MISSOURI DRIVER’S Education Online

Missouri Online Driver Education

Missouri Teen Driver Licensing: What You Need to Know

Missouri uses a graduated driver licensing system for first-time teen drivers. You can begin with an instruction permit at age 15, move to an intermediate license at 16 after meeting the required conditions, and become eligible for an under-21 full driver license at 18.

Missouri does not require teens to complete a driver education course to obtain a license. Instead, the state requires supervised behind-the-wheel training as part of the graduated licensing process. A qualified person must sign the permit application and commit to ensuring that you receive at least 40 hours of driving instruction, including at least 10 hours between sunset and sunrise.

Testing is handled by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, while permits and licenses are issued through Missouri Department of Revenue license offices. Your examination record by itself is not a valid license or permit for driving.

Here is the basic progression:

• Instruction permit: Available at age 15 after passing the required vision, road sign recognition, and written tests.
• Intermediate license: Available at age 16 after holding the permit for at least 182 days, completing 40 hours of supervised driving including 10 nighttime hours, meeting the record requirements, and passing the driving test.
• Under-21 full driver license: Available at age 18, or within the 30 days immediately before your 18th birthday, once the applicable requirements have been met.

Step 1: Get Your Missouri Instruction Permit at 15

Your Missouri licensing process begins with the instruction permit. At age 15, you can take the required examinations at a Missouri State Highway Patrol driver examination station.

You must pass three separate tests:

• Vision test
• Road sign recognition test
• Written test

The Class F written test contains 25 questions, and you need at least 20 correct answers, or 80%, to pass.

After completing the examinations, you take your examination record to a Missouri license office to apply for the instruction permit. A qualified person must accompany you and sign the required permission statement. The permit is valid for up to 12 months and may be renewed.

Your testing record is not itself permission to drive. You need the actual instruction permit issued by the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Who Can Supervise You?

If you are younger than 16, the person accompanying you while you practice must meet Missouri's requirements. Depending on the circumstances, this can include a parent, legal guardian, grandparent, qualified driving instructor, or another qualified licensed driver who meets Missouri's age, licensing, and permission requirements.

Once you are 16 or older and still driving on an instruction permit, the person beside you must be a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old.

Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt.

Step 2: Complete Your 40 Hours of Supervised Driving

Missouri requires 40 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction before you can move from an instruction permit to an intermediate license. At least 10 of those hours must take place at night, between sunset and sunrise.

The required training can be completed with a qualified person, grandparent, or qualified driving instructor. Training received from a qualified driver training instructor can count toward the 40-hour requirement.

Try to use those hours to build experience in different driving conditions rather than treating them as a simple countdown. Practice on different roads, in different traffic conditions, and after dark so you can develop the skills you will need for independent driving.

You also need to meet Missouri's driving-record requirements before receiving an intermediate license. You cannot have an alcohol-related conviction within the previous 12 months or a traffic conviction within the previous six months.

Step 3: Earn Your Intermediate License at 16

You may apply for an intermediate license beginning at age 16 after holding your instruction permit for at least 182 days. You must also have completed the required 40 hours of driving instruction and meet Missouri's record requirements.

A qualified person or grandparent must accompany you to the license office and certify that you completed the required driving instruction. You must also pass the driving skills examination at a Missouri State Highway Patrol examination station.

If your previous vision, road sign, and written test results are more than one year old, you must take those tests again. If you have a valid instruction permit and your previous results are still current, Missouri says you only need to pass the driving test, with a score of at least 70%.

You must provide your own street-legal, properly registered and insured vehicle for the driving test.

Know the Restrictions on an Intermediate License

An intermediate license gives you more independence, but Missouri still places restrictions on your driving.

For the first six months, you generally cannot drive with more than one passenger under 19 who is not an immediate family member. After the first six months, the limit increases to three passengers under 19 who are not immediate family members.

You also cannot drive alone between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., except for certain situations such as traveling to or from a school activity or job, or responding to an emergency. You may also drive during those hours when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21.

Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt.

Your Parent or Guardian Still Has a Role

Missouri gives parents and guardians significant authority during the graduated licensing process. A parent or guardian must sign the application for the instruction permit and intermediate license and can set driving rules that are stricter than the state's minimum requirements.

Before you turn 18, a parent or guardian can also request that your driving privilege be denied or reinstated by submitting the appropriate state form.

That means earning a license is not just about meeting the minimum state requirements. Your family can continue setting additional expectations about when, where, and with whom you drive.

Missouri's Hands-Free Driving Law

Missouri's Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law restricts drivers from physically holding or supporting an electronic communication device while operating a vehicle. The law also restricts manually writing, sending, or reading text-based communications and making certain communications on an electronic device, subject to statutory exceptions. Hands-free and voice-operated functions are permitted in specified circumstances.

For a new driver, the safest habit is straightforward: set up your navigation and other controls before moving, and keep your attention on the road.

Missouri Auto Insurance Requirements

Missouri requires automobile liability insurance. The state's required minimum liability limits are:

• $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person
• $50,000 for bodily injury or death per accident
• $25,000 for property damage

Missouri also requires uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident on automobile liability policies.

Before taking a driving test in a vehicle, make sure the vehicle meets Missouri's registration and insurance requirements.

Prepare for Your Missouri Permit Tests

Missouri's permit process includes three separate examinations: vision, road sign recognition, and the written knowledge test. The written test has 25 questions and requires an 80% score to pass.

Studying the Missouri Driver Guide can help you learn the rules and information covered by the examination. Practice questions can also help you become more comfortable applying what you have studied instead of simply reading the material.

TeenDrivingCourse is designed as an optional online learning resource rather than a replacement for Missouri's licensing requirements. Because Missouri does not require a driver education course, completing an online course does not replace the required tests, permit period, or supervised driving hours.

Use an online course as a way to build your knowledge before and during your supervised practice. Understanding traffic rules, right-of-way principles, hazard recognition, and defensive driving concepts before getting behind the wheel can give you a stronger foundation for your required practice time.

Where TeenDrivingCourse Fits Into the Missouri Process

TeenDrivingCourse does not replace Missouri's required licensing steps. You still need to complete the Missouri State Highway Patrol examinations, obtain the appropriate permit from the Missouri Department of Revenue, complete the required supervised driving experience, and pass the driving test when you become eligible.

Because Missouri does not require formal driver education, an online course is an optional learning tool. You can use it to study traffic laws and defensive driving concepts at your own pace while your family or qualified instructor provides the required behind-the-wheel training.

The goal is simple: understand the rules before you need to apply them on the road, then use your supervised practice hours to turn that knowledge into safe driving habits.