Missouri DMV Permit Practice Test 2026

This page covers what you need to know for the Missouri driver's license knowledge exam: how the test works, the Missouri-specific rules that often show up on it, and sample questions with explained answers. Everything here is based on the official Missouri driver's manual and state traffic code (sources are listed at the bottom). The real Missouri test has 25 questions and you need 20 correct (80%) to pass.

When you're ready, take a free 25-question practice test that mixes Missouri-specific questions with general driving questions, with an explanation after every answer. Each attempt draws a new set. No signup needed.

Missouri Permit Test and Licensing Facts

Knowledge Test	25 questions, must score 20/25 (80%) to pass
Minimum Permit Age	15
Minimum License Age	16
Speed Limits	Highway: up to 70 mph \| Residential: 25 mph \| School Zone: 15 mph
DWI Law	BAC limit: 0.08% (Under 21: 0.02%)
Point System	Points range from 2 to 12. 8 or more points in 18 months results in suspension.

Rules Specific to Missouri

Missouri uses the term DWI and has a persistent offender law for repeat drunk drivers
Missouri seat belt law is secondary enforcement — police cannot stop you solely for a seat belt violation
Drivers under 18 are restricted from driving between 1 AM and 5 AM unless for work or emergencies

Sample Missouri Permit Test Questions

These questions cover rules that are specific to Missouri. They're the ones people most often miss, because the answer differs from state to state.

