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Missouri’s intermediate license is the middle stage of the graduated driver license (GDL) system, for drivers aged 16 to 18. You can drive alone, but with a 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, passenger limits and a seat belt rule for everyone in the car. This guide sets out each restriction, its exceptions, and how to graduate to a full license.
Missouri intermediate license restrictions at a glance
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Curfew | No driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. |
| Curfew exceptions | A licensed driver 21 or older is with you, or you are driving to or from a school activity, a job or an emergency |
| Passengers, first 6 months | No more than 1 passenger under 19 who is not a member of your immediate family |
| Passengers, after 6 months | No more than 3 passengers under 19 who are not members of your immediate family |
| Seat belts | Everyone in the vehicle must wear one |
| Phones | Missouri’s hands-free law applies, as it does to all drivers |
| Farm work | The passenger limits may not apply while you are doing agricultural work |
| Fee | $14.00, valid up to 2 years (Driver Guide, August 2026) |
How to qualify for the intermediate license
- Age 16 or older.
- Instruction permit held at least 182 days.
- 40 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, confirmed by a qualified person or grandparent at the license office.
- No alcohol-related offenses in the last 12 months and no traffic convictions in the last 6 months.
- Passed the Missouri State Highway Patrol driving test.
Scenario check: is this trip allowed?
| Situation (licensed 3 months) | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Driving two school friends (both 17) home at 4 p.m. | No. Only 1 non-family passenger under 19 in the first 6 months. |
| Driving your younger brother and one friend | Yes. Immediate family members do not count toward the limit. |
| Driving home alone from a late shift at 2 a.m. | Yes. Travel to or from work is an exception. |
| Driving home from a party at 1:30 a.m. alone | No. Not a listed exception. |
| Same party trip at 1:30 a.m. with your 45-year-old parent in the car | Yes. A licensed driver 21 or older is with you. |
Moving to a full license at 18
At 18, or within the 30 days before your 18th birthday, you can apply for a full Missouri driver license if you have had no alcohol-related offenses and no traffic convictions in the previous 12 months. A conviction keeps you on the intermediate license for longer, and also adds points to your record.
Common questions
What is the Missouri intermediate license curfew?
1 a.m. to 5 a.m., unless a licensed driver 21 or older is with you or the trip is for a school activity, work or an emergency.
Do siblings count as passengers?
No. The limits apply to passengers under 19 who are not members of your immediate family. The Driver Guide defines immediate family as parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, and adopted or foster children living in your household (including foster, step and adoptive parents and grandparents). Cousins and friends count toward the limit.
When does the passenger limit increase?
After your first six months on the intermediate license, from 1 to 3 non-family passengers under 19.
Should I carry proof of a work or school trip?
The rules do not list a required document. A note from your employer or school can help explain a late trip if you are stopped.
How do Missouri’s rules compare with other states?
See US graduated driver licensing compared.
Related Missouri guides
- Learning to drive in Missouri: complete guide
- Missouri State Highway Patrol driving test guide
- Missouri hands-free driving law explained
- Zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21
Sources
- Missouri Department of Revenue, “Missouri Graduated Driver License Law” (dor.mo.gov)
- Missouri Department of Revenue, “Graduated Driver License (GDL) Law FAQs” (dor.mo.gov)