What to do, what to bring, and what to expect at the DPS office — start to finish.
A Mississippi motorcycle learner's permit lets you practice riding under supervision while you prepare to add a motorcycle endorsement to your driver license. You apply in person at a Department of Public Safety Driver Service Bureau location, and the written test is based on the Motorcycle Operator Manual the DPS provides.
The steps below follow the official Mississippi DPS motorcycle endorsement process. Always confirm current fees and accepted documents on driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov before you go.
You can get a motorcycle learner's permit at age 15. A full Mississippi driver license — required for the motorcycle endorsement itself — is issued at 16. You must be a Mississippi resident.
Study the MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual hosted by the DPS Driver Service Bureau. The motorcycle knowledge test is 25 questions; you need 20 correct (80%) to pass. It is given in person at a Driver Service Bureau location.
After passing the knowledge test, pay the $1.00 permit fee. The permit must be held for one year, or until you turn 17, whichever comes first.
While on the permit you must ride with a fellow rider who is at least 21 and holds a valid driver license with a motorcycle endorsement. Do not ride on public roads without a permit.
Completing a motorcycle safety class endorsed by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) exempts you from the on-cycle skills test. You still must pass the written knowledge test.
For the on-cycle skills (road) test, trailer your motorcycle to the location or have a motorcycle-licensed rider present, and show proof of insurance. Pass it (or present a qualifying safety-course card) and pay the $5.00 endorsement fee to add the motorcycle endorsement to your license.
Check the official DPS page for current fees and accepted forms of payment.
Source: Test details reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources — confirm with the state agency before your visit. Mississippi adopts the unmodified MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual (17th Edition), which the DPS Driver Service Bureau hosts. The motorcycle knowledge test is 25 questions, 20 correct (80%) to pass — a third-party consensus, since the DPS page does not publish the count. Universal helmet law; the motorcycle privilege is an endorsement on a Mississippi driver license.