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The Missouri permit test is three tests taken at a Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) driver examination station: vision, road sign recognition and a written test. The written test has 25 multiple-choice questions and you need 20 correct to pass. This guide covers who can take it, what to study, and what happens after you pass.
Key facts
- Minimum age: 15 for an instruction permit.
- Where: an MSHP driver examination station. The permit itself is issued at a Department of Revenue (DOR) license office.
- Written test: 25 multiple-choice questions, 20 correct to pass, all based on the Missouri Driver Guide.
- Also required: a vision test and a separate road sign recognition test.
- Results expire: if your test results are more than one year old, you retake all three tests.
How many questions are on the Missouri permit test?
The Missouri Driver Guide states the written test is 25 multiple-choice questions and you must answer 20 correctly. That means you can miss 5. The road sign test is scored separately, so you need to know signs by shape, color and symbol as well as the written rules.
How to get your Missouri instruction permit, step by step
- Study the Missouri Driver Guide. Every written test question comes from it.
- Go to an MSHP driver examination station and take the vision, road sign and written tests.
- Take your passing results to a DOR license office with your proof of lawful status, identity, Social Security number and Missouri residency. A parent, stepparent, legal guardian or certified trainer must come with you to sign a permission statement. Check the current document list on the DOR site before you go.
- Pay the permit fee. The Driver Guide (revised August 2026) lists $10.00 for an instruction permit. Check the DOR in case processing fees apply.
- Start supervised driving. Your 182-day permit hold begins the day after the permit is issued.
What to study for the written and sign tests
| Topic | What to know | Help |
|---|---|---|
| Road signs | Shapes, colors, warning and regulatory signs | US road signs by shape and color |
| Signals and markings | Flashing lights, arrows, yellow and white lines | Traffic signals, pavement markings |
| Right of way | Four-way stops, pedestrians, school buses, emergency vehicles | Four-way stops |
| Alcohol and points | Under-21 .02 limit, Abuse and Lose, Missouri point thresholds | Missouri pillar guide |
| GDL rules | Permit supervisors, curfew, passenger limits | Intermediate license rules |
Missouri permit rules after you pass
- Under 16: drive only with one of these in the front seat: a parent, stepparent, grandparent, legal guardian or qualified driving instructor, or a person at least 25 who has been licensed for 3 years and has written permission from your parent or guardian. A physically disabled parent or guardian may name up to two people instead.
- 16 or older: drive with any licensed driver aged 21 or older in the front seat.
- The permit is valid for up to 12 months, and you can renew it as often as needed without retaking the written test.
- Seat belts: you and every passenger.
- Carry the permit itself. The MSHP test record is not valid for driving.
Log your practice using the 40-hour supervised driving checklist.
Common questions
Can I take the Missouri permit test online?
The DOR GDL page says the tests are taken at an MSHP driver examination station.
What happens if I fail the Missouri written test?
You can retake it. The Driver Guide does not set a waiting period for the written test, so ask the MSHP station how soon you can return. Almost half of test takers fail the first time, so study the guide before you go back.
What is the vision standard?
At least 20/40 with either or both eyes, and side vision of at least 55 degrees in each eye or 85 degrees in one eye. If you fail, you get a form for an eye specialist. Vision worse than 20/160, or a combined field under 70 degrees, rules out a license.
Do I need a doctor’s form?
Only in some cases. The DOR asks for a physician’s statement if you had seizures, convulsions or blackouts in the 6 months before you apply, or if an examiner, relative, doctor or other listed professional reports a condition that could make you unsafe (Driver Condition Report, Form 4319).
Do I need an appointment?
Arrangements vary by station. Check your local MSHP driver examination station before you travel.
Is the road sign test the same as the written test?
No. Road sign recognition is a separate test, taken at the same visit.
How do other states’ permit tests compare?
Sources
- Missouri Department of Revenue, “Missouri Driver Guide” (dor.mo.gov)
- 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)