I'm a new resident in Missouri: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from Missouri. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in Missouri

Each rule comes from the Missouri driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Deadline to switch your license

  As soon as you establish residency; no number of days is stated.

  What the manual says

  • When to get a Missouri license

    As soon as you establish residency in Missouri, you must apply and pay for a Missouri driver license at a Missouri license office. A new resident who wants to drive needs a Missouri license even with a license from another state. Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders must transfer their CDL within 30 days of transfer of residency.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Tests when you transfer a license

  With a valid license from another state for the same type, only the vision and road sign tests.

  What the manual says

  • A driver with a valid license from another state who applies for the same type of license in Missouri only has to take the vision and road sign tests.
  • A person transferring an out-of-state license must surrender it and take the vision and road sign tests.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 18, 6

• Liability insurance

  Liability insurance required: at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injury, $25,000 property damage.

  What the manual says

  • State law requires at least $25,000 per person for bodily injury.
  • State law requires at least $50,000 per crash for bodily injury.
  • State law requires at least $25,000 per crash for property damage.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 79

• How long the license lasts

  6 years for ages 21 to 69; 3 years for ages 18 to 20 or 70 and over.

  What the manual says

  • License terms

    If you are between the ages of 21 and 69, you may apply for a 6-year Missouri driver license that expires on your date of birth in the sixth year. If you are between the ages of 18 and 20, or 70 or over, you may apply for a 3-year license that expires on your date of birth in the third year. An applicant who is not a U.S. citizen may receive a shorter term, based on the expiration date of the documents submitted. Fees and the length of the license depend on your age at the time of the transaction; a fee applies, and the fee chart is linked below.

  • License terms

    If you are between the ages of 21 and 69, you may apply for a 6-year Missouri driver license that expires on your date of birth in the sixth year. If you are between the ages of 18 and 20, or 70 or over, you may apply for a 3-year license that expires on your date of birth in the third year. An applicant who is not a U.S. citizen may receive a shorter term, based on the expiration date of the documents submitted. Fees and the length of the license depend on your age at the time of the transaction; a fee applies, and the fee chart is linked below.

  Source: [2] [3]

Road rules

• Teen driving hours

  Intermediate license: no driving alone 1-5 a.m., except to school activity or job, or emergencies.

  What the manual says

  • You may not drive alone between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. except in listed cases.
  • You may drive alone during those hours to and from a school activity, job, or an emergency.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 16

• Passengers for teen drivers

  Intermediate license: first 6 months, one passenger under 19 outside your family; after that, three.

  What the manual says

  • During the first six months you may not drive with more than one passenger under 19 who is not a member of your immediate family.
  • After the first six months you may not drive with more than three passengers under 19 who are not immediate family.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 16

• Alcohol limit under 21

  The BAC limit for drivers under 21 is 0.02%.

  What the manual says

  • The guide gives 0.02% as the BAC limit for drivers under 21.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 71

• Refusing a chemical test

  Refusing a chemical test of your BAC: your driver license is taken away for one year.

  What the manual says

  • Refusing a chemical test of your BAC results in the driver license being taken away for one year.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 70

• Seat belts

  Operator and front-seat occupants must wear seat belts; all passengers of an intermediate license holder must be restrained.

  What the manual says

  • Missouri law requires seat belts for the operator and front seat occupants, but ALL passengers accompanying an intermediate license holder must be properly restrained.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 55

• Child safety seats

  Under 4 or under 40 lb: child restraint. Ages 4-7, under 80 lb and 4'9": restraint or booster.

  What the manual says

  • Children less than four years old must be in an appropriate child passenger restraint system regardless of weight.
  • Children weighing less than 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child passenger restraint system regardless of age.
  • Children at least four but less than eight years old who weigh at least 40 and less than 80 pounds and are under 4’9” must be in a child restraint system or booster seat.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 55, 56

• Phone use while driving

  While moving, drivers may not hold or support a phone or manually type, send or read texts; hands-free calls allowed.

  What the manual says

  • While the vehicle is in motion, drivers are prohibited from physically holding or supporting a cellphone with any part of their body.
  • While the vehicle is in motion, drivers are prohibited from manually typing, writing, sending, or reading text-based messages.
  • The law allows drivers to talk on the phone hands-free, utilizing features like a built-in phone speaker, in-car Bluetooth, or ear bud/headset.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 93

• School buses

  Stop for its red lights and stop arm; exceptions: opposite direction on 4+ lane or separated highways.

  What the manual says

  • Oncoming and following traffic must stop before they reach the bus when its signals are activated, including on a two-lane road.
  • You do not have to stop when you are traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a highway containing four or more lanes of traffic.
  • You do not have to stop when traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a highway divided by a median where the directions are on totally separate roads.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 23, 24

• Move Over law

  Stationary emergency vehicle, red or red-and-blue lights: on 4+ lane roads take a non-adjacent lane if safe; else slow down.

