Driving Test Practice

How to get a driver's license in Mississippi

This page explains, step by step, how to get a Mississippi driver’s license for a regular car and which documents to bring. In Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau, issues licenses and permits and gives the vision and computerized exams at its Driver License Stations, and it publishes the Mississippi Driver’s License Manual. This guide is based on the Driver Service Bureau’s web pages in 2026 and the manual revised in December 2024. Where the manual and the web pages do not say the same thing, this guide leaves the point out or tells you to check the agency’s page. Requirements change, so check the Driver Service Bureau website before you go. This site is independent and is not a government agency.

Independent educational site · not affiliated with any government agency or DMV

Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-22. Requirements can change: always confirm with Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau before you go.

How it works

  • Who does what

    In Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver Service Bureau, issues driver’s licenses and learner’s permits and gives the vision exam and the computerized (knowledge) exam at its Driver License Stations. The Driver Service Bureau also publishes the Mississippi Driver’s License Manual, which the computerized exam is based on. You can download a free copy of the manual or buy one at a Driver License Station.

    Source: [1] [2] [11]

  • You need a license or permit to drive

    Driving without a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit is illegal, even if a parent or another licensed driver is with you. A non-resident over the age of sixteen who has a valid license from his or her home state or home country does not need a Mississippi license.

    Source: [1]

  • No road test for a regular license

    At this time, Mississippi does not require a skills (road) test of any applicant for a regular driver’s license. The steps for a regular license are the vision exam and the computerized exam, plus the documents described in this guide. A motorcycle endorsement does need a skills test in addition to a computerized test, and the Driver Service Bureau’s Road Test page is for scheduling a CDL road test.

    Source: [1] [3] [22]

  • Driver education requirements

    Effective July 1, 2026, only driver education from a DPS-certified or MDE-certified instructor counts for hardship license applications. Effective July 1, 2027, completion of driver education will be required for all new drivers to get a regular driver’s license; the manual says a certified Driver’s Education course is a licensing requirement beginning on that date. Check the Driver Service Bureau’s Driver’s Education update before you apply.

    Source: [1] [12]

  • Rules and prices can change

    The manual says prices and laws are subject to change, and the Driver Service Bureau reserves the right to overrule any information in the manual. A fee applies to each license type; this guide does not list amounts, which are on the Driver Service Fees page.

    Source: [1] [3]

Under 18: from permit to license

  1. Get a Regular Learner’s Permit

    To be eligible you must be at least 15 years old and be able to prove that you are enrolled in school. Bring an original birth certificate or another acceptable document; photocopies are not accepted. You must pass both the knowledge exam and the eye exam before you get the permit, and the permit is valid for two years.

    Source: [2]

  2. Prove that you are in school

    You prove that you are in school when you apply for the permit and again for the license. If you are under 18 and have not graduated, you present a school attendance form (the Certification of School Attendance Status), and the form is valid for only 30 days. If you have graduated, you present a diploma or GED certificate. If you are married and under 18, you show a marriage license instead of the school attendance form. If you are home-schooled, you get a blank Certification of Attendance from the DPS website. An applicant under 18 who cannot document school enrollment is ineligible to be licensed.

    Source: [1] [2] [3] [15]

  3. Get your parents’ signatures

    If you are under seventeen, your application for a permit or license must include the signature of both of your parents if both are living and both have legal custody of you. The application form says that for an applicant under 17 the application must be signed by both parents and notarized. Whoever signs your application is liable for your negligence or willful misconduct and must have the signature notarized.

    Source: [1] [16]

  4. Hold the permit and practice

    At 16, you must have held the learner’s permit for twelve months or until your 17th birthday, whichever comes first, before you qualify for a regular driver’s license. Months held on a valid out-of-state learner’s permit count toward the 12-month period. The Driver Service Bureau offers the Mississippi Mentor Guide for the people who teach you to drive; it gives a sample plan of about 60 hours of supervised driving.

    Source: [2] [3] [17]

  5. Get the road test waiver affidavit signed

    The Learner’s Permit page lists a signed Waiver of Road Testing Affidavit among the documents a permit holder brings for the regular license. On the form, a parent, teacher or guardian attests to the training given to the permit holder and to a minimum of 50 hours of driving instruction. The Class R page says the affidavit is not required for applicants 17 years old and older.

