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  • 15Youngest age for a learner's permitp. 13
  • 2 yearsHow long the permit is validp. 13
  • 1 yearTime on the permit before a license at 16p. 13, 15
  • 50 hoursSupervised driving on the affidavitp. 15, 17

Step by step

  1. Gather your documents

    Bring originals, not photocopies:

    • A completed application, signed by both custodial parents or a guardian if you are under 17, with the signature notarized
    • A certified birth certificate
    • Your Social Security card
    • Two proofs of where you live, each with a street address (under 21, a parent's can be used)
    • Under 18: a school Certification of Attendance no more than 30 days old, or a marriage license

    (Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p. 16)

  2. Pass the vision exam

    Your eyes are checked first. If you may need glasses, an eye specialist fills in a vision form for you. (Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p. 17)

  3. Pass the computerized exam

    It is the same multiple-choice exam the license needs, taken in person. A headset can read the questions aloud. There is a permit fee. (Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p. 13, 17)

Fees and the full list of accepted documents change from time to time, so check them on the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau website before you go.

Rules while you have a Regular Learner's Permit

  • Drive only with a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the seat next to you. (Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p. 13)
  • Everyone in the car, front and back, wears a seat belt. (Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p. 64)
  • No texting, reading messages or social media on a hand-held phone while driving. (Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p. 23)
  • Keep the permit with you whenever you drive; it is valid for two years. (Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p. 13, 15)

What comes next

After a year on the permit (or at 17), bring the 50-hour driving affidavit and your school attendance form for a Class R Regular Driver's License. From July 1, 2027, proof of a certified driver's education course is also required. (Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p. 13, 15–17)

Ready for the knowledge test?Free Mississippi practice exam: 30 questions, 24 to pass.

This guide is a free learning aid based on the Mississippi Driver's License Manual (Revised December 2024), not official advice. Rules, documents and fees can change: always confirm with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau before you go. Page numbers are the ones printed on the handbook pages; tap one to open the official PDF at that page.