  What the manual says

  • You must proceed with caution and, if it is safe, change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary emergency vehicle.
  • If changing lanes would be unsafe or impossible, you must proceed with due caution and reduce your speed, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 23

• Headlights

  From half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise, and any time wipers are needed.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says to turn headlights on from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise.
  • The manual says you must use your headlights any time weather conditions require the use of your windshield wipers.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 62

• Right turn on red

  A right turn on red is allowed unless a No Right Turn On Red sign is posted.

  What the manual says

  • Unless you are making a right turn, you must wait for the signal to turn green before you proceed.
  • You must not turn right on a red light when there is a “No Right Turn On Red” sign posted.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 44

• Speed limits

  25 mph in cities, towns, villages unless posted; 65 rural expressways; 60 urban interstates and expressways.

  What the manual says

  • The speed limit in any city, town, or village is 25 mph, unless posted otherwise.
  • The manual's guide for maximum speed lists 65 mph for rural expressways, unless posted speed limits direct otherwise.
  • The manual's guide for maximum speed lists 60 mph for interstate highways, freeways, or expressways within urbanized areas.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 50

• Left lane and keeping right

  Multi-lane highways: left lane only to pass. 4+ lanes: keep right unless passing, letting drivers enter, or turning left.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says to use the left lane only to pass another vehicle.
  • On highways with four or more lanes, keep to the right unless passing slower traffic, letting another driver enter safely, or getting ready for a legal left turn.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 37

• Points and suspension

  8 points in 18 months: suspension. 12 in 12 months or 18 in 24 months: one-year revocation.

  What the manual says

  • If you accumulate a total of 8 or more points in 18 months, your driving privilege will be suspended.
  • Your driving privilege is revoked for one year if you accumulate 12 or more points in 12 months.
  • Your driving privilege is revoked for one year if you accumulate 18 or more points in 24 months.

  Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 73

Official steps for moving to Missouri

• When to get a Missouri license

  As soon as you establish residency in Missouri, you must apply and pay for a Missouri driver license at a Missouri license office. A new resident who wants to drive needs a Missouri license even with a license from another state. Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders must transfer their CDL within 30 days of transfer of residency.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Your out-of-state license

  You may surrender a valid driver license from another U.S. state, or one that has been expired for up to about six months (184 days), to waive the Missouri written and driving tests. All applicants must still pass the Missouri road sign recognition and vision tests. If your out-of-state license has been expired for longer than that, you take the four-part driver examination. Applying for a Missouri license, nondriver ID or permit invalidates any document previously issued by another state, and you may hold only one valid credential.

  Source: [1] [2] [4]

• Documents for a new resident

  A new Missouri resident with an out-of-state driver license or nondriver ID that is valid, or has been expired for up to about six months (184 days), brings acceptable documents of identity, lawful status, Social Security number and Missouri residency. If the out-of-state license is lost, stolen or destroyed, you may instead submit a current Clearance Letter from that state, or another affidavit of lost license that includes the license number, classification, endorsements and restrictions, to allow waiver of the Missouri written and driving tests.

  Source: [4]

• If you are under 18

  If you are under 18, have a full license from another state and are eligible for a Missouri driver license, you get an intermediate license. If you apply within the 30 days before your 18th birthday, you may get a full driver license.

  Source: [5]

• Military families and students

  If you are a member of the armed forces, or a full-time student, and you have a valid driver license from your home state, you do not need a Missouri license. If you already hold a Missouri license, Missouri allows renewal by mail for members of the armed forces and their dependents. The mail-in application is Form 4317 (linked below), which says the vision examination and highway sign recognition test are waived upon proof of status. Check the Department of Revenue’s pages for the other rules for military members.

  Source: [1] [6]

• Non-U.S. citizens

  Non-U.S. citizens must present the appropriate immigration documents showing their status. At the Highway Patrol station, a non-citizen with a valid permanent resident card or a valid work authorization card needs no other documents for testing. A license for someone who is not a U.S. citizen may have a shorter term, based on the expiration date of the documents submitted.

  Source: [1] [3] [7]

Sources

1. Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026; printed page = PDF page - 2) (dor.mo.gov) — Missouri Department of Revenue
2. General Questions about Driver Licensing (FAQ) (dor.mo.gov) — Missouri Department of Revenue
3. The Missouri Driver License and Nondriver ID (dor.mo.gov) — Missouri Department of Revenue
4. Driver Licensing Checklist (dor.mo.gov) — Missouri Department of Revenue
5. Graduated Driver License (GDL) Law FAQs (dor.mo.gov) — Missouri Department of Revenue
6. Form 4317 Mail-in Driver License Application (active duty military and dependents) (dor.mo.gov) — Missouri Department of Revenue
7. Driver Examination FAQs (statepatrol.dps.mo.gov) — Missouri State Highway Patrol