Photo: Anthony Stewart, Pexels
At a Missouri State Highway Patrol driver examination station, the permit tests are a vision test, a road sign recognition test and a written test. The written test has 25 multiple-choice questions and you need 20 correct. This practice test has a 10-question sign drill followed by a full 25-question written test. All questions are original and unofficial, based on the Missouri Driver Guide topics and Department of Revenue rules, and none are the Highway Patrol’s.
Missouri permit tests: key facts
- Three tests at an MSHP station: vision, road sign recognition and a written test.
- Written test: 25 multiple-choice questions, 20 correct to pass, so you can miss 5.
- Every written question comes from the Missouri Driver Guide.
- If your test results are more than one year old when you apply, you retake all three tests.
Where to test and what to bring: the Missouri written test and instruction permit guide. The full process: learning to drive in Missouri.
Part 1: road sign drill (questions 1 to 10)
1. You can recognize a STOP sign from behind, or when it is covered in snow, because it is the only sign that is:
- A. Triangular
- B. Round
- C. Eight-sided (an octagon)
- D. Shaped like a pennant
Answer: C. Only STOP signs use the octagon shape. Driver Guide topic: signs.
2. A red and white triangle pointing down tells you to:
- A. Stop every time, even when the road is clear
- B. Slow down and give the right of way, stopping if you need to
- C. Merge without checking traffic
- D. Watch for a railroad crossing
Answer: B. A YIELD sign means cross traffic and pedestrians go first. You stop only when you have to. Driver Guide topic: signs.
3. A yellow diamond-shaped sign usually warns you about:
- A. A hazard or change in the road ahead, such as a curve
- B. A law you must obey
- C. Gas, food and lodging
- D. A route number
Answer: A. Yellow diamonds are warning signs. Driver Guide topic: signs.
4. A round yellow sign with a black X and the letters RR means:
- A. A rest area is ahead
- B. Road repairs are ahead
- C. The right lane ends
- D. A railroad crossing is ahead
Answer: D. The round shape is used only for railroad advance warning signs. Driver Guide topic: signs.
5. A yellow pennant-shaped sign on the left side of the road means:
- A. You are entering a no-passing zone
- B. A narrow bridge is ahead
- C. The road is slippery when wet
- D. Two-way traffic ends
Answer: A. The pennant marks the start of a no-passing zone and is placed on the driver’s left. Driver Guide topic: signs.
6. A five-sided sign shaped like a house warns you that:
- A. A hospital is ahead
- B. A railroad crossing is ahead
- C. You are near a school zone or school crossing
- D. A divided highway begins
Answer: C. The pentagon shape is used for school zone and school crossing signs. Driver Guide topic: signs.
7. Orange signs with black letters or symbols tell you that:
- A. A school is nearby
- B. A hospital is nearby
- C. A scenic area is ahead
- D. You are coming to a work zone
Answer: D. Orange is the color for work zone signs. Slow down and watch for workers and equipment. Driver Guide topic: signs.
8. A fluorescent yellow-green sign showing a person walking means:
- A. Pedestrians are banned from the road
- B. Watch for pedestrians crossing
- C. A park entrance is ahead
- D. Hiking trails are nearby
Answer: B. Fluorescent yellow-green is used for pedestrian, bicycle and school warnings so they stand out. Driver Guide topic: signs.
9. A blue sign beside the highway usually tells you about:
- A. Speed limits
- B. Road hazards
- C. Motorist services such as gas, food and lodging
- D. No-passing zones
Answer: C. Blue is the color for services. Driver Guide topic: signs.
10. Brown signs point you to:
- A. Hospitals
- B. Work zones
- C. Detours
- D. Parks, recreation areas and cultural sites
Answer: D. Brown is for recreation and culture, blue is for motorist services and green is for directions. Driver Guide topic: signs.
Part 2, written test: signals, markings and right of way (questions 11 to 19)
11. A steady yellow traffic light means:
- A. The light is about to turn red, so stop if you can do so safely
- B. Speed up to beat the red light
- C. Stop even if you are already in the intersection
- D. Pedestrians have the right of way
Answer: A. Steady yellow warns that red is next. If you are too close to stop safely, go through with care. Driver Guide topic: signals.
12. A flashing red traffic light means:
- A. Slow down and go ahead with caution
- B. Come to a complete stop, then go when it is safe, as at a STOP sign
- C. The signal is broken, so you may ignore it
- D. Stop only if other cars are there
Answer: B. Treat a flashing red light exactly like a STOP sign. Driver Guide topic: signals.
