The Missouri permit test is a 25-question written test, and you need 80% to pass, which means at least 20 correct answers. It is given free of charge by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) at its driver examination stations, and you then buy the permit itself from a Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) license office. Here is what is on the test, how to study, and what to bring.
Missouri permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Questions | 25 multiple-choice questions on the Class F written test |
| Pass mark | 80%, so 20 correct. You can miss up to 5 |
| Who gives the test | Missouri State Highway Patrol driver examination stations |
| Who issues the permit | Missouri Department of Revenue license offices (dor.mo.gov) |
| Test fee | None. MSHP does not charge for the written test |
| Permit fee | $10 for a Class F instruction permit, paid at the license office |
| Appointment | Not needed for the written test. Tests are given based on staff availability |
| Online option | No. The written test is taken in person |
| Languages | MSHP offers the Class F written test in 20 languages, including a sign language video version |
| Minimum age | 15 for an instruction permit |
How many questions are on the Missouri permit test?
There are 25 questions on the Missouri permit test. The Missouri Driver Guide says you must correctly answer 20 of them to pass, and the Highway Patrol's FAQ puts it as a score of 80%. That means you can miss up to 5 questions and still pass.
Five misses sounds like room to spare, but people who already drive often lose points on book-only facts such as alcohol limits, signaling distance and following distance. Aim for 23 or better on practice tests before you go.
What's on the Missouri permit test
Every question comes from the Missouri Driver Guide published by the Department of Revenue. The guide describes the driver exam as four parts: the written test, a vision test, a road sign test and, later, a driving test. Expect questions on:
- Road signs: shape, color and meaning. The road sign test checks that you can recognize and understand traffic signs, so do not skip them.
- Right of way, turning, passing and lane use.
- School buses: when the red lights and stop arm are out, traffic on a two-lane road stops in both directions.
- Alcohol: 0.08 for adult drivers and 0.02 for drivers under 21.
- Signal at least 100 feet before you turn or change lanes.
- Following distance: the guide teaches the three-second rule.
- Railroad crossings: stop 15 to 50 feet from the tracks when lights flash or a gate is down.
The rule only Missouri has: the base license is Class F
Most states call a regular car license Class C or Class D. In Missouri the basic driver license, also called an operator license, is Class F, and that is the written test you take for a car permit. Class E is a separate license for people who drive for a living, such as chauffeurs or delivery drivers, and Class M is for motorcycles. When you walk into the exam station, ask for the Class F written test.
If you are 16 or older and want a motorcycle permit too, MSHP says you need to pass both the Class F and the Class M written tests.
How to study for the Missouri permit test
- Read the Missouri Driver Guide one chapter at a time. Short daily sessions beat one long night.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning. They are a separate part of the exam.
- Highlight every number: distances, ages, alcohol limits and fines. Put them on one page.
- Take practice tests and write down every question you miss, then find the answer in the guide.
- When you score 23 or more out of 25 three times in a row, you are ready.
Many teens tell us the real test felt trickier than the practice apps because two answers seemed right. Read every choice before you pick one, and watch for words like always, never, at least and except.
What to bring and how to book
You do not need an appointment for the written test. Walk in to a Highway Patrol driver examination station, but go early: MSHP says tests are given based on staff availability and arriving before closing time does not guarantee a test. You can take the test on a touch screen, on paper, or ask for an oral version.
At the exam station, MSHP asks teens for one of these:
- A certified birth certificate
- A valid, unexpired passport
- A Missouri ID card
School IDs, Social Security cards and laminated birth certificates are not accepted at the exam station. After you pass, take your driver examination record to a DOR license office along with proof of lawful status and identity, your Social Security number, and proof of Missouri residency, then pay the $10 permit fee. Your test score alone does not let you drive until the permit is issued. Check the full document list at dor.mo.gov before you go.
Can you take the Missouri permit test online?
No. Missouri's written test is taken in person at a Highway Patrol driver examination station. You can study online, but the test itself is not offered at home.
What happens if you fail the Missouri permit test?
You can try again, and it costs nothing. MSHP says you may take any written test up to two times per day until you pass, so if you fail early in the day you may get a second try before you leave. If you fail twice, go home, study the topics you missed and come back another day.
Missouri permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Missouri permit test?
There are 25 multiple-choice questions on the Class F written test.
How many questions can you miss on the Missouri permit test?
You can miss up to 5. You need 20 correct answers, which is 80%.
Is the Missouri written test free?
Yes. The Highway Patrol does not charge for the written test. The Class F instruction permit costs $10 at a DOR license office.
Do I need an appointment for the Missouri permit test?
No. MSHP says you do not need an appointment for the written test, but tests depend on staff availability, so arrive early.
