Missouri Instruction Permit

Missouri's instruction permit — the state's term for a learner's permit — is the first stage of a three-step graduated driver licensing path. Issued by the Missouri Department of Revenue at age 15, it makes Missouri one of the youngest permit-issuing states in the country, alongside Iowa and South Dakota.

Minimum age and prerequisites

Missouri issues an instruction permit at age 15 with parental consent. There is no driver education prerequisite — Missouri does not condition the permit on enrollment in a driver's-ed program — but completing a Missouri-approved driver education course can shorten the holding period before the intermediate license and may qualify the household for an insurance discount. Adult applicants 18 and older who have never held a license can also obtain an instruction permit before applying for a full Missouri driver's license.

Documents required

To apply for a Missouri instruction permit, bring to any fee office:

• One identity document — U.S. birth certificate or valid U.S. passport.
• Social Security card or other proof of SSN.
• Two proofs of Missouri residency dated within 30 days, in the parent's name (the teen's residency is established through the parent).
• A parent or legal guardian present to sign the parental consent on Form 5870.
• Lawful status documentation if applicable.

For applicants under 18, the parent or legal guardian must appear in person at the fee office. The signing parent assumes joint civil liability under Missouri law for any negligent or willful conduct of the minor while the permit is in effect.

Tests required

The instruction permit requires three tests at the fee office:

• Vision screening: 20/40 in the better eye, corrective lenses allowed.
• Road sign test: identification of standard Missouri traffic signs.
• Written knowledge test: 25 multiple-choice questions, must score 20 or higher to pass.

The knowledge test draws from the current Missouri Driver Guide. Each test attempt costs $5; an applicant who fails may retake the test the same day or schedule another visit. Most fee offices process the entire permit application in a single visit when the parent and the required documents are present.

Permit restrictions

Missouri's instruction permit comes with these restrictions:

• The permit holder may drive only when accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older seated in the front passenger seat (or by a parent or legal guardian who is at least 25).
• The supervising adult must have been licensed for at least 3 years.
• The permit holder may not use a handheld telecommunications device while driving — Missouri applies this rule to all drivers under 21.
• All occupants must wear seat belts; the driver is responsible for passengers under 16.
• Zero tolerance: a BAC of 0.02% or higher results in immediate suspension and possible DWI charge.

Supervised practice requirement

Before applying for an intermediate license, the instruction permit holder must complete 40 hours of supervised driving practice, of which at least 10 hours must be at night. Hours are tracked on the official Missouri Driver Practice Log signed by the supervising parent or legal guardian and submitted with the intermediate license application. Missouri also requires the permit to be held for at least 6 months before the intermediate license can be issued.

Permit validity

Missouri instruction permits are valid for 1 year from issuance. If the holder does not progress to the intermediate license within the year, the permit expires and a new written knowledge test is required to reissue. The permit fee is $3.50 plus the $5 written test fee — among the lowest in the country.

If a permit holder is involved in any accident or moving violation, the parent or guardian receives a notice from the DOR. A pattern of violations during the permit period can extend the supervised driving requirement or delay eligibility for the intermediate license. See the teen license page for the next stage in Missouri's GDL program and the car insurance page for adding a permit holder to a household policy.