The Mississippi road test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain why Mississippi does not currently give a road test for a Class R license.
• You can list what to bring when you go from permit to license.
• You can name the skills you should master before an adult signs the waiver.
• You can say which Mississippi licenses and endorsements still need a skills test.
• You can check yourself against common reasons drivers fail road tests in other states.

What you need to know and understand

• No road test is currently required for a regular Mississippi driver's license.
• Applicants under 17 must provide the 50-hour road test waiver affidavit signed by a parent, teacher or guardian.
• The DSB says the affidavit is not required for applicants 17 and older.
• From July 1, 2027, first-time applicants must also show completion of certified driver education.
• A motorcycle endorsement still needs a computerized test and a skills test.
• Commercial (CDL) licenses require both knowledge and skills tests.
• Testing rules can change, so check the DSB Class R page before you apply.

What to bring on license day (under 17)

Your knowledge exam score is valid for two years, so you will not have to retake it if you apply within that time. The DSB recommends booking an appointment.

• Your valid learner's permit, held for 12 months or until your 17th birthday.
• A school attendance form dated within the last 30 days.
• The signed Waiver of Road Testing Affidavit.
• The license fee: $24 for 4 years.
• From July 1, 2027, proof of certified driver education.

Your own road test checklist

Use these manual-based skills as a pass or fail test with your supervisor before they sign. If you cannot do one smoothly every time, keep practicing.

1. Pre-drive checks: seat, mirrors, belt, and hands at 3 and 9 o'clock.
2. Signaling at least 100 feet before turns and lane changes, with a shoulder check.
3. Full stops at stop signs and before a right turn on red.
4. Correct priority at four-way and two-way stops.
5. Parallel parking within 12 inches of the curb, and turning wheels correctly on hills.
6. Turning around in a narrow street using forward and reverse moves.
7. Merging onto and exiting the interstate at the speed of traffic.
8. Stopping at least 10 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights.

Mistakes that would fail you elsewhere

In states that do test, common failures include rolling stops, not checking blind spots, poor speed control, and failing to yield to pedestrians. Mississippi drivers make the same errors, even without an examiner. Our guide to the 50-hour waiver affidavit explains the form and a practice plan in more detail.

Common mistakes

• Treating no road test as meaning less practice is needed. You will drive alone with no outside check.
• Signing the affidavit with hours that were not really driven. It is a sworn statement.
• Bringing an old school attendance form. It is only valid for 30 days.
• Assuming a motorcycle endorsement works the same way. It still needs a skills test.

Test yourself: The Mississippi road test

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

Go deeper

• Learning to Drive in Mississippi
• Mississippi Road Test Waiver
• Mississippi Driver’s Ed Requirement From July 2027