13. A flashing yellow left-turn arrow means you may turn left:
- A. Without stopping, because oncoming traffic must stop
- B. Only after waiting three seconds
- C. After yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
- D. Only if a police officer waves you on
Answer: C. This is a permissive turn. Oncoming traffic may have a green light, so wait for a safe gap. Driver Guide topic: signals.
14. Two solid yellow lines down the center of a two-lane road mean:
- A. Passing is allowed in both directions
- B. No passing in either direction
- C. Passing is allowed only in daylight
- D. The road is one-way
Answer: B. Double solid yellow lines mark a no-passing area for traffic both ways. Driver Guide topic: pavement markings.
15. The center line has a broken yellow line on your side and a solid yellow line on the other side. This means:
- A. Neither direction may pass
- B. Only the other direction may pass
- C. You must stay 10 mph below the limit
- D. You may pass when it is safe, but traffic on the other side may not
Answer: D. You may pass when the broken line is on your side and the road ahead is clear. Driver Guide topic: pavement markings.
16. You and another car reach a four-way stop at the same time. The other car is on your right. Who goes first?
- A. The car on your right
- B. You do, because you are on the left
- C. Whoever is driving the larger vehicle
- D. Whoever signals first
Answer: A. When drivers arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Driver Guide topic: right of way.
17. You are turning left on a solid green light with no arrow. You must:
- A. Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before you turn
- B. Go first, because you have a green light
- C. Turn quickly before oncoming cars reach you
- D. Wait for the light to turn yellow
Answer: A. A plain green light lets you turn left only when there is a safe gap. Driver Guide topic: right of way.
18. An ambulance with its siren and lights on is coming up behind you. You must:
- A. Speed up to stay ahead of it
- B. Stop at once, even in the middle of an intersection
- C. Pull over to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes
- D. Move to the left lane and keep going
Answer: C. Clear any intersection first, then pull to the right and stop. Driver Guide topic: emergency vehicles.
19. A pedestrian is crossing in a marked crosswalk ahead of you and there is no signal. You must:
- A. Sound your horn so the pedestrian hurries
- B. Yield and let the pedestrian cross
- C. Drive around the pedestrian
- D. Go first because cars have the right of way
Answer: B. Pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way. Driver Guide topic: pedestrians.
Part 2, written test: safe driving and alcohol (questions 20 to 27)
20. Your car starts to hydroplane on a wet road. You should:
- A. Brake hard
- B. Accelerate to push through the water
- C. Turn the wheel sharply
- D. Ease off the gas, keep the wheel straight and avoid hard braking
Answer: D. Your tires are riding on water. Let the car slow until they grip the road again. Driver Guide topic: emergencies.
21. When you join a freeway from an on-ramp, you should:
- A. Stop at the end of the ramp and wait
- B. Enter well below the speed of traffic
- C. Use the acceleration lane to reach the speed of traffic and merge into a gap
- D. Expect freeway traffic to move over for you
Answer: C. Freeway traffic has the right of way. Match its speed and find a safe gap. Driver Guide topic: freeways.
22. The car in the lane next to you has stopped at a crosswalk. You should:
- A. Pass it, since your lane is clear
- B. Change lanes and speed up
- C. Sound your horn to find out why it stopped
- D. Slow down and be ready to stop, because someone may be crossing
Answer: D. Never pass a vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians. Driver Guide topic: pedestrians.
23. You are beside a large truck and cannot see the driver in the truck’s side mirror. This means:
- A. You are at a safe distance
- B. The truck driver probably cannot see you either
- C. The truck is about to stop
- D. The driver has seen you and will wait
Answer: B. Trucks have large blind spots. Pass steadily or drop back until you can see the driver’s mirror. Driver Guide topic: sharing the road.
24. What is the only thing that lowers your blood alcohol level?
- A. Time
- B. Black coffee
- C. A cold shower
- D. Eating a large meal
Answer: A. Your body removes alcohol at a steady rate, and nothing speeds it up. Driver Guide topic: alcohol.
25. Missouri drivers under 21 face suspension or revocation at a blood alcohol content of:
- A. .02 or above
- B. .05 or above
- C. .08 or above
- D. .10 or above
Answer: A. This is Missouri’s zero tolerance rule. Refusing a test or testing over the limit also brings a separate DOR action. DOR rules: alcohol and drugs.
