Missouri permit test: 25 questions, 20 to pass

Drivoku is not connected to the Missouri Department of Revenue or the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Every fact below links to the Department of Revenue page or the Missouri Driver Guide (revised August 2026) it comes from, checked on November 3, 2026.

The Missouri permit test at a glance

Missouri instruction permit and written test
Minimum age	15 (Department of Revenue)
Tests	Vision, road sign recognition and a written test (Department of Revenue)
Number of questions	25
Passing score	20 of 25, or 80 percent
Where	Tests at a Missouri State Highway Patrol examination station; then the permit at a license office
Fee	$10 for the Class F instruction permit, valid 12 months and renewable
Parent	A parent or legal guardian comes with you to the license office

How many questions are on the Missouri permit test?

Twenty-five. The Department of Revenue says you need 80 percent, which is 20 of the 25, so you can miss 5 (Department of Revenue FAQ). You also take a vision test and a road sign recognition test, all at a Highway Patrol examination station. You get a Driver Examination Record there, take it to a license office, and apply and pay for the permit with your parent or guardian.

What to bring

From the Missouri Driver Guide, chapter 1:

Proof of lawful status, of your identity (with your full legal name and date of birth), of your Social Security number and of your Missouri residency. Chapter 1 of the guide explains which documents count.
Your parent, stepparent or legal guardian, who signs a permission statement at the license office.
Your Driver Examination Record from the Highway Patrol. It does not let you drive on its own: carry the permit.

Rules for teen drivers in Missouri

Missouri, like every state, uses graduated driver licensing. From the Missouri Driver Guide:

Permit, under 16: drive only with a parent, stepparent, grandparent, legal guardian or qualified driving instructor in the front seat, or a person aged 25 or older licensed for at least three years with written permission from your parent or guardian.
Permit, 16 or older: drive with a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the front seat. License offices hand out free PERMIT DRIVER window signs.
To get the intermediate license: hold the permit for at least 182 days and drive 40 hours with a parent, stepparent or legal guardian, including at least 10 hours at night, then pass the driving test.
Intermediate license, 16 to 18: in the first six months at most one passenger under 19 who is not immediate family, then at most three. No driving alone between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., except to and from school activities, work or an emergency, unless a licensed driver aged 21 or older is with you.

What Drivoku covers for Missouri

Our free permit practice test, the road signs quiz and the questions below cover road rules and signs that apply in every state, with signs from the national sign manual. They do not cover Missouri’s own laws. The written test is drawn from the Missouri Driver Guide, so read it too.

Practice five questions every state shares

Five shared road rules

Answer one question at a time. You see the answer and the reason after each one. Nothing you pick is saved or sent anywhere.

Question 1 of 5

Passing

You want to pass a slow truck on a two-lane road, but you are nearing a hill crest where you cannot see oncoming traffic. What should you do?
- Wait until you can see far enough to pass Right
- Pass quickly before you reach the crest
- Pass on the right shoulder instead
- Follow close behind and pass at the crest
The right answer is A: Wait until you can see far enough to pass

WhyDo not pass where your view is blocked, such as near a hill crest, curve, intersection, or crossing.

Source: UVC § 11-306(a)(1) Further limitations on driving on left of center of roadway (model law)

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Highways

You are on a divided highway with a grassy median between the two roadways, and you miss your turn. What may you do?
- Cross the median where the grass is low
- Drive the wrong way briefly to an opening
- Use the next crossover marked for emergency vehicles only
- Continue to an opening or intersection where crossing is permitted, and turn only when safe Right
The right answer is D: Continue to an opening or intersection where crossing is permitted, and turn only when safe

WhyStay on your roadway until you reach a permitted crossing, and turn only when safe.

Source: UVC § 11-311 Driving on divided highways (model law)

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Traffic signals

A steady green arrow points left while the circular light is red. A pedestrian is still crossing directly in your intended turning path. What must you do?
- Turn left now; the arrow gives you the right-of-way
- Turn left and stop inside the crosswalk
- Go straight instead, since the arrow is on
- Yield to the pedestrian, then turn when safe and permitted Right
The right answer is D: Yield to the pedestrian, then turn when safe and permitted

WhyA green arrow allows the left turn, but you must still yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Source: MUTCD Section 4A.03 Meanings of Steady Vehicular Signal Indications

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Seat belts and child safety

Every rear seat in your car allows a correct car-seat installation. Which spot is unsafe for a rear-facing child safety seat?
- The middle seat in the back row
- Front seat, facing an active air bag Right
- Behind the driver's seat
- Beside a rear-side window
The right answer is B: Front seat, facing an active air bag

WhyA rear-facing seat must never go in front of an active air bag, whose force can seriously injure a child.

Source: NHTSA: Air Bags, The Topic — Protection

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Speed and space

Which statement about your speed is correct?
- You must never drive below the posted limit, even in bad weather
- Drive at a safe speed for conditions; don't needlessly block normal traffic Right
- The posted limit is only a suggestion
- You must match the speed of the fastest car
The right answer is B: Drive at a safe speed for conditions; don't needlessly block normal traffic

WhyDrive at a safe speed for conditions, even below the limit, but don't needlessly impede normal traffic.

Source: UVC § 11-801 Basic rule (model law), UVC § 11-805 Minimum speed regulation (model law)

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Your topics

SignsKnow it
Learner and provisional licensesOn the way
Right-of-wayStamped

Each topic's level is free in the app. Pro lets you practice every topic as much as you want.

In the app, questions you miss come back until you get them right. 5 questions a day are free.

45 free questions on this website and 379 in the app, checked against the MUTCD, the Uniform Vehicle Code and Texas law, with the reason for every answer. About the app

Out now on iPhone and Android.

For the road sign recognition test, work through the road signs library. Other states: permit test by state.

Common questions

How many questions can you miss on the Missouri permit test?

Five. You need 20 of 25 right.

Where do you take the Missouri permit test?

At a Missouri State Highway Patrol examination station. You then take your Driver Examination Record to a license office to apply for the permit.

How much is a Missouri instruction permit?

The Department of Revenue lists $10 for the Class F instruction permit. It is valid for 12 months and can be renewed.

How long must you hold a Missouri permit?

At least 182 days before the intermediate license, with 40 hours of driving, including 10 at night.

Sources

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The Missouri permit test, explained