bill, voter registration card or property document.
You may also present your Social Security card as proof of your SSN. Alternatively, you are allowed to simply state your SSN to the DMV employee accepting your application.
The Missouri Drivers Permit Test
The Missouri DMV permit test has three sections: the vision section, the knowledge section and the road section. You do not need to set an appointment when taking a drivers permit test in Missouri, unless you are applying for a commercial driving license. Instead, the DMV testing locations accept walk-ins. You may take the tests at the same time you apply for your permit or license.
The knowledge portion of the learners permit test covers road rules and road signs, ensuring you understand when you need to yield, what the consequences for driving violations are, how to drive in the proximity of bicycles and more. All of this information is covered in the state’s Driver’s Guide.
There are a total of 25 questions on the exam, and you need to answer 80 percent of them correctly in order to pass. You cannot take an online drivers permit test in Missouri, because the DMV needs to see that you have completed the test by yourself.
When deciding what to bring to a permit test in Missouri, you need to make sure you bring a form of identification. As well, you may decide to bring the Driver’s Guide with you so you can study while waiting to take the test.
There is no Missouri DMV practice permit test approved by the state, though you may find one from a private company. As well, although the state does not offer a drivers permit practice test, it does offer a driver’s license test. If you have studied the Driver’s Guide and you understand the material on the license practice test, you should be able to pass your permit test.
Missouri Driving Permit Rules and Restrictions
Driving permit rules in Missouri are stricter for permit holders than they are for intermediate license holders, because the state wants to gradually introduce young drivers to the responsibilities of operating a vehicle.
For this reason, Missouri learners permit rules require permit holders to be supervised by an adult who is at least 21 years of age or older and sitting in the driver’s seat. If you are 15 years of age, your supervisor must fall into one of the following categories:
- Have custody of you.
- Be your grandparent.
- Be your driving teacher.
If you are 15 years of age and none of the above figures are able to drive with you, they will be able to fill out a Parent, Grandparent, or Guardian Request form, giving their consent to have another adult supervise your driving.
Intermediate license holders do not need to be supervised unless they are driving outside permit hours. Permit driving hours are from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. If you need to use your car outside of these hours, you should drive with someone who is at least 21 years of age and able to drive. Exceptions to these hours are made for school, work and unforeseen circumstances.
Below you will find two commonly asked questions regarding permits and intermediate licenses:
- Can you drive with a permit in Missouri with someone who is at least 21 years of age if that supervisor lost their license? No, your supervisor needs to have a valid license in order to drive with you.
- How long does a learner’s permit last in Missouri? You can hold the learner’s permit for a year, while the instructional permit lasts for two years.
Missouri Learner Permit Fees
Learner’s permit fee will be determined by which sort of permit you need.
Depending on whether you are purchasing a permit or a learning license, you will be charged one of the following prices:
- The DMV permit price in Missouri is $3.50.
- The learning license, also known as the intermediate license, costs $7.50.
Missouri Drivers Permit Forms
- Driver Experience Log
- Parent, Grandparent, or Guardian Request
- Parent or Guardian Permission Statement
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- Missouri Graduated Driver License Law from DOR.MO.gov
- Driver Guide from DOR.MO.gov
- Driver Examination Division from DOR.MO.gov