What you need to do to get a Mississippi driver's license

To get a Mississippi driver's license, you visit your local Department of Public Safety driver's license office, pass a written test on traffic laws, pass a vision screening, and pass a driving test. The whole process typically takes a few weeks from start to finish, though you can get a temporary permit to drive while you wait for your permanent license. Mississippi issues licenses to people age 15 and older, with different rules depending on your age and whether you already hold a license from another state.

The state charges a fee for the license itself — the amount depends on how long you want the license to be valid (usually three, five, or eight years). You'll also pay a separate fee for the written test and driving test if you don't pass on your first attempt. If you're under 18, you'll need to complete a driver education course before you can take the written test.

Key Takeaways

  • You must pass a written test on Mississippi traffic laws, a vision screening, and a driving test before the state will issue you a license.
  • If you're under 18, you must complete a driver education course first — this is a state requirement, not optional.
  • You can get a temporary permit to drive while waiting for your permanent license, but it has restrictions on when and where you can drive.
  • Bring proof of identity, proof of residency, and your Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to your appointment at the driver's license office.
  • The entire process from first visit to receiving your permanent license in the mail usually takes two to four weeks.

Documents you need to bring to the driver's license office

Mississippi requires you to bring three categories of documents: proof of identity, proof of residency, and proof of your Social Security number or ITIN. For identity, you can bring a passport, a birth certificate, a military ID, or a tribal ID. If you bring a birth certificate, it must be an official certified copy from the vital records office in the state or country where you were born — a photocopy won't work.

For proof of residency, bring a utility bill, a lease or mortgage statement, a bank statement, or a government document (like a tax return or court order) that shows your current Mississippi address. The document must be dated within the last 60 days. If you don't have a document in your name, you can bring a document in someone else's name plus a notarized letter from that person saying you live there, though this is slower and the office may ask for additional proof.

For your Social Security number, bring your Social Security card. If you don't have one or it's lost, bring a W-2 form, a tax return, or a letter from the Social Security Administration. If you're not may be able to access for a Social Security number, bring an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letter from the IRS instead.

The written test and what it covers

The written test has 30 questions about Mississippi traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. You must answer at least 24 questions correctly to pass. The test covers right-of-way rules, speed limits, parking, following distance, what different road signs mean, and what to do at traffic lights and stop signs. Mississippi provides a free study guide on the Department of Public Safety website that covers all the material on the test.

You take the test on a computer at the driver's license office. If you don't pass, you can take it again the same day or come back another day — there's no waiting period between attempts, but you do pay the test fee each time. Most people pass on their first try if they study the guide beforehand. The test is offered in English and Spanish.

The vision screening and driving test

The vision screening checks whether you can see well enough to drive safely. You read letters on a chart from a set distance, and the office checks your peripheral vision. If you wear glasses or contacts, you wear them during the screening. If you fail, you can't take the driving test that day, but you can come back after you've seen an eye doctor and gotten a corrective lens prescription.

The driving test takes about 20 to 30 minutes. An examiner sits in the car with you while you drive on public roads near the office. They watch how you handle turns, stops, parking, and how you respond to traffic. You must follow traffic laws exactly — speeding, running a stop sign, or hitting a curb will result in failure. If you fail, you can schedule another test, but you'll pay the test fee again. Most offices have a wait of one to three weeks for driving test appointments.

Getting a temporary permit while you wait for your permanent license

After you pass all three tests, the office issues you a temporary paper permit on the spot. This permit lets you drive while the state prints and mails your permanent plastic license card. The temporary permit is valid for 30 days. You must carry it with you whenever you drive, and you must follow all the restrictions printed on it — for example, if you're under 18, your permit may restrict when you can drive or how many passengers you can have.

Your permanent license arrives in the mail within two to four weeks. Once it arrives, the temporary permit is no longer valid. If your permanent license doesn't arrive within four weeks, contact the driver's license office to report it — they can reissue it, though there may be an additional fee.

Special rules if you're under 18

Mississippi requires anyone under 18 to complete a driver education course before taking the written test. This course covers traffic laws, vehicle operation, and safe driving practices. You can take it at a public school, a private driving school, or online through a course approved by the Mississippi Department of Education and the Department of Public Safety. The course takes about 30 hours total, though the breakdown between classroom and behind-the-wheel time varies by provider.

After you finish the course, you get a certificate of completion. Bring this certificate to the driver's license office when you go to take your written test. Without it, the office won't let you test. Once you pass the written test, you get a learner's permit, which lets you practice driving with a licensed adult in the car. You must hold the learner's permit for at least 30 days before you can take the driving test.

If you already have a license from another state

If you hold a valid driver's license from another state and you're moving to Mississippi, you don't have to take the written test or driving test. You can exchange your out-of-state license for a Mississippi license by visiting a driver's license office with your current license, proof of residency in Mississippi, and proof of your Social Security number or ITIN. The office will issue you a temporary permit on the spot and mail your permanent Mississippi license within two to four weeks.

If your out-of-state license is expired, you'll need to take the written test and driving test just like a first-time driver. If you're under 18 and your out-of-state license is valid, you still don't need to take the tests, but you do need to bring proof that you completed driver education in your previous state — if you can't provide that, you'll need to complete Mississippi's driver education course.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Mississippi driver's license cost?

The fee varies based on how long you want the license to be valid. A three-year license costs less than a five-year or eight-year license. There's also a separate fee for the written test and a separate fee for the driving test if you need to retake either one. Contact your local driver's license office for the exact current fees, as they can change.

Can I take the written test online or at home?

No. You must take the written test at a Mississippi Department of Public Safety driver's license office on a computer there. You cannot take it online or by mail. You can study at home using the free study guide on the Department of Public Safety website, but the actual test must be taken in person at an office.

What happens if I fail the driving test?

You can schedule another driving test appointment. You'll pay the test fee again. There's no limit on how many times you can retake it, but you must wait for an available appointment slot, which can be one to three weeks out depending on the office's schedule.

Do I need a Social Security number to get a Mississippi driver's license?

You need either a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you don't have a Social Security number, bring an ITIN letter from the IRS. The office will not issue a license without one or the other.

Can someone else pick up my permanent license if it arrives while I'm out of state?

No. You must pick up your permanent license in person at the driver's license office where you applied, or it will be mailed to the address you provided. If you're moving out of state before your license arrives, contact the office before you leave to update your mailing address.