Getting your Mississippi learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list the documents needed for a Mississippi learner's permit.
• You can explain the school attendance form and how long it stays valid.
• You can say who must sign an under-17 application and why it is notarized.
• You can describe what happens if you fail the vision exam.
• You can state the permit fee and how long the permit lasts.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be at least 15 and show proof that you are enrolled in school.
• The permit costs $7 and is valid for two years. Stations accept cash, credit and debit cards, but not checks.
• You need a certified birth certificate (no photocopies), your Social Security card or official correspondence showing the full number, and two proofs of residency with a physical address.
• Under 21, you may use documents showing your parent's or guardian's address as proof of residency.
• Under 18, you need a Certification of School Attendance form that is no more than 30 days old.
• Under 17, both parents (if both are living and have custody) or a guardian or other responsible adult must sign, and the signature must be notarized.
• Knowledge exams must be taken in person; the DSB strongly recommends booking an appointment.

Your permit-day checklist

• Completed and signed application form.
• Original or certified birth certificate.
• Social Security card, or official government mail showing all nine digits.
• Two proofs of Mississippi residency, such as a utility bill, bank statement or lease. No P.O. boxes.
• Certification of School Attendance (under 18), dated within 30 days. Home-schooled students use the blank form from the DPS website, signed by a parent. A married applicant under 18 may show a marriage license instead.
• Legal name-change papers if your name does not match your birth certificate.
• The $7 fee.

Why the parent signature matters

If you are under 17, the adult who signs your application takes on legal responsibility for your negligence or willful misconduct while driving. That is why the signature must be notarized. The same person can later ask the department in writing to cancel your permit or license, so it is a real commitment on both sides.

The two exams on the day

The computerized exam is multiple choice and based on the Mississippi Driver's License Manual. A headset can read questions and answers aloud if reading is hard for you. Phones, earbuds and smart watches are banned from the testing area; cheating or having banned items cancels the test and blocks a retest for six months.

The vision exam checks that you see well enough to drive. If it suggests you need glasses, you receive a DE26 vision form for an eye specialist or optometrist to complete. If you need glasses to pass, your permit and license will carry that restriction. Deeper guides on the permit test and practice questions are available on this site.

Common mistakes

• Bringing a photocopy of your birth certificate. Only an original or certified copy is accepted.
• Getting the school attendance form too early. It must be no more than 30 days old on the day you apply.
• Using a P.O. box as proof of residency. Each proof must show a physical address.
• Arriving with only one parent's signature when both parents are living and share custody, or without a notary stamp.

Test yourself: Getting your Mississippi learner permit

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Mississippi Permit Test
• Learning to Drive in Mississippi
• Mississippi Permit Practice Test