26. Missouri’s hands-free law, in force since August 28, 2023, applies to:
- A. Drivers under 21 only
- B. Commercial drivers only
- C. Drivers of all ages
- D. Drivers on interstates only
Answer: C. It replaced the old under-21 texting ban. See Missouri’s hands-free law explained. MoDOT: distracted driving.
27. How many points within 18 months lead the Missouri DOR to suspend a license?
- A. 4
- B. 6
- C. 8
- D. 12
Answer: C. 4 points in 12 months brings an advisory letter. A first suspension lasts 30 days. DOR rules: points.
Part 2, written test: Missouri permit and intermediate license rules (questions 28 to 35)
28. The minimum age for a Missouri instruction permit is:
- A. 14
- B. 15
- C. 15 1/2
- D. 16
Answer: B. You pass the vision, road sign and written tests at an MSHP station, then the permit is issued at a DOR license office. DOR rules: graduated driver license.
29. A permit holder under 16 may drive with which of these in the front seat?
- A. Any licensed friend aged 18
- B. Any licensed driver aged 21 or older
- C. A passenger with a permit
- D. A licensed grandparent
Answer: D. Under 16, the supervisor must be a parent, stepparent, grandparent, legal guardian or qualified driving instructor, or a person 25 or older, licensed for 3 years, with written parent permission. A licensed 21-year-old does not qualify until you turn 16. From 16, any licensed driver 21 or older may supervise. DOR rules: instruction permit.
30. How long must you hold your Missouri instruction permit before applying for an intermediate license?
- A. 30 days
- B. 90 days
- C. 182 days
- D. 1 year
Answer: C. The count starts the day after the permit is issued. DOR rules: graduated driver license.
31. How many supervised driving hours do you need for a Missouri intermediate license?
- A. 20 hours, including 5 at night
- B. 40 hours, including 10 at night
- C. 50 hours, including 15 at night
- D. 60 hours, including 10 at night
Answer: B. Night means between sunset and sunrise. See the Missouri 40-hour requirement. DOR rules: graduated driver license.
32. A Missouri intermediate license holder may not drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless:
- A. They are within 5 miles of home
- B. It is a Friday or Saturday
- C. A 16-year-old friend is with them
- D. A licensed driver 21 or older is with them, or the trip is for school, work or an emergency
Answer: D. See Missouri intermediate license rules. DOR rules: graduated driver license.
33. In the first 6 months of an intermediate license, how many passengers under 19 who are not immediate family may you carry?
- A. 0
- B. 1
- C. 2
- D. 3
Answer: B. After 6 months the limit rises to 3. DOR rules: graduated driver license.
34. Who must wear a seat belt when a Missouri intermediate license holder is driving?
- A. Everyone in the vehicle
- B. The driver only
- C. Front-seat riders only
- D. Passengers under 16 only
Answer: A. This is a condition of the intermediate license. DOR rules: graduated driver license.
35. To get a full Missouri license at 18, you need no alcohol-related offenses and no traffic convictions in the previous:
- A. 30 days
- B. 6 months
- C. 12 months
- D. 3 years
Answer: C. You can apply at 18 or within the 30 days before your 18th birthday. DOR rules: graduated driver license.
How to score yourself against the Missouri standard
| Written test, correct out of 25 (questions 11 to 35) | What it means |
|---|---|
| 23 to 25 | Ready for the written test. |
| 20 to 22 | A pass at the Missouri standard of 20 correct. |
| Under 20 | A fail on the real test. Reread the Driver Guide. |
Score the sign drill (questions 1 to 10) separately. The real road sign test is scored on its own, so aim to get every sign right.
Common questions
Are these the real Missouri Highway Patrol questions?
No. They are original, unofficial practice questions written to the Missouri Driver Guide topics and DOR rules.
How many questions can I miss on the Missouri written test?
Five. You need 20 of 25 correct.
Is the road sign test separate?
Yes. Missouri gives a road sign recognition test as well as the written test, so you need to know signs by shape, color and symbol.
How long do my test results last?
If they are more than a year old when you apply, you retake the vision, sign and written tests.
What does the permit cost?
The Missouri Driver Guide (revised August 2026) lists $10.00 for an instruction permit. Check the DOR for any processing fees. See the written test guide.
Are there practice tests for other states?
Yes. See US permit practice tests by state.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Revenue, “Missouri Driver Guide” (dor.mo.gov)
- Missouri Department of Revenue, “Graduated Driver License” (dor.mo.gov)
- Missouri Department of Revenue, “Tickets and Points FAQ” (dor.mo.gov)
- Missouri Department of Transportation, “Hands-free law” (modot.org)