Driver Examination FAQs

While licenses, permits, vehicle registration, plates, and titles are issued by the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) via local contract fee offices, driver testing (written and skills) is conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, via its Driver and Vehicle Safety Division. Both written and skills testing are offered in all 114 Missouri counties for the following classes of license: F operator, E for hire, non-CDL School Bus E, motorcycle, CDL Class A, B, C, and CDL endorsements.

Use the driver examination station map, or the same information as a station list.

You do not need an appointment to take a written or driving skills test, except for CDL skills tests. Some sites offer appointments for non-CDL skills testing; those sites are identified on the driver examination station map. If a site offers appointment slots for skills testing, it is highly recommended that applicants take advantage of this option.

Anyone may accompany your child to take their written test as long as the child has proper identification: either a certified birth certificate, valid passport (not expired), or a Missouri non-driver ID (not expired more than six months). When the test is passed, they must have a parent or legal guardian accompany them to a license fee office (DOR) to purchase the permit. The license office will ask for either the child’s certified birth certificate or unexpired passport, proof of residency (such as a parent’s utility bill or other piece of mail), and the child’s social security card.

Anyone may accompany your child to take their skills test. If the child with a permit is driving to the office, the accompanying licensed driver must be at least 21 years of age. If the child with a permit is not driving to the office, then any licensed driver may accompany them. When the skills test is passed, a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian must accompany them to the license fee office (DOR) in order to verify the applicant has received at least 40 hours of behind-the-wheel driver training. The license office will ask for a certified birth certificate or an unexpired passport, a parent’s piece of mail or a bill, and the child’s social security card.

This refers to the progressive steps used for persons under the age of 18 to acquire a driver’s license. Step 1: you may obtain a driving permit as early as age 15. Step 2: you may obtain your intermediate driver’s license as early as age 16. Step 3: you may obtain your full license at age 18. This is provided you follow the rules for each step and have no traffic or alcohol-related offenses. Please see the Missouri Driver Guide for detailed information.

Only a parent, stepparent, legal guardian, qualified driving instructor, or a person who is at least 25 years of age who has been licensed for a minimum of three years and has received written permission from the parent or legal guardian. If the parent, stepparent, grandparent, or legal guardian is physically disabled, he or she may designate up to two persons to accompany the teen in the vehicle to provide behind-the-wheel instruction. Please see the Missouri Driver Guide for detailed information.

You can get your intermediate license if you are at least 16 years old, have passed the skills test, and have held a permit for a minimum of six months. If you have a permit in another state, those months can be counted toward your Missouri license. Once you are 18 years old, these rules no longer apply; you only need to pass the skills test, if you have passed a written test within the last 12 months.

During the first six months you may not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger who is under the age of 19 and who is not a member of your immediate family. After the first six months, you may not operate a vehicle with more than three passengers who are under 19 years of age and who are not members of your immediate family. You may not drive alone between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. except to and from a school activity, job, or an emergency, unless accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years of age or older. Please see the Missouri Driver Guide for detailed information.

You may take any written test up to two times per day (statewide), during normal business hours, if necessary until you pass.

Skills tests are limited to one test per day (statewide), during normal business hours, with a maximum of three tests. After the third attempt you will need permission from the DOR to test again.

You must obtain permission from DOR prior to taking additional skills testing, and you will usually be required to log practice driving hours. DOR will contact you via U.S. Mail and send you instructions and a practice log. You will need to complete 20 hours of practice driving and record these sessions on the log. You will then return that log to DOR, who will contact you again, after they verify your practice hours, to inform you of your eligibility to retest.

All applicants have the choice of taking the written test on a touch screen PC or tablet (with or without headphones), a printed paper test, or you can request it be read to you by an examiner. If you request the test be read to you, you may be required to wait in line with those applicants who are taking the driving skills test, since it will require the time of an examiner to sit down with you. There is no time limit for taking a written test, regardless of the format you choose.

Class F testing is available in English, American Sign Language, Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, Dari, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Kinyarwanda, Korean, Marshallese, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. Oral versions (via headphones) are available in English and Spanish.

Class E (for hire) testing is available in English and Spanish only. The oral Class E version is available in English only.

Class M (motorcycle) testing is available in English and Spanish only. The oral Class M version is available in English only.

CDL class written testing, including the School Bus endorsement, is given in English only.

Applicants for non-CDL license classes who wish to use a third-party interpreter must choose a service from the approved list of state interpretation contractors. This option would be at your own expense. You may obtain a list of these contractors at the testing site.

Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may either use the ASL version on the testing kiosk or contact a testing site to inquire about state interpretation options.

There are 25 questions on these tests, and you must score 80% to pass. You can miss up to five questions and still pass.

You may renew your Class F permit as many times as you need without taking the written test again, if it is not expired more than six months. It is not legal to drive on an expired permit at any time.

You are required to score a minimum of 70% on the skills test to pass.

No. The parallel parking maneuver counts for only a few points on the entire test.

The examiner will inspect the overall condition of your vehicle prior to the test, including brake lights, turn signals, and inside and outside door handles. Generally, an activated check engine light would not be grounds for denying testing. Cracks in the windshield may result in a denial if the damage obstructs the clear view of the driver or the examiner.

All questions and skills testing procedures for the Class E and Class F tests come from the Missouri Driver Guide. Questions for the motorcycle permit test come from the Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual. Questions for the CDL permit and skills testing procedures come from the Missouri Commercial Driver License Manual. Links to these study guides can be found on the Department of Revenue’s driver guide page. You will also find more detailed information in these study guides for obtaining Missouri licenses and permits.

Applicants are advised that although there are many non-CDL driver help services offered online from companies and private individuals, none of these are sanctioned by DOR or MSHP. CDL applicants seeking information for Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) should visit the FMCSA website.

Yes. The vehicle does not have to belong to you, but it must be properly registered and insured and have valid plates.

When you pass your written or skills tests you will be issued a receipt which indicates which tests you have passed and which license or permit you are eligible to purchase. You will take this document to your local license fee office (DOR), or any license fee office, and purchase your license or permit there. The license fee office will ask to see your birth certificate or passport, they will most likely ask you for proof of residency (like a utility bill, bank statement, or a piece of mail), and will most likely ask for your social security card. If you are living with a parent, you may use your parent’s proof of residency. Your testing receipt is not legal for any type of driving until you purchase a license or permit. Full details are on the Department of Revenue’s identification requirements page.

All drivers who have been suspended or revoked must retake their written and driving skills test. The first step of this process is to contact the DOR or a local Contract Fee Office. They will confirm with you what steps are needed to clear your driving record. Once you have met these requirements and have paid any reinstatement fees, you will be clear to test in the DOR database. A Driver Examiner will then be able to see this clearance in the DOR system when you appear for testing, but you must also present proper identification at that time. You will also be required to take a vision and road sign test before you can be issued a new license. Identification requirements are on the Department of Revenue’s identification requirements page.