Missouri DMV Permit Practice Test

The Missouri DOR knowledge test is what stands between you and an instruction permit. Questions come from the Missouri Driver Guide, and if you fail, the DOR won't tell you which ones you missed — you just know the score. The good news: at $3.50, Missouri has one of the cheapest permit fees in the country.

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  Under-18 exam25 questions. Pass at 20 correct (80%). Same threshold applies at all ages — Missouri uses one passing standard.
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  Adult first-time exam25 questions. Pass at 20 correct (80%). Retests cost another $3.50 each.
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  Application fee$3.50 — one of the lowest permit fees in the nation. Visit a Missouri DOR Driver License Bureau office to apply.
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  Bring with youProof of identity (birth certificate, passport), Missouri residency (utility bill, bank statement), and your Social Security number. Check dor.mo.gov for the full acceptable-documents list.
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  Driver education is optionalMissouri does NOT require driver education at any age. Completing an approved course does reduce your required practice hours from 40 to 30, but it is strictly optional.
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  Why MO catches people off guardThe Missouri Driver Guide covers 16 chapters and the test draws from all of them. Road signs, right-of-way sequences, DWI penalties, and GDL rules each appear — sometimes within a single exam.
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  Four-option questionsAll 462 questions in Missouri's bank use four answer choices (A–D). Read every option before committing — the DOR writes plausible distractors.

Missouri's bank leans heavily on traffic laws (314 of 462 questions), then safety (48), road signs (39), and drugs/alcohol (21). That means rules, right-of-way, and DWI consequences alone can account for more than 80% of what you see on test day.

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  Road signs (39 questions in bank)Shapes, colors, regulatory signs, warning signs, and guidance signs. Missouri tests both what signs mean AND what action they require. (Q9419, Q9473)
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  Right-of-way at uncontrolled intersectionsWhen two vehicles arrive simultaneously, yield to the vehicle on your right. This applies at both four-way stops and unmarked intersections. (Q9458, Q9550, Q9734)
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  Signal distanceSignal at least 100 feet before any turn or lane change. Missouri's bank is explicit: 100 feet, not 200 or 300. (Q9632, Q9877)
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  Railroad crossing stop distanceStop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail when signals or a flagger require it. Never drive around lowered gates under any circumstances. (Q9867, Q9605)
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  Following distanceMaintain a safe space cushion on all sides of your vehicle. The bank emphasizes cushion as a concept rather than a fixed second count — but increase distance in rain, snow, ice, or low visibility. (Q9579, Q9616)
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  BAC limit (21+)0.08% — illegal to operate any motor vehicle at or above this level. (Q9705, Q9794)
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  Under-21 BAC rule0.02% — far stricter than the adult limit. Any measurable drinking almost certainly puts an under-21 driver over the line. The bank's wording: 'a driver under the age of 21 may not operate with a BAC of 0.02 percent or more.' (Q9705)
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  DWI first-offense consequencesAdministrative license suspension for 90 days. Court conviction can add up to 6 months jail and a $500 fine. Second offense within 5 years: license suspended up to 1 year plus mandatory Ignition Interlock Device. (Q9676, Q9805)
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  Chemical test refusalMissouri is an implied-consent state. Refusing a chemical test triggers automatic license suspension. The bank frames it plainly: operating a vehicle on Missouri roads means you've already consented. (Q9686)
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  Interstate speed limitsMinimum 40 mph, maximum 70 mph on Missouri interstates under normal conditions. Advisory speed signs (orange) indicate safe exit speeds only. (Q9845)

These are the categories that sink more first-time Missouri test-takers than any other. A few hours drilling these specifically will do more than re-reading the whole Missouri Driver Guide.

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  Three-car right-of-way at four-way stops'Yield to the right' sounds simple until three cars arrive at once. At a four-way stop, proceed in arrival order. If two arrive simultaneously, the one on the LEFT yields to the one on the RIGHT. (Q9550, Q9734)
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  School bus rulesStop in BOTH directions when the bus red lights flash — unless a physical median divides the road, in which case only same-direction traffic stops. After stopping, watch for children along the roadside before proceeding. (Q9475, Q9687, Q9703)
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  Hill parking — downhill with a curbTurn wheels TOWARD the curb (right). If the brake fails, the car rolls into the curb instead of traffic. (Q9823, Q9874)
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  Hill parking — uphill with a curbTurn wheels AWAY from the curb (left). The curb catches the tire if the car rolls backward. Always set the parking brake too. (Q9514, Q9704, Q9797)
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  Impairment vs. legal BAC limit0.08% is the legal threshold, not a safety floor. Missouri's bank says impairment can begin well below it — the test asks you to recognize this distinction. (Q9423, Q9566)
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  'All of the above' answer trapsMissouri's bank uses 'All of the above' as the correct answer more often than most states — particularly on railroad crossings, school bus stops, and stopping requirements. If all three earlier choices sound right, they probably are. (Q9416, Q9426, Q9628)
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  Bicycle passingSlow down and give a bicyclist as much space as possible. On a two-lane road without bike lanes, wait until oncoming traffic clears before passing — same as passing any other vehicle. (Q9531, Q9709, Q9812)

Reading once reliably tops out around 60% on the real test. The students who pass first try use three loops: read once, drill once, listen once.

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  Loop 1 — read the handbookDownload the Missouri Driver Guide free from dor.mo.gov (also available in audio on the DOR YouTube channel). Read it once — don't try to memorize. This guide compresses the highest-yield content into bullets.
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  Loop 2 — drill the practice examsTake the free 40-Q exam below cold. Anything under 32/40 → identify the categories you missed and focus there. Missouri has 11 distinct exams (462 questions total) to drill without repeating.
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  Loop 3 — listen along on YouTubePlay the Missouri Cheat Sheet video the day or two before your test. Hearing the questions out loud reinforces recall faster than re-reading.
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  Sleep beats crammingMemory consolidates overnight. A full sleep the night before is worth more than two extra hours of late-night reading.
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  Study signs visually, not by descriptionNever read sign descriptions in text only. Look at the actual shape and color. The test shows you the sign — not a written description of it.
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  Read all four options before pickingMissouri uses four answer choices on every question. The first option often looks correct until you read the rest. The DOR writes plausible wrong answers — don't stop at the first one that sounds right.

Missouri's GDL rules are moderate compared to many states — the curfew is 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. (later than most), and restrictions lift at 18 OR after 12 months of intermediate, whichever comes FIRST. That said, the 182-day permit hold is non-negotiable.

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  Permit supervision — under 16Must be accompanied by a qualified person, grandparent, approved instructor, or a licensed driver who is 25+ with at least 3 years of licensure AND written parental permission.
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  Permit supervision — 16 and olderAny licensed driver 21 or older may supervise. They must sit in the front seat within reach of vehicle controls.
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  Minimum permit hold182 days (starting the day after the permit is issued). There are no shortcuts — the clock doesn't start until day two.
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  Supervised practice hours40 total hours required (reduced to 30 if you complete an approved driver education course), including a minimum of 10 hours between sunset and sunrise.
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  Night curfew on intermediate licenseNo solo driving from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Exceptions apply for school activities, work, and emergencies — with a 21+ licensed driver accompanying you.
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  Passenger restrictionFirst 6 months: maximum 1 passenger under 19 who is not immediate family. Months 7–12: maximum 3 passengers under 19 who are not immediate family.
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  When restrictions liftAt age 18 OR after holding the intermediate license for 12 months — whichever comes FIRST. You can apply up to 30 days before your 18th birthday if other requirements are met.