    Source: [2] [3] [14]

  6. Apply for the regular license

    At the license visit you bring your valid learner’s permit, an up-to-date school attendance form (or the other school proof described above) and the signed Waiver of Road Testing Affidavit, plus the documents that the Required Documents page lists. The manual lists passing the written (computerized) exam and the vision exam among the requirements for a regular license, and your computerized exam score stays valid for two years. A fee applies; the Driver Service Fees page lists it.

    Source: [1] [2] [3] [5]

Rules for young drivers

  • Learner’s permit supervision

    A learner’s permit lets you drive a motor vehicle when you are accompanied by a licensed driver aged twenty-one years or older who is physically sitting in the seat next to you.

    Source: [1]

  • Hardship driver’s license: who can ask

    A parent or legal guardian of a Mississippi resident 15 to 17 years old only, who has received a learner’s permit and held it for 30 days without any traffic infractions, may request consideration for hardship driving privileges from the Driver Service Bureau; the Hardship Driver’s License page describes the request. Hardship licenses are not available to people who have received a DUI. The page says all of these are required: a certified driver education course (only courses taught by DPS or MDE certified instructors are accepted), meeting the school attendance policy, and having no prior traffic citations.

    Source: [4]

  • Hardship driver’s license: reasons

    The reasons considered for a hardship request are school transportation, a death-related emergency, help with transporting siblings, medical needs, a work requirement and family business requirements (a farm is included).

    Source: [4]

  • Hardship driver’s license: limits

    • Unsupervised driving is allowed only to school or a school-related function, to help transport siblings to school or a school-related function, to work and for medical needs.
    • At all other times you must be supervised by a parent, guardian or other person twenty-one years or older who holds a valid driver’s license and sits in the seat beside you.
    • You may carry only immediate family members, such as siblings, parents and grandparents.
    • You may not use a cell phone in any manner while driving, including hands-free.
    • The Commissioner of Public Safety may revoke any hardship driving privilege for any reason.

    Source: [4]

Age 17 and older

  • Permit and license on the same day

    Applicants 17 years old and older are not required to hold the learner’s permit for twelve months and may get both the learner’s permit and the driver’s license on the same day. If you first apply at seventeen or older, you may apply directly for a regular driver’s license. The Class R page says the Waiver of Road Testing Affidavit is not required for applicants 17 and older.

    Source: [1] [2] [3]

  • What a regular license requires

    The manual lists passing the written (computerized) exam and the vision exam among the requirements for a regular (Class R) driver’s license. Ways to be eligible include being seventeen or older, regardless of earlier permits or licenses, and having held an out-of-state driver’s license for at least six months. The Class R page states that the minimum age to receive a driver’s license is 16 years old.

    Source: [1] [3]

  • License terms

    The Class R license is offered as a 4-year license or an 8-year license. The Driver Service Fees page lists the amounts.

    Source: [3]

Moving to Mississippi

New Resident Guide →

  • Deadlines for new residents

    The manual says that if you move to Mississippi, you must get a Mississippi driver’s license within sixty days and a Mississippi license plate within thirty days.

    Source: [1]

  • Your out-of-state license

    When you apply for a Mississippi driver’s license you must surrender all out-of-state licenses. If your out-of-state license is lost, you get an Affidavit of Inability to Surrender form from the Driver License office, and your signature on it must be notarized. Your driving record in other states is checked before a Mississippi license is issued. When a Mississippi license or ID card is issued, any license or ID card from another state is cancelled.

    Source: [1] [16]

  • Do you take the knowledge exam?

    A new Mississippi resident who holds a valid out-of-state license does not have to take the computerized (knowledge) exam, but you must pass a vision screening. If your out-of-state license has expired, you may have to take the exam; check the Class R page and ask at a Driver License Station.

    Source: [1] [3]

  • Visitors, military families and college students

    The manual says non-resident military personnel and their families, and out-of-state college students, may drive in Mississippi on a valid license from another state. The College Students page says out-of-state residents attending college in Mississippi may drive on their home state’s license.

