The Mississippi knowledge (permit) test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can describe the format of the Mississippi computerized exam.
• You can list the main subject areas the exam focuses on.
• You can follow the test-day rules on phones and electronics.
• You can explain how long a passing score stays valid.
• You can plan your study using the official manual.

What you need to know and understand

• The exam is multiple choice, taken on a computer, and must be taken in person.
• It is based on the Mississippi Driver's License Manual and focuses on state traffic laws, safe driving rules and license requirements.
• A headset is available so the machine can read questions and answers aloud.
• The DSB does not publish the number of questions or the pass mark on its permit page, so check with your station if you want to know before test day.
• Your score is valid for two years; if you apply for your license later than that, you retake the exam.
• Phones, earbuds, smart watches and other electronics are not allowed in the testing area.
• The manual is free to download, or $3 at a driver license station.

What the exam is really checking

The manual says the exam is designed to find out whether you know Mississippi traffic laws and safe driving rules, can read and follow signs and signals, understand the rights of pedestrians and other drivers, and know how to keep a vehicle in safe condition. Expect questions on hard numbers the manual states clearly.

• Speed limits, such as 15 mph in a school zone and 70 mph on interstates.
• Following distance: one car length for every 10 mph.
• Stopping at least 10 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights.
• Parking distances, such as 10 feet from a fire hydrant.
• Alcohol limits: 0.08% at 21 and over, 0.02% under 21.
• Sign shapes and colors, pavement markings and signal lights.

A study plan that works

1. Download the current manual, revised December 2024, and read it section by section.
2. Make flashcards of every number: speeds, feet, dollar amounts and ages.
3. Learn sign shapes and colors until you can name them without the words.
4. Take practice questions, then go back to the manual for anything you get wrong.
5. In the final week, focus on Mississippi-specific rules such as the school bus exception on divided highways and right turns on red.

On the day

Book an appointment, bring every document, and leave electronics outside. If you are caught with banned items or cheating, the test is cancelled and you cannot retest for six months; written appeals must arrive within 30 days. If you need an interpreter, complete the Mississippi Interpreter Oath form and bring it with your interpreter. A full practice test is available elsewhere on this site.

Common mistakes

• Studying a national question bank instead of the Mississippi manual. Mississippi numbers, like the 15 mph school zone, are what the exam uses.
• Leaving a phone in your pocket. Take it out before you enter the testing area.
• Skimming the signs section. Shape and color questions are easy points if you learn them.
• Waiting more than two years after the permit to apply for your license, which means retaking the exam.

Test yourself: The Mississippi knowledge (permit) test

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

Go deeper

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