In Missouri, an administrative alcohol arrest can occur when a driver has what BAC or higher?
- A. 0.05%
- B. 0.08%
- C. 0.10%
- D. 0.02%
Answer: 0.08%. Missouri’s administrative process can begin at 0.08% BAC for most non-commercial drivers. Criminal charges may also apply depending on the circumstances.
In Missouri, a minor can face administrative sanctions when stopped with what BAC or higher?
- A. 0.01%
- B. 0.02%
- C. 0.04%
- D. 0.08%
Answer: 0.02%. Missouri applies a lower BAC threshold to minors. A BAC of 0.020% or more can trigger administrative sanctions for underage drivers.
In Missouri, a child who is 3 years old and weighs 35 pounds must ride in which restraint?
- A. A belt-positioning booster seat
- B. A properly used child safety seat
- C. No restraint if seated in the back
- D. A regular seat belt only
Answer: A properly used child safety seat. Missouri requires a child under age 4 or under 40 pounds to be secured in a child safety seat. This provides protection that a booster or seat belt alone cannot.
According to Missouri’s driver guide, when interstates are near or within major Missouri cities, what speed limit is commonly posted?
- A. 55 mph
- B. 60 mph
- C. 65 mph
- D. 70 mph
Answer: 60 mph. Missouri’s driver guide notes that interstates near or within certain large cities are commonly posted at 60 mph. Always follow the posted limit for the roadway you are on.
Under Missouri law, can an officer stop a driver only because an adult is not wearing a seat belt?
- A. Yes, always
- B. Yes, but only at night
- C. No, seat belt is a secondary offense for adults
- D. No, but only for back-seat passengers
Answer: No, seat belt is a secondary offense for adults. Missouri law limits stopping a vehicle solely for a seat belt violation by an adult. Officers generally need another valid reason to make the stop.
How long must a Missouri teen hold an instruction permit before getting an intermediate license?
- A. 90 days
- B. Six months (182 days)
- C. 9 months
- D. 1 year
Answer: Six months (182 days). You must hold the instruction permit for at least six months (182 days), starting the day after it's issued.
How many hours of driving instruction must a Missouri teen complete with a parent or guardian before an intermediate license?
- A. 20 hours
- B. 30 hours
- C. 40 hours
- D. 60 hours
Answer: 40 hours. You need 40 hours of driving instruction with a parent, stepparent, legal guardian, or certified trainer, who must come with you to verify it.
During the first six months with a Missouri intermediate license, how many non-family passengers under 19 may you carry?
- A. None
- B. One
- C. Two
- D. Three
Answer: One. For the first six months, no more than one passenger under 19 who isn't immediate family; after that, no more than three.
How many questions are on the Missouri written test, and how many must you answer correctly?
- A. 20, need 16
- B. 25, need 20
- C. 30, need 24
- D. 40, need 32
Answer: 25, need 20. The written test has 25 multiple-choice questions and you need 20 correct.
How far before a stop do a Missouri school bus's amber warning lights begin flashing?
- A. 100 feet
- B. 300 feet
- C. 500 feet
- D. 1,000 feet
Answer: 500 feet. Amber warning lights flash 500 feet before the bus reaches a designated stop.
What is the minimum speed on Missouri interstate highways under normal conditions?
- A. 30 mph
- B. 40 mph
- C. 45 mph
- D. 50 mph
Answer: 40 mph. You may not drive slower than 40 mph on interstates under normal conditions.
How many points does Missouri assess for failing to stop for a school bus loading or unloading students?
- A. 2
- B. 3
- C. 4
- D. 5
Answer: 5. Failing to stop for a school bus is 5 points, plus court-ordered suspensions for repeat offenses.
When must Missouri drivers use headlights?
- A. From sunset to sunrise
- B. From a half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise
- C. Only when it's raining
- D. From one hour after sunset
Answer: From a half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise. Turn your headlights on from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise.
When must you switch to low beams for an oncoming vehicle in Missouri?
- A. Within 200 feet
- B. Within 300 feet
- C. Within 500 feet (about one block)
- D. Within 1,000 feet
Answer: Within 500 feet (about one block). Use low beams when you come within 500 feet, about one block, of an oncoming vehicle.
When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with lights on, what does Missouri's Move Over law require?
- A. Nothing
- B. Change to a non-adjacent lane if safe, or slow down to a safe speed if not
- C. Stop completely
- D. Honk to alert responders
Answer: Change to a non-adjacent lane if safe, or slow down to a safe speed if not. Proceed with caution and move to a lane not next to the vehicle if it's safe; otherwise slow to a safe speed.
How long is your Missouri license taken away for refusing a chemical test?
- A. 90 days
- B. 6 months
- C. 1 year
- D. 2 years
Answer: 1 year. Refusing a chemical test means your license is taken away for one year.
What following-distance rule does the Missouri driver guide recommend?
- A. Two-second rule
- B. Three-second rule
- C. Five-second rule
- D. One car length per 10 mph
Answer: Three-second rule. Missouri recommends the three-second rule, and one second per 10 feet of vehicle length for larger vehicles.
What are Missouri's minimum liability insurance limits?
- A. $15,000 / $30,000 / $10,000
- B. $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000
- C. $30,000 / $60,000 / $25,000
- D. $50,000 / $100,000 / $50,000
Answer: $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000. Missouri requires $25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash for bodily injury, $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage.
What is the reinstatement fee after a non-alcohol point suspension in Missouri?
- A. $20
- B. $50
- C. $100
- D. $250
Answer: $20. You must file proof of insurance (SR-22) and pay a $20 reinstatement fee.

Missouri Permit Test FAQ

How many questions are on the Missouri permit test?

The Missouri knowledge test has 25 multiple-choice questions. You need at least 20 correct answers (80%) to pass.

How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Missouri?

The minimum age for a learner's permit in Missouri is 15. The minimum age for a driver's license is 16.

What is the legal blood alcohol limit in Missouri?

Missouri calls impaired driving DWI. The limit is 0.08% BAC for drivers 21 and over, and 0.02% for drivers under 21.

How does the Missouri driver point system work?

Points range from 2 to 12. 8 or more points in 18 months results in suspension.

What are the default speed limits in Missouri?

Typical limits in Missouri are up to 70 mph on highways, 25 mph in residential areas and 15 mph in school zones. Posted signs always take priority.

Sources

The facts and questions on this page are based on the following official Missouri government sources:

Facts and questions last checked against the Missouri Driver Guide on September 26, 2026.

Laws change. Always check the current Missouri driver's manual before your test. This site is unofficial and not affiliated with any Missouri government agency.