    Source: [1] [8]

  • Non-U.S. citizens

    A non-citizen shows immigration papers such as an I-94, a valid visa or a resident alien card. Legal presence is checked through the federal SAVE program, and receiving the license or ID card may be delayed up to 30 days if the check is not immediate. The applicant’s name and date of birth must appear on all supporting documents. Read the Non-U.S. Citizen page for the full list of documents.

    Source: [6]

Documents to bring

  • Two proofs of Mississippi residency

    Every applicant for a license or ID card must provide two proofs of Mississippi residency. Each proof must include your name and a Mississippi residence address; no P.O. boxes are accepted. Utility bills (electric, water, gas or cable) and bank statements with a physical address are examples. Junk mail, envelopes and handwritten documents or letters are not accepted. If you are under 21, you may use documents that show your parent’s or guardian’s address.

    Source: [5]

  • Proof of your date of birth

    A birth certificate must be an original, small card or full size, with a state seal and certificate number; photocopies are not accepted. A Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship also proves your date of birth. For a learner’s permit, bring an original birth certificate or another acceptable document.

    Source: [2] [5]

  • Proof of your Social Security number

    The Required Documents page lists what you can show as proof of your Social Security number. Read that page before you go. If your name has changed, the Social Security card does not have to show the new name at your first transaction, but the Driver Service Bureau strongly encourages you to update it before you renew.

    Source: [5]

  • If your name has changed

    The Driver Service Bureau accepts only these legal documents to change the name on a license or ID card: a marriage license, a divorce decree, an adoption order or a court order. The application form says only originals are acceptable.

    Source: [5] [16]

  • The application form

    The state form is titled “Application for Mississippi Driver License/ID.” The application must contain your full name, date of birth, home address and Social Security number. By submitting it you consent to registration with the Selective Service System if the law requires it when you reach eighteen. The form also asks whether you want to register to vote or update your voter registration, and whether you want to be, or stay, registered as an organ and tissue donor.

    Source: [1] [16]

At the Driver License Station

  • Make an appointment

    The Driver Service Bureau highly recommends that all applicants make an appointment at dps.ms.gov/appointment. Because seating at driver license locations is limited, the station list asks you to limit the number of people per appointment or transaction.

    Source: [3] [11]

  • Where the stations are

    The Driver License Stations are grouped into North, Central and South Mississippi. Use the Driver License Locations page for the full list and addresses.

    Source: [11]

  • Hours and special offices

    The station list shows Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the DPS portal FAQ gives office hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except state holidays. The Gulfport Airport office is by appointment only and handles duplicates and renewals only.

    Source: [11] [19]

The tests

  • The vision exam

    Your eyes are checked to make sure you see well enough to drive safely. If the eye test shows you may need glasses, you must have your eyes tested by an eye specialist or optometrist, who fills out a vision form (DE26) that you are given. If you need eyeglasses or other aids to pass, your license is restricted accordingly.

    Source: [1]

  • The computerized exam

    The computerized exam is a multiple-choice test that you must pass to get a Mississippi driver’s license. It is based on the information in the manual. If you are under the care of a physician for any reason, a certificate about your physical or mental condition may be required before you take the exams.

    Source: [1]

  • Testing policy

    All knowledge exams must be taken in person. No cell phones, ear buds, smart watches or other electronics are allowed in the testing area, and no electronic assistance is allowed during testing.

    Source: [2] [13]

  • If you are caught cheating

    If an applicant is caught with banned items or cheating, the test is cancelled immediately. An applicant caught cheating is asked to leave and a note is placed in the applicant’s record, and may not test again until 6 months have passed. An appeal must be in writing and sent to the Department of Public Safety, and it must be received within 30 days.

    Source: [2] [13]

  • Help during the exam

    For applicants who have trouble reading, the computerized exam includes a headset, and the machine reads the questions and answers aloud. If you need an interpreter, you complete the Mississippi Interpreter Oath and bring the form and your interpreter to the exam. The oath says it is unlawful for the interpreter to give answers or hints to the test questions or to explain what the questions mean.

    Source: [1] [3] [18]

  • How long your results last

    Your computerized exam score is valid for two years. A learner’s permit is also valid for two years.

    Source: [1] [2]

After you pass

  • Carry your license

    You must always have your driver’s license in your possession while you operate a motor vehicle.

    Source: [1]

  • Liability insurance

    Every motor vehicle operated in Mississippi must have liability insurance.

