What Do I Need To Get My Driver's Permit In Missouri?

For first-time teen drivers in Missouri, you may be starting your driver license journey and may be wondering what you need to get your driver's permit in Missouri. To get your full driver's license, you will need to follow Missouri's Graduated Driver License Law, which begins with step one: obtaining your instruction permit!

Graduated Driver License Law

First-time drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 must follow a set of guidelines defined in the Graduated Driver License Law. During this period, the first-time teen drivers complete a period of driving with a licensed driver (instruction permit) before graduating to restricted driving (intermediate license) and then moving to the final step: a full driver's license.

The instruction permit is for drivers under 16 years old. At the age of 16, they may apply for an intermediate license, which allows drivers to drive alone except during a late night curfew (1 a.m. to 5 a.m.) and everyone in vehicle must wear seat belts, be free of alcohol and drugs and obey the traffic laws. At the age of 18 or 30 days preceding their 18th birthday, the intermediate license holder may apply for a full driver's license.

Step One: Instruction Permit

Since we are looking into what you need to get your driver's permit in Missouri, that is what we will address here. Step one of the Graduated Driver License Law in Missouri is for first-time drivers to get their instruction permit, which is available at the age of 15, costs $3.50 and is valid up to 12 months.

To obtain an instruction permit, you must pass the vision, road sign recognition and written tests at a Missouri State Highway Patrol driver examination station. When going to the license office, a qualified person must accompany you to sign a permission statement. A qualified person is a parent, legal guardian, or a certified trainer with a federal residential job training program with a valid driver license.

Instruction Permit Guidelines

Once you have the instruction permit in hand, there are certain rules you must follow:

• If you are under 16 years old, you can only drive when accompanied in the front seat by a licensed driver who is a qualified person, a grandparent, a qualified driving instructor, a qualified driver at least 25 years of age who has held their driver's license for a minimum of 3 years and has received written permission from the parent or legal guardian or a qualified driver designated by the disabled parent or guardian of the permit holder.
• If you are 16 years or older, you are allowed to drive when accompanied in the front seat by any licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and has a valid driver license.
• When driving, seat belts must be worn by the driver and all passengers in the vehicle.
• You must carry your permit with you, as your test paper alone is not legal for driving.
• You may renew your instruction permit.

Graduating To An Intermediate License

To move from step one to step two in the Graduated Driver License Law in Missouri, the following criteria must be met:

• You must have your instruction permit for a minimum of 182 days (beginning the day after issuance).
• You may not have any alcohol-related convictions in the last 12 months and no traffic convictions within the last six months.
• You must have completed 40 hours of driving instruction, which includes a minimum of 10 hours of nighttime instruction between sunset and sunrise. For this instruction, you must be accompanied by a qualified person, grandparent or qualified driving instructor.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to our friendly support staff and make sure to book your driving lesson today and learn to drive from one of our Coastline driving instructors!