Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
- Age 15 years old — no driver's education required in Missouri
- Must be a Missouri resident
- Parent or legal guardian must accompany you if under 18
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
You'll need to bring original documents (no photocopies) to prove:
- Identity — certified birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or permanent resident card
- Social Security number — Social Security card, W-2, or SSA-1099
- Missouri residency (2 documents) — utility bill, bank statement, lease agreement, school enrollment, etc.
- Driver's education is not required in Missouri
- Parent/guardian consent — must be present and sign if under 18
Verify your documents: Visit dor.mo.gov for the official document requirements list. This can change, so always check before your visit.
Step 3: Study for the Knowledge Test
The permit test is the 25-question DOR knowledge exam. You need 80% — that's 20/25 correct. One overall score. Missouri also has a separate road signs test at the same MSHP visit.
- Download the Missouri Driver Guide (free from DOR website)
- Take our free practice test — aim for 90%+ before going in
- Focus on: road signs, DWI laws, right-of-way, speed limits, school bus rules
Step 4: Visit Your Local DOR Branch
- Find a branch: Use the DOR Branch Locator at dor.mo.gov/branch-locator
- Schedule online if your branch offers appointments (recommended to avoid wait times)
- Bring all documents from Step 2
- Pass the vision screening — 20/40 minimum with or without corrective lenses
- Pass the knowledge test — 25 questions, 80% overall (20/25 correct, one combined score — no separate sections)
- Pay the fee — check dor.mo.gov for current permit fees
Step 5: After You Get Your Permit
Your permit comes with restrictions. Here's what you must do over the next 182 days:
- Always drive with a supervisor in the front seat — if you are under 16: parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or a person 25+ licensed for 3+ years (with written parental permission). If you are 16 or older: any licensed driver 21+ with a valid license
- Log 40 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night
- No handheld phone — Missouri's hands-free law applies to all drivers
- Hold the permit for at least 182 days before you can apply for a license
- Stay violation-free — infractions can delay your license eligibility
Step 6: Get Your License
After 182 days with no violations, you can apply for a intermediate license:
- Age requirement: 16 years old (after holding instruction permit for at least 182 days)
- Pass the driving skills test — if you fail, you may take one driving test per day
- Intermediate License intermediate license: 1:00 a.m. — 5 AM curfew, 1 non-family passenger under age 19, until you apply for full license at age 18
Timeline: If you start at age 15, the earliest intermediate license is at 16 (after 182 days). Full license at age 18. Plan ahead!