    Source: [1]

Keeping your license

  • When you can renew

    A driver may renew a driver’s license any time within six months of its expiration. No documents are required to renew unless the license or ID card has been expired for more than sixty months. After sixty months, all documents are required, and the driver must also retake the knowledge exam.

    Source: [7]

  • Renewing online or at a station

    A license or ID card that has not been expired for more than twelve months can be renewed online or at a Driver Service station; after twelve months you renew in person at a station. You can renew online only every other time. Online renewal is for a Class R or Class D license, and you must be a U.S. citizen; a license with Restriction D cannot be renewed online. If you do not have a valid photo on file, you must come to a station to have your picture taken. Renewing at a station requires a new photograph and the renewal application.

    Source: [7] [19] [20]

  • Non-citizens, military and college students

    Non-U.S. citizens may not renew online. They must be within 30 days of their expiration date to renew, and they renew in person. A member of the U.S. armed forces who had a current Mississippi license when it expired and was out of the state because of active duty may renew within ninety days of being released from active duty or returning to the state, without a late fee or an exam, unless the department has a valid reason to believe the licensee is no longer eligible. The Military and College Students pages describe how these groups renew.

    Source: [1] [6] [7]

  • Duplicate license or ID card

    You may order a duplicate driver’s license or ID card online. If you need it immediately, you must appear in person at a Driver Service Bureau station, where you are required to take a new photograph and complete the duplicate application.

    Source: [9]

  • Change your address or name

    To change the address on a driver license or ID card, order a duplicate credential or be eligible for and complete an online renewal. Credentials are mailed only to the address on the license or ID card, never to an alternate address, and DPS does not mail credentials to post office boxes. A last-name change cannot be done online; you must go to DPS with original documents.

    Source: [19] [20] [21]

  • Suspended license

    The Commissioner of Public Safety may suspend a license without a preliminary hearing on grounds the manual lists. The DPS portal FAQ says reinstating your license is a 4-step process and that paying the reinstatement fees does not necessarily mean your license is then valid.

    Source: [1] [19]

ID card and Mobile ID

  • Identification card

    Any person six years of age or older may apply to the Department of Public Safety for an identification card. You bring a completed and signed application, an original birth certificate or another acceptable document, proof of your Social Security number, two proofs of residency, and legal documents if you are going by a new name. Non-citizens may also get an ID card; the Non-U.S. Citizen page covers both the license and the ID card.

    Source: [6] [10]

  • Mobile ID

    Mississippi offers a Mobile ID, a digitized version of a driver license or state-issued ID carried in an app on your smartphone. The Mississippi Mobile ID page describes it.

    Source: [23]

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Sources

  1. Mississippi Driver’s License Manual (Revised December 2024; printed page = PDF page) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  2. Regular Learner’s Permit — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  3. Regular Driver License - Light Commercial - Class D (New Driver’s License) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  4. Hardship Driver’s License — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  5. Required Documents (proof of domicile, date of birth, Social Security number, name change) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  6. Non-US Citizen Driver’s License or Identification Card — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  7. Renew Driver’s License and Identification Card — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  8. College Students — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  9. Duplicate Driver’s License or Identification Card — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  10. New Identification Card — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  11. Driver License Locations — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  12. Mandatory Driver’s Education (news item posted 2026-06-25) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  13. Knowledge Testing (Website Testing Policy) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  14. Affidavit for Road Test Waiver — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  15. Certification of School Attendance Status (School Attendance Form) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  16. Application for Mississippi Driver License/ID — Mississippi Department of Public Safety
  17. Model Mentor Guide (Revised October 2025) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau (AAMVA model)
  18. Mississippi Driver’s License Test Interpreter Oath — State of Mississippi, Department of Public Safety
  19. DPS Driver Self-Service Portal: Frequently Asked Questions — Mississippi Department of Public Safety (online services at ms.gov/dps)
  20. DPS Driver Self-Service Portal: Renew Driver’s License (instructions page) — Mississippi Department of Public Safety (online services at ms.gov/dps)
  21. DPS Driver Self-Service Portal: Change Address — Mississippi Department of Public Safety (online services at ms.gov/dps)
  22. Schedule Your CDL Road Test — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
  23. Mississippi Mobile ID — Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau