No. You cannot take your permit test online in Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver Service Bureau says all knowledge exams must be taken in person at a driver license station. What you can do online is study, take practice tests and book an appointment, which DPS strongly recommends.
Here is what the in-person exam involves, the strict electronics rule, and how to walk in ready to pass the first time.
Can you take your permit test online in Mississippi?
No. DPS's Regular Learner's Permit page says plainly: "All knowledge exams must be taken in person." There is no at-home or webcam version, for teens or adults. If a website offers a "Mississippi permit test online," it is a practice test, which can help you study but does not count toward your permit.
You must pass both the knowledge exam and an eye exam before DPS issues the learner's permit.
What you can do online
- Download the Mississippi driver's manual from the DPS Driver Service Bureau site.
- Take practice tests to find the topics you need to review.
- Book an appointment at dps.ms.gov/appointment. DPS highly recommends that all applicants make one.
- Check the document list so you bring everything the first time.
Mississippi learner's permit at a glance
| Detail | What DPS says |
|---|---|
| Where | In person at a driver license station |
| Online test | No |
| Minimum age | 15, with proof of school enrollment |
| Tests | Knowledge exam and eye exam |
| Fee | $7.00 |
| Valid for | Two years |
| Appointments | Highly recommended |
| Electronics | Not allowed in the testing area |
The electronics rule
This is the rule that costs people the most. DPS does not allow cell phones, earbuds, smartwatches or other electronics in the testing area. If you are caught with one, or caught cheating, the test is cancelled immediately and you cannot test again for 6 months. DPS says appeals must be received within 30 days.
Leave your phone, earbuds and smartwatch in the car or with a parent before you walk into the testing area. Even a watch you forgot you were wearing can end your test.
What to bring
- A completed and signed application.
- An original birth certificate or other accepted document. Photocopies are not accepted.
- Your Social Security card, or official government mail showing all nine digits.
- Two proofs of residency.
- Legal papers if you use a different name.
- Ages 15 to 17: a School Attendance Form no more than 30 days old.
- The $7.00 fee.
How to pass on the first visit
DPS does not publish how many questions are on the knowledge exam or the passing score, so do not aim for a number. Study the whole Mississippi driver's manual, learn every road sign by shape and color, and take practice tests until you get nearly every question right. Since the test is only in person, a fail means another trip, so it pays to be ready.
Can you take your permit test online in Mississippi?
No. DPS says all knowledge exams must be taken in person at a driver license station.
Can you take the written driving test online in Mississippi?
No. The written knowledge exam is given only in person. You can study and book an appointment online.
Is there a Mississippi permit test online for practice?
Yes. Practice tests, including DMVZone's free original questions based on the Mississippi manual, help you study, but they do not replace the DPS exam.
What happens if I bring my phone into the testing area?
DPS cancels the test immediately, and you cannot test again for 6 months.
How much is a Mississippi learner's permit?
$7.00, and it is